Don't our feelings help form our perspective, our attitude, and unavoidably ...our reactions to those perspectives and attitudes???

So, wouldn't happy thoughts perhaps help us be a bit more happy??

Yet, let me say there is an appearance of happiness, which is not really happiness ...and with this kind of happiness, it needs to be continually fed.  

Can a person be truly happy at the expense of others??  I think not!!  If a person seeks power, then happiness may only come through more power.

We can seek to be happy through buying things.

We can seek to be happy through being like other people ...or being liked by them.

And if we are happy as a result of something, do we continue to be happy if the situation changes??

I was told there is a book that said we should make a list of things we are thankful for, and that we should do it daily ...attempting to reach a thousand.

Well, here goes ...I am thankful for:

1. God, Our Heavenly Father
2. Jesus, God ...the Son, who died on the cross, so we can look to that sacrifice, acknowledge and accept it, and have eternal life.
3. The Holy Spirit ...the Comforter, who allows me to believe, understand His Word and discern the truth.
4. My wife, Cindy, who has given me new definition to my life and given me five wonderful children ...and also who has already reached a thousand on her list, and shared with me the idea to make my own list.
5. Shannon ...our oldest daughter
6. Leah ...our second oldest daughter
7. Josiah ...our oldest son
8. Samuel ...our middle son
9. David ...our youngest son
10. My Dad ...Grandpa Meiner, to our children
11. My Mom ...Grandma Meiner, to our children
12. Cindy's Dad ...Grandpa Leece, to our children
13. (I am also thankful for those who are so much a part of our lives who have passed away, and also thankful for the confidence I have that they are in Heaven) ...foremost on this list is: Cindy's Mom.
14. Grandma Shocklee ...Cindy's Mom's Mom
15. My Dad's Mom ...my Grandma Meiner (Alice ...and she is truly in a wonderland ...heaven, that is.)
16. My Dad's Dad ...my Grandpa Meiner, whom I never met, but, oh, all the good character stories I've heard. He died while on the way to a fire, as part of the volunteer fire department (I guess, all good neighbors were a part of that.) Alfred Elton Meiner ...whom my oldest brother is named after.
17. My Mom's Mom ...my Grandma (Josephine Rose) Hoheisel, and she truly was a rose, like no other.
18. My Mom's Dad ...my Grandpa Hoheisel, taught me a little German, of which I remember most "Ich habe genug!" (I've had enough!)  
19. Cindy's Mom's Dad ...and stories put in perspective, and the birds, of which at this time I can only think of 'Johnnie'.
20. Cindy's Dad's parents ...which I group as one, not only because it is written that 'the two become one', but mostly of the singular wholesome feeling that I have which parking at the school across from the house they had build and lived in.  Sitting in Cindy's 'mango tango' jeep, sometimes with her eating her favorite ice cream, and smelling the fragrance of the Jack Pines ...often with a sunset painting red beyond the scaly orange bark branching up to the heavens.
21. My sister and four brothers ...completing, with my parents, one happy family ...though not always happy with the struggles of a full house, it is the choice of everyone to hold on to the memories of their choosing, and I choose to look to the happy memories while hoping to form more of them.
22. Cindy's sister and family ...from Arizona, the visits are always in great anticipation for our children to see their cousins again.
23. Pastor Losen guided me along where I didn't want to go. Actually, his son who was about my age (early twenties) asked me to teach a Sunday School class.  I said I never read the Bible, but he said that was okay, they had a disciplinary problem in the class and he knew I worked with institutionalized kids, so that's what they needed me for.  It was very wise on the part of the Losens ...and I quickly read the Bible, as to not show too much inadequacy.
24. Pastor Tom ...his music and messages are really good, yet we love him as a person mostly. His hugs mean a lot.
25. Pastor Myron ...as an assistant Pastor, he's the best, and has profound knowledge on many subjects, and is readily available to give his good hugs.
26. Gary & Susan ...my first Bible study leaders.
27. Rudy & Kathy Reyes ...furthering the growth through Bible study.
28. Summer ...our dog, and companion
29. Memories of past dogs ...such as Lark, and how she forced us to remodel areas of our house.  And how those memories link to past childhood dogs, Rex and Scruffy, and Cindy's childhood dogs.
30. The Bible ...with all those whom God chose to instruct and inspire, inclusive of their reports on events and testimonies of truth.
