What are you thankful for this year 2011?

Avalon.ph is holding a Moleskine 2012 Large Weekly Planner Horizontal giveaway which started yesterday, December 4 and will end on December 15.  If you are as obsessed with moleskin notebooks as I am, then come and visit their blog site.  For the giveaway, they asked a very good question for us to answer.

What are you thankful for this year 2011?  I did not have to think too much.

The last 6 months of 2011 was full of challenges for me and my family.   First, I suddenly found myself jobless in my mid-life. Second, I have a case filed against me in court for an incident that happened 6 years ago. And, if that wasn't enough, the lessor of our little family farm wants to opt out in the middle of the current milling season even when he still owes our family a substantial amount for last year. Yet, in spite of all these, no trial or injustice can overshadow God's love and mercy for me. I count my blessings instead of my crosses.  It has been 4 months of absolutely no earnings but we are coping very well.  I am glad that we are a simple family with simple needs and somehow, God and His Divine Providence has never let us down.  But I think if there is one thing that I am really grateful for is the fact that I found myself coming closer to God more than ever before.  In fact, I am thankful for all the challenges of 2011 and yes, even the people who have sought to destroy me.  Because of them, I have found my way back to the Lord. I have no hatred in my heart...I continue to pray for all those who have hurt me.  I believe that all these are tests to make me a better person pleasing to God. God sent His invitation and I accept.   For the coming year 2012, I will continue to give thanks to the Lord for His infinite blessings, for His divine providence and protection and finally for His divine mercy and justice which I firmly believe will come in due time.  I put all my trust in Him.