the thankfulness post

Since I’m 25 and Thanksgiving is right around the corner, here are 25 of the things I am the most thankful for:

1. The love of my life. I keep thinking that I couldn’t love him more if I tried… but then I end up loving him more anyway.
2. My wonderful family. I’m so blessed to not only love but actually LIKE my mom, dad, and sister!
3. My cozy house. I’m loving making it ours. I never seem to be done with it… but I’m enjoying the ride… and the progress.
4. Our little pup. We rescued him four years ago now, and he is just a great little dog. Until we have babies, he is a great substitute baby!
5. Our church family. We are so blessed to have friends of all ages (most miraculously – our own age!) at our church. It genuinely makes it feel like family.
6. My now-paid-off car. It keeps the rain out (the Saturn did not) and gets great gas mileage. Everything else is just icing on the cake.
7. The basics. I am thankful that I never question whether I will have anything to eat for the next meal or whether I will have a place to sleep that night or whether I could get very sick and not have access to healthcare or anyone to take care of me. As much as I complain about the costs of food and housing and healthcare, I wouldn’t trade it for the alternative.
8. Our health. We have gone through seasons of poor health, and I am thankful to be healthy and strong.
9. Music. There is something about music that just speaks to my soul… and nothing blesses me more than a Rich Mullins/Third Day/Casting Crowns/Mercy Me/Nicole Nordeman/Caedmon’s mix.
10. My job. Although still trying to determine my trajectory in life, I am incredibly thankful for my job. I am a happier, less-stressed person because of it.
11. Opportunities. I feel like the Lord is really putting me in positions where He can use me. I’m certainly a flawed instrument, but I am thankful He is using me!
12. My friends. I feel so blessed to have friends that genuinely care about me. Some are college friends, and I am pretty much positive that we will be pals forever. I love that.
13. The holidays. I am thrilled to have a few days off work to spend with family and doing fun holiday-ish things like I love. Plus we have like 4 or 5 different Christmas parties this year.
14. Our upcoming trip. I haven’t taken a vacation in about 16 months now (it will be almost 2 years total by the time we leave), and I am looking SO forward to our trip to Europe . It gives me something to hope for and dream about.
15. Chapstick. I would be absolutely miserable without it. When my lips get chapped, I purse them and stop talking. Without Chapstick, I might be mute. (Others might be thankful for that, but I would certainly not be.)
16. Affection. I don’t think I would survive in a world without hugs and physical touch. It is absolutely essential to my existence.
17. Other ministry families. It has been an incredible blessing to spend time with some other youth ministers/wives that understand what this crazy life is like. I am so thankful to have that network and support.
18. Kids. I really love children… and most of the time, they love me back. I love that. That blesses my heart.
19. Sunrises and sunsets. I think they are just incredible evidence of God’s creativity. Every one is unique.
20. A happy marriage. (I know this seems tied to #1, but bear with me.) Lately, I have been saddened to realize how many marriages include putting each other down and treating each other badly… even in public. Lance and I are not perfect, but we are happy… and we try to reflect that in the ways we talk to each other and about each other. I am thankful for that.
21. Acts of service. I love the opportunities that arise even in small acts of service. For example, last week, I took dinner to some friends that just had a baby. I ended up talking to them for almost an hour… and I put that sweet baby to sleep in my arms about 10 minutes into the visit and just snuggled her for the rest of the time. I went to bless them but ended up being blessed myself!
22. Modern conveniences. I am so thankful to have a nice washer and dryer and microwave and cell phone and computer and DVR (oh, I love DVR!) and a Scentsy pot and a dishwasher… my life would be even more complicated without the little things I sometimes take for granted. (Okay, my life would not be any more complicated without a Scentsy pot, but it is a nice addition anyway.)
23. Maturity. In no way am I through growing, but I am thankful that I can see progress in myself. It lets me know that all of the things I experience really are shaping me.
24. Others’ sacrifices. I’m thankful that soldiers have given their lives to protect me and shield my freedoms. I’m thankful that my parents sacrificed to put me through Christian school and through a private college. I absolutely would not be where I am today (or who I am today) if others had not paved the way for me to be here.
25. A lot of things about God:

• His faithfulness.
• The way He listens to my prayers and answers them specifically.
• His sense of humor.
• The way He pursues and romances me. His grace.
• The way that He knows me intimately and desires for me to know Him intimately.
• His Son.
• The way He speaks to me.
• His love.
• The fact that He gave us the Bible (and the fact that I have access to it).
• His justice.
• The freedom we have in His Spirit.
• The fact that the Spirit intercedes (I know the Spirit has had to intercede for me a LOT).
• There’s more. I am thankful that there is even more than THAT to be thankful for about God!