Every couple of years, I am intentional in the month of November to list things I’m grateful or thankful for. I would usually do this on Facebook with a status everyday with my thoughts for the day. I’ve struggled with depression and often times the holidays make my depression worse. Gratitude helps depression. So, I’m going to list something I am thankful for, for each year of my life. I have so much to be grateful and thankful for and I don’t want to take them for granted.
- Salvation and that it belongs to the Lord.
- I’m saved by grace through faith. There is nothing I can do to attain salvation apart from Him.
- The Lord’s plan for my life and how He is leading me.
- The countless men and women who have invested in my spiritual growth.
- AU and SS, the best math/stat professors, and I had the opportunity to study under them.
- The freedom of speech I have as an American.
- The freedom of religion.
- GOI and the new family and community it has given me.
- Therapy and my therapist. It’s not always fun. Sometimes I feel like I need to sleep for the next week when I leave, but I’m grateful.
- The faithfulness of the Lord and His sustaining grace.
- All of the random jobs I’ve done the last year to semi keep afloat financially. Tutoring math. Painting houses. Pressure washing all the things. House sitting. Teaching guitar. Food truck work.
- My new job at the church as a receptionist, something I never thought I’d do.
- The 19 days I spent in the Kingdom of Wonder this year.
- Co-leading my small group. What a blessing and honor it is to be able to lead this group of women as we study the word together.
- The hard times which have allowed me to know Jesus as a comforter.
- Disney trips with my “adopted” family.
- Volunteering with the ESL ministry. I think I learn as much from them as they learn from me.
- Hard conversations with people who love and care about me.
- Dallas Cowboys’ football… Even though sometimes it’s rough being a fan.
- Grief buddies… those who also know deep loss and understand grief and how it affects you.
- Growth. Mentally. Emotionally. Physically. Spiritually. I can look back and see how much I’ve grown in the last year.
- Technology and how it allows me to stay in touch with people across the world.
- Long road trips that involve constant singing and the occasional self pep talk.
- Friends
- The unfailing and steadfast love of the Lord.
- Long weekends out of town with friends.
- Even though I don’t claim or acknowledge it often, the musical abilities I’ve been blessed with.
- Sunsets at the beach.
- Black Peach Tea at 7brew (not all of my things can be serious).
- The bio family I have left.
- The massive family I have because of Christ.
- The financial support of so many as I prepare to go.
Happy Thanksgiving. My hope and prayer is that regardless of what tomorrow may bring for you or for me, we can still find joy and have a heart of gratitude for all that the Lord has done, is doing, and will do.
Isaiah 12:4-6
4 And on that day you will say,
“Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name.
Make known His deeds among the peoples;
Make them remember that His name is exalted.”
5 Praise the Lord in song, for He has done glorious things; Let this be known throughout the earth.
6 Rejoice and shout for joy, you inhabitant of Zion,
For great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
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Grief. Going. Healing. 
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