31. The seasons that God has given us ...each holds so much meaning, especially a visual wonder in Michigan.  Many don't like the Michigan weather, but there is much beauty and character to behold ...even with the struggles, being part of the package.
32. The United States of American has also had its struggles, though often long in coming, our country has moved in many ways in the right direction with much rich heritage. And though I personally feel we are moving much in the wrong direction now, and less focus on what God would have us do, we do still have the freedoms that allow us to not only make mistakes, but also hopefully correct them.
33. Laughter ...so thankful for laughter, not the type that approaches laughing gas, or the absurd level that was witnessed during the 2012 Vice-Presidential debate.  But, we did have a laugh or two about that too.
34. Humor ...often not as direct as laughter, but becomes a part of our perspective on life. Often it can reach too far, and even dangerous levels ....but it's like the warmth of a fireplace, if moving out of that place, it can involve destructive forces.
35. Seriousness ...it often goes hand with conviction.  We can be too serious about some things, but also not good to be too carefree about some things.  There are things we should try not to fear or worry about ...and there are things we should not simply laugh about.
36. Discretion ...it involves the serenity prayer, knowing the things we can change, knowing the things we can't, and the wisdom to know the differences.
37. Experience ...much of it is good, some rightfully thankful it is over, and some I'm thankful I can learn without having to experience.
38. A rainbow ...the beautiful array of color after a passing storm, and also the promise that our stormy lives also carry the promises God has set before us.
39. A sunrise ...the beginning of a new day.  We can dread the beginning, or we can be thankful for it ...but, if we allow our senses to absorb all that is in a sunrise, perhaps we can be like the birds and sing in celebration of the new day.  The alternative is ...that no new days would ever come.
40. A sunset ...the often beautiful display, is it coloring the view of a day, blessed with satisfaction and completion. Appreciation should be a part of our rest and relaxation. 
41. Kind and friendly neighbors ...Carl & Liz, Nick & Shaun with their little one Elliot, the Simpsons down the street which are nothing like the TV show, a very kind widow named Mildred, and a father and son team of Mike and Mike.
42. Doing this ...and knowing it is a good focus & a good feeling, so I don't really need to reach a goal of a thousand any time soon, it just feels good doing it.  And I'm not in any real rush, or thinking I have to do a certain amount each day ...and it's good looking back, and reading what thing was on my mind another day.
43. Hospitals ...particularly, Crittenton and St. Joe's, where our five children were born.  They were such great moments, with an exciting story associated with each one. 
44. The Seven Dwarfs whistled while they worked ...and my wife, her Dad, and our kids do that. It is so comforting to hear them going about their daily living that way.  Of course, we all get tired and have our moods, perhaps a bit Grumpy, or partly Sleepy ...become skeptical when it's nothing to Sneezy at ...act hesitant whether Bashful or not ...and I often feel Dopey ...yet, we also have our Happy moments, and unselfishly look to help others whether we are a Doc, or not. 
45. Children's books ...aside from a few fables or stories that may be a bit scary, or not perhaps helpful just before bedtime, the 'bedtime story' has been a very meaningful and wholesome time that kids really remember.
46. I just heard sirens outside ...and I am so thankful for all those who are awaiting calls to serve in those times of immediacy.
47. Veterans Day is in a few days ...so thankful for those who have served to help protect our country and our freedoms.
48. Thankful for those legislators and those holding office to help preserve our freedoms also ...and to help distinguish between desired freedoms and the healthy type.
49. Our forefathers ...who thought well in the future to draw up a Constitution to help guard and preserve what some would so easily and carelessly simply discard.
50. For not feeling too guilty for indulging ...Chocolate.

(Okay, only 50 here, but that was just in a short period of time ...and it was not supposed to be a goal of reaching a thousand in one day.  If we focus more on the numbers, then we sort of take away from the substance of each thing we are thankful for.  I could begin each day focusing on one ...or the One I am to be thankful for.)