Thankful, Day 11

Today I'm thankful for the beauty that is in the world, and our talents that help us CREATE that beauty.  Yes, there are wonders in nature, but the REAL wonder is in US.  It IS us.  God has given us each so many gifts to share with the world, no matter who we are or what we think of ourselves, and the more we use them, the closer to heaven we feel.  Happiness and closeness to God and gratitude are all SO interconnected it's hard to pull them apart.  Especially when we use those gifts of ours for creation, we are more powerful than we know! 

When we had our family photos taken yesterday downtown, we stumbled uponTHIS in an alley:

This is what I'm talkin' about!  How fun is this?  How unexpected?  How beautiful (especially perhaps *because* of its unexpectedness)?

Tip of the day: Use your talents to create something beautiful—a song, a poem, a craft, a photograph, a meal, a work of art.  Creation brings with it a little peace and confidence, not to mention helps you appreciate your own talents more.