Thankful Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving!

I have so much to be thankful this year!

I am thankful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I am a sinner, but He chose do take my punishment and die for me, and every time I think about it, my eyes just well up with tears of gratitude.

I am thankful for my God, who is who He says He is, who will never leave me, forget me, or forsake me. I am thankful that He created me for His purpose, and that He has a wonderful and most perfect plan for my life. I am thankful for His unfailing love, and that He never tires of hearing from me or tires of me in general.

I am thankful for my family. We don't get along all the time, but we still love each other. My parents love to see me succeed and do whatever they can to help me get there. My sisters and I are way different, but we can still have good times together.

I am thankful for Mitch. I really don't even have the words right now. He is so loving and patient. He puts up with me when I'm uptight, and he has helped me to loosen up over the past few years. HE is always surprising me by doing something totally wonderful and unexpected. That man deserves an award, but for now he'll have to make do with my heart.

I am thankful for my boyfriend's family. They have loved me since the beginning, and I have always felt welcome. I love them all- his mom and dad, his little sister, his grandparents, aunt & uncle, and his cousin and his wife and kids. I love doing life with them, and I'm looking forward to being with everybody and celebrating today.

I am thankful for my adopted family. They took me into their lives and their hearts when I needed them most, but was pushing most people away. They saw past the hurt and anger to help me heal. They have opened their home to me, shared their wonderful little boy with me, and made me feel like I'm truly part of the family.

I am thankful for CrossFit, and the community of my box. I can't even begin to describe how overwhelmed I was this past Monday, when I just wanted to quit and the other ladies, and the coaches, and even some of the guys gathered around me to cheer me on, support me, and help me push through the last reps. That moved me so much that in addition to my tears or frustration with my body (why wouldn't it do what I wanted it to?) I was crying tears of overwhelming gratitude. I couldn't have done that without them, and I wouldn't have been able to return after my first day 3 months back if the community hadn't been so open and welcoming.

I am thankful for music, and the way I feel it deep within me. I don't doubt for a minute that the Lord has embedded music deep within my heart for a reason, and I love use it to serve and love His people.

I am thankful for my friends. We don't live in the same cities, or even the same states or countries right now. But even though distance may separate us, we're together in our hearts. And even though when school and life get busy, we may go months without really talking, or talking much at all, when we finally are reunited, it's like we didn't miss a beat.

I am thankful for the experiences I've had this year. Even though 2012 has been a roller coaster, and I frequently say that I can't wait for 2013, for a fresh start, there have been some great things in the midst of all the muck. I made friends. I went to the lake for the first time. I fell in love with a little boy, and I love being his Miss Emily. I've played with babies and toddlers, and mentored 4th and 5th graders. I've spent time finding comfort in my kitchen, in tweaking recipes and gifting others with the treats. I've made my first pie crust, and tried my hand at meals that got the boyfriend approval stamp. I've held Little Man in my arms while he slept. I've come to know the Lord on a deeper level. I've pushed myself, and I've been pushed to grow by others.

There is so much to be thankful for this year, and it isn't even done yet. What do you have to be thankful for?

Thankful Thursday: Skyping with Friends

This week, I am thankful that I can Skype with my sweet friend, Ashley. Right now, she's studying away in China, and I miss her. A lot. It really helps that I can see her and that we can talk regularly, since social media isn't really an option for her right now.

Can I just say that technology is awesome? I loved seeing her sweet face last night, and I went to bed with a smile on my face.

What are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday: Learning to be Social

I really have so much to be thankful for. I've been returning to write this post all day, but I have been trouble choosing my topic, because I feel like I have so many options.

I am thankful that I have been learning how to better get along in social situations. I've always been the awkward kid who kind of hung out on the edge of the crowd. You know, the one who wants to fit in but doesn't? Yep, that's me.

I have a few really good friends, and I have no idea what I would do without them. They accept me, love me, and even put up with me. Unfortunately, we all live in different places. I'm here in SW MO, one of my best friends is in UT, a few are back in STL (including my man), and one decided it would be a brilliant idea to go halfway across the world to China. I love them so much, and I cherish our times together and conversations.

But it sucks to be that awkward person when you're around the same people all the time at school. But this semester, I've been growing; coming out of my shell. I'm making friends at the gym, talking to other people in my major, even having a good time with them!

I'm thankful that I'm learning how to better interact with others in social situations (it only took me 20 years, right?). What are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday: Answered Prayers

This week, I have been watching in awe as God has been answering prayers all around me, whether they be prayers regarding my life or regarding my friends' lives.

For example, we've been praying about a job that one of my friends interviewed for recently. If she was offered the job, she would be able to live in town and be closer to her friends, church, and everything in general.

Another (possibly groundbreaking) example: Instead of praying and begging for God to send me friends, or "fix" me so that I have an easier time relating to people, I have been praying for awhile now that He would help me to be content in loving Him and in having a relationship with Him; that I wouldn't be chasing after people of the world so that I would have someone to talk to (locally) and just shoot the breeze with. Funnily enough, when God became my focus, He sent me someone that I can see a friendship growing with.

But really, God answers all prayers, whether it be yes, no, not yet, I've got something better, or even any other answer that He chooses to give. While dwelling upon the "yeses" in my life recently, I've seen the "not yets" and the "something betters" that are coming, and that have come, into fruition.

I am thankful for God who reigns with Truth and Grace. I am thankful that He hears and answers prayers. I am thankful that no matter how difficult I find it to fathom, He loves me, and He wants to have an active relationship with me.

I am thankful. What are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday: a best friend

One of the highlights of this week was getting to talk to my friend, who I usually call "Chief" for the first time in awhile. We usually don't talk all the time- shoot, weeks and months usually pass between our conversations, but somehow, we never drift apart. Every time Chief and I talk, it feels like the last conversation was just yesterday.

I don't know if he knows it (even though I tell him all the time), but Chief, and my friendship with him, mean a lot to me. We've been friends since elementary school. We went through middle school and high school together. And now that we're attending universities in different parts of the state, we're still going through college together.

I tell Chief all the time, but I am forever grateful for our unconditional friendship. I love the support that we can give each other. I love how even though time may pass, it feels like we never miss a beat. If I could have a guy as my Maid of Honor someday, it would be Chief. (But that might be a little too weird for both of us.)

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm thankful for Chief, for my friendship with him, and for the years we've shared together.

What, or who, are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday: Back after a short Absence

Hey there! Sorry about the absence- last week, I was on vacation and didn't have (or particularly want) Internet access, and the Thursday before, things got more than a little crazy around here. Things should be back to normal now, though! So, now for the topic you're probably waiting to hear about...

This week, I have been particularly been thankful for the network of friends that I have, and the way that I'm still "in the loop" even though we're miles apart. I love that even though I'm home for the summer and working all the time, I'll still get text messages asking my opinion on birthday party stuff, or funny pictures that reminded them of something, or just communication in general! And I love every bit of it.

Because seriously, don't abandon the people in your life when they aren't right there. It hurts your friendship more than you' d think.

So, this week, I am thankful for the friends I have now, and I am definitely thankful that even though we're 200 miles apart right now, you'd hardly know it from the way we keep up with each other.


What are you thankful for?