I'm thankful for hot showers.
I'm thankful for 24 hour grocery stores.
I'm thankful for Starbucks.
I'm thankful for the freedom of religion.
I'm thankful for journaling sessions.
I'm thankful for the way the Lord chooses to speak to me.
I'm thankful for the constant work the Lord is doing in my heart.
I'm thankful that I live in Redding.
I'm thankful for the Stirring.
I'm thankful for Bethel.
I'm thankful for iBethel.tv so I can watch the worship and messages from Bethel when I can't attend in person.
I'm thankful that I get to volunteer in the Nursery at church and hold precious babies every single Sunday.
I'm thankful for the restoration and healing the Lord has done in my relationships with people from a previous church.
I'm thankful for friends' family's who have adopted me into theirs since all my family lives on the East Coast.
I'm thankful for my job and my paycheck.
I'm thankful for tattoos.
I'm thankful that my tattoo artist is POSSIBLY visiting in May so I can get more.
I am thankful.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Gratitude Challenge
I'm thankful for friends. I'm pretty sure I've already mentioned this but there's
a story behind this one.
Not to get all emotional and sappy.... but I had a tough time of it last night.
This boy I was kinda, sorta, maybe, possibly interested in started dating another girl.
Sad story. But THAT wasn't what I had the problem with.
As I was sitting on Facebook and saw his "relationship change" pop up on the damn news-feed
all these lies started coming against me.
Of course he chose her over you.
She's prettier.
She's trendier.
She's cooler.
Why would he choose you?
You've never had a boyfriend.
Why is that?
You're 21 years old and single.
You're going to be single forever.
You're not good enough.
You're not pretty enough.
And more.
Over and over.
Now I knew all these were lies. But knowing in your mind that they are all lies
and knowing in your heart, are two different things.
My heart was hurting. So I did the only thing I knew to do. I started praying.
And the Lord met me.
He began to speak my true identity write to my soul.
He began replacing ALL the lies, with truths. Foundational truths that I KNOW are true and cannot be argued.
He began replacing ALL the lies, with truths. Foundational truths that I KNOW are true and cannot be argued.
That I am His daughter. That I am loved. That I am beautiful. That I am perfect. That I am worthy. That He takes delight in me. That He loves spending time with me. That He created me so uniquely. That no one else can love Him the way that I can.
All that and so much more.
It was incredible.
So of course I'm thankful for the Lord and His comforts and peace.
But I'm thankful for the friends who remind me of this.
The friends who ask how I'm doing and really want to know.
The friends that I can be raw with and explain to them that I'm having a hard day.
The friends who DON'T let me believe the lies that I am hearing and who speak against them.
So thankful.
Today I'm also thankful for friends' parents.
Who treat me like one of their own.
Who set amazing examples and standards.
Who are goofy.
Who let me hang out. All the time.
Who aren't censored and are real and raw.
Who say what they think.
Who offer up advice... even when I don't think I need it.
Who call me out.
And who love me.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Gratitude Challenge
I decided to not number my posts anymore because I get so far behind that I get depressed when I see how many days I've missed.
Anywho, for all the days that I haven't had a chance to post... I've still thought about what I'm thankful for... and that TOTALLY still counts.
Over the past week I was thankful for...
Guys who hold doors open for me.
Everyday after my morning preschool job I have to take the
lunch cart back over to the main school's cafeteria.
It's large, loud, cumbersome, and obnoxious.
You push it one way, it goes the other.
Not to mention teachers shut their door as I roll on by because it's so loud.
It's my least favorite part of my day. On Monday, as I reached the cafeteria doors
and tried to hold onto the cart, get the key out of my pocket, and unlock the door,
a dad who was inside the cafeteria ran over and held the door open.
So simple, yet so appreciated.
Libbie and our entire lifegroup.
On Tuesday I got to spend the entire afternoon with Libbie at her NEW apartment!!!!!!
We hung out, talked, laughed, and ran a ton of errands (all while singing "Write It In Lights" over and over).
Libbie and I are both in the midst of these crazy, busy, ridiculous seasons so we don't
have a TON of free time. Therefore the time we do get to spend together is so precious.
She is just so incredible. She has one of the biggest hearts for everyone. She is hilarious
and she is just wonderful. I'm so thankful to be walking with her in this season.
That night our lifegroup came over for our "Thanksgiving" dinner. So great. Delicious food.
Great fellowship. TONS of laughter. And worship music. We couldn't have asked
for a better night. I love every single one of those girls and am so thankful they are in our group.
Girls nights.
Thursday night I went to O'Leery's for the first time with my old roommate Andrea.
I don't get to see her very often so I was incredibly thankful for the few hours we got
to spend together. O'Leery's was amazing and I can't wait to go again.
I'm thankful that Redding is expanding and getting these great new restaurants/pubs/places.
My best friend Tina.
See, she works in Chico 5 days a week so I don't get to see her.
Therefore, Saturdays and Sundays are set apart for us to hang out. Even though
I hate the fact that we don't get to hang during the week I'm incredibly thankful for the two days
we DO get to spend together.
Our two days consist of catching up on everything that happened that week
as well as just hanging out and laughing. Lots and lots of laughing. And lots of movies.
It's great and I couldn't think of any other way to spend my weekends!
Anywho, for all the days that I haven't had a chance to post... I've still thought about what I'm thankful for... and that TOTALLY still counts.
Over the past week I was thankful for...
Guys who hold doors open for me.
Everyday after my morning preschool job I have to take the
lunch cart back over to the main school's cafeteria.
It's large, loud, cumbersome, and obnoxious.
You push it one way, it goes the other.
Not to mention teachers shut their door as I roll on by because it's so loud.
It's my least favorite part of my day. On Monday, as I reached the cafeteria doors
and tried to hold onto the cart, get the key out of my pocket, and unlock the door,
a dad who was inside the cafeteria ran over and held the door open.
So simple, yet so appreciated.
Libbie and our entire lifegroup.
On Tuesday I got to spend the entire afternoon with Libbie at her NEW apartment!!!!!!
We hung out, talked, laughed, and ran a ton of errands (all while singing "Write It In Lights" over and over).
Libbie and I are both in the midst of these crazy, busy, ridiculous seasons so we don't
have a TON of free time. Therefore the time we do get to spend together is so precious.
She is just so incredible. She has one of the biggest hearts for everyone. She is hilarious
and she is just wonderful. I'm so thankful to be walking with her in this season.
That night our lifegroup came over for our "Thanksgiving" dinner. So great. Delicious food.
Great fellowship. TONS of laughter. And worship music. We couldn't have asked
for a better night. I love every single one of those girls and am so thankful they are in our group.
Girls nights.
Thursday night I went to O'Leery's for the first time with my old roommate Andrea.
I don't get to see her very often so I was incredibly thankful for the few hours we got
to spend together. O'Leery's was amazing and I can't wait to go again.
I'm thankful that Redding is expanding and getting these great new restaurants/pubs/places.
My best friend Tina.
See, she works in Chico 5 days a week so I don't get to see her.
Therefore, Saturdays and Sundays are set apart for us to hang out. Even though
I hate the fact that we don't get to hang during the week I'm incredibly thankful for the two days
we DO get to spend together.
Our two days consist of catching up on everything that happened that week
as well as just hanging out and laughing. Lots and lots of laughing. And lots of movies.
It's great and I couldn't think of any other way to spend my weekends!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Gratitude Challenge
I'm thankful for the Lord's words. The life-giving, awe-inspiring, affirming words that He speaks straight to my heart.
I'm thankful for those moments in worship where He reminds me that all I need to do, is just be. Simply be. Just show up. I don't have to DO anything.
I'm thankful for the friends who are there and who let me verbally process things through.
And I'm learning to be thankful for the season of singleness the Lord has me in.
I'm thankful for those moments in worship where He reminds me that all I need to do, is just be. Simply be. Just show up. I don't have to DO anything.
I'm thankful for the friends who are there and who let me verbally process things through.
And I'm learning to be thankful for the season of singleness the Lord has me in.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Gratitude Challenge: Days 6-8
Instead of giving you all excuses of why I haven't been keeping up on this I'm just gonna start writing about the things I've been thankful for.
Sundays. (Don't worry. I'm not going to do a consecutive Thank You for every single day of the week). I'm so thankful for Sundays. Sometimes I complain about how early I have to get up and how all I want to do is sleep...and while that might be true... I wouldn't trade my Sundays for anything.
I get to hold babies all morning long. I get to laugh about "baby tattoos" and which babies are going to be dating in 15 years with Emily Marker and Shelby.
I get to eat delicious food in the cafe. At church. So convenient.
I get to spend all day with dear friends. The friends who have become family. The friends who hold me accountable and love me. This community, this church, these people are incredible and I can't imagine what it would be like to live life without them.
My job. The Lord has blessed me with two amazing jobs. At the same location.
It's hard. And sometimes frustrating but at the end of the day, so rewarding.
My family.
I'm thankful for my Dad. Who can spout off anything and everything you could ever want or need to know about any war. Who fixes my car when I'm being a girl and have no idea what's wrong with it. And who will make the "chipmunk face" if you beg him long enough.
For my Mom. Who can only drink wine with cranberry juice. Who has a passion for preschoolers like I've never seen before. And who loves to laugh.
For Chelsea. Who loves lace, ribbon, oxfords, and anything vintage. Who puts up with me and my need for quality time. Who always makes me laugh....even when she is telling me that I'm acting like a baby.
For Brenna. Who loves music more than life itself. Who is an incredible musician. Who has a huge heart. And who loves movies.
Sundays. (Don't worry. I'm not going to do a consecutive Thank You for every single day of the week). I'm so thankful for Sundays. Sometimes I complain about how early I have to get up and how all I want to do is sleep...and while that might be true... I wouldn't trade my Sundays for anything.
I get to hold babies all morning long. I get to laugh about "baby tattoos" and which babies are going to be dating in 15 years with Emily Marker and Shelby.
I get to eat delicious food in the cafe. At church. So convenient.
I get to spend all day with dear friends. The friends who have become family. The friends who hold me accountable and love me. This community, this church, these people are incredible and I can't imagine what it would be like to live life without them.
My job. The Lord has blessed me with two amazing jobs. At the same location.
It's hard. And sometimes frustrating but at the end of the day, so rewarding.
My family.
I'm thankful for my Dad. Who can spout off anything and everything you could ever want or need to know about any war. Who fixes my car when I'm being a girl and have no idea what's wrong with it. And who will make the "chipmunk face" if you beg him long enough.
For my Mom. Who can only drink wine with cranberry juice. Who has a passion for preschoolers like I've never seen before. And who loves to laugh.
For Chelsea. Who loves lace, ribbon, oxfords, and anything vintage. Who puts up with me and my need for quality time. Who always makes me laugh....even when she is telling me that I'm acting like a baby.
For Brenna. Who loves music more than life itself. Who is an incredible musician. Who has a huge heart. And who loves movies.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Gratitude Challenge: Day 5
Today I am thankful for Saturdays.
You see, Saturdays are my favorite day of the week.
It's my one day to sleep in.
It's my one day where I have nothing planned.
It's my one day to spend all day with my best friend Tina.
It's my one day to go shopping.
It's my one day where I can sit and enjoy 3 cups of coffee if I want to.
It's my one day that I can breathe and feel like I'm not being rushed.
This season is an absolutely crazy one.
I have things planned almost every single night of the week on top of working two jobs.
So today, I am thankful for my Saturdays and all the rest and rejuvenation that they bring.
You see, Saturdays are my favorite day of the week.
It's my one day to sleep in.
It's my one day where I have nothing planned.
It's my one day to spend all day with my best friend Tina.
It's my one day to go shopping.
It's my one day where I can sit and enjoy 3 cups of coffee if I want to.
It's my one day that I can breathe and feel like I'm not being rushed.
This season is an absolutely crazy one.
I have things planned almost every single night of the week on top of working two jobs.
So today, I am thankful for my Saturdays and all the rest and rejuvenation that they bring.
Gratitude Challenge: Day 4
I already missed a day.. that's not a good sign.
I gotta get better at this.
Anyway, let's pretend that today is yesterday.
Today I am thankful for coffee.
Not just the delicious caffeinated beverage that gets me through most days.
But everything that comes along with it.
Coffee dates with friends. The kind of friends who love you and care about you.
The kind of friends who let you vent and cry and do nothing but listen.
The conversations with the coffee shop workers that almost always end in laughter.
The people watching in the coffee shop once you get your wonderful drink.
The overlapping conversations that you hear.
The fact that at least one conversation is always about the Lord
and the amazing things that He is doing in this city.
It's absolutely amazing.
I gotta get better at this.
Anyway, let's pretend that today is yesterday.
Today I am thankful for coffee.
Not just the delicious caffeinated beverage that gets me through most days.
But everything that comes along with it.
Coffee dates with friends. The kind of friends who love you and care about you.
The kind of friends who let you vent and cry and do nothing but listen.
The conversations with the coffee shop workers that almost always end in laughter.
The people watching in the coffee shop once you get your wonderful drink.
The overlapping conversations that you hear.
The fact that at least one conversation is always about the Lord
and the amazing things that He is doing in this city.
It's absolutely amazing.
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