Day 83...

Today I am thankful for all of the year of 2011. It had its ups and downs for sure, but I've grown so much in my walk with God, that my mind is blown! I've found a much deeper love for Him than I ever thought possible. I've learned that He is there in the good times and the bad times. He will never leave us nor forsake us! What an amazing thought, right? This year was literally THE HARDEST YEAR of my LIFE, yet I wouldn't trade it for anything! For some reason I can't seem to get the lyrics to Blessings out of my head, especially the chorus!

"What if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?
What if trial of this life are Your mercies in disguise?"

Wow... It's amazing to think about! I've learned to praise God in ALL things, and am praying that He will use me as an instrument of praise to give Him all the glory! I'm also going to begin writing down all of my days of this blog in a bedside journal... That way I can keep up with what I've written, and even write things down when I can't get to a computer... Happy New Year!

Day 82...

Today I am thankful for the "social-ness" of ECD. We had a formal Holiday dance practice today that was so much fun! I also found out that my favorite guy to dance with is Aleyna's siter-in-law's younger brother! Weird! Anywho, I'm thankful for the chance to get to know people and make new friends!

Day 81...

Today I am thankful for being single! I know... Weird, right? Well anyway, I was having a hard time this year, constantly watching people get married, engaged, etc. But then God showed me what a gift this "singleness" is! I mean, there are so many things I can be doing now in my single years, that once I get a "boyfriend"/husband/family I won't be able to do! Like right now, I could travel and go on adventures, which I L.O.V.E. to do! But say if I were engaged, I would have to be focused on my fiancee, planning a wedding, and getting everything right! I wouldn't have time! And if I chose to put it off until after the wedding or whatever, then I'd be too busy being focused on starting a family! There wouldn't be time! So why do I sit around dreaming of Prince Charming all the time, wondering when he's going to come dashing in on a tall, white horse and sweep me off my feet to live happily ever after?! I just realized that's a BIG, FAT WASTE OF TIME!!! There's soooo much more I can be doing! Things that if I don't do now, I might never get the chance again! So I'm thankful for this realization today! (Sorry if this was a bit of a "rant post" today!)

Day 80...

Today I am thankful for a strange and sudden peace God has given me in my life... I don't know how to put this feeling into words, so I'm not even gonna try

Day 79...

Today I am thankful for my new camera... It's sooooo much fun to use, and I love using it to take pictures of God's creation!

Day 78...

Today I am thankful for chilly winter mornings that are perfect for drinking a cup of hot coffee!

Day 77...

Merry Christmas! Today I am thankful for my family... Yup, obvious! But I like spending Christmas with my family... And as we get older, we might not get to spend as many Christmases together... I mean, last year was my last Christmas I'd spend with my grandpa... And as my brother and I get older, we're probably going to move out or get married... So I'm thankful, oh so thankful, for my family!

Day 76...

Today is Christmas Eve, and I realized I'm very thankful for the Christmas carol Hark, The Herald Angels Sing... For several parts of the song in particular...

Hark! the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations rise;
Join the triumph of the skies;
With angelic host proclaim
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of the virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our EmmanuelHark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"

Hail! the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birthHark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"

Day 75...

Today I am thankful that I was able to fix an anklet my grandpa gave me 6 years ago... Several links broke, and no jeweler said they could fix it :( So I attempted it myself, and was able to turn it into a bracelet... So now I have it to treasure forever! I hope!

Day 74...

Today I am thankful for wrapping paper! I love the stuff! Wrapping Christmas presents is one of my favorite things to do! Ever!

Day 73...

Today I am thankful for getting all of my Christmas shopping finished! Now I can enjoy the rest of the Holiday season without stress!

Day 72...

Today I am thankful that I was able to hang out with my friend Aleyna, an then spend the night at her house! So. Much. Fun!

Day 71...

Today I am thankful for getting to spend time with my mom's side of the family... They're crazy and fun!

Day 70...

Today I am thankful for everything Christmas-y! :) Everyone seems to be happier and more cheerful around Christmastime... And it's contagious!

Day 69...

Today I am thankful that my dad came home from his week long buisness trip... I guess I'm just a big Daddy's Girl!

Day 68...

Today I am thankful for being able to spend some time with my brother! It doesn't happen as much now that we're both older... It's really kinda sad! But I love it when I get to spend time with him!

Day 67...

Today I'm thankful for Christmas trees! :) I love 'em so much! They're just so...so... so FESTIVE! (I love tha word!)

Day 66...

Only 300 more days to go! ;) Hahaha.... Well today I am thankful for my pedal harp that I play in the church orchestra! I usually take my pedal harp to pratices, but lately I've been bringing my small lever harp... I forgot how frustrating it is to play the orchestra music on it! It's nearly impossible! So having the big harp that was made to play orchestra music helps.... A lot! So that's what I'm thankful for on this 66th day of thankful blogging!

Day 65...

Today I'm thankful for the chance I had to go hang out with my good friend Aleyna... She picked me up from work, then we went to the mall! After that we went out to eat and looked at Christmas lights! We don't have TOO much in common, but it never gets boring! And I've learned that I'm always really weird around her... Like I mean WEIRD! Once I threw a spoon in the trash can while I was having a conversation with her. About five minutes later I asked where on earth the spoon I had sitting out was... She said, "You threw it away!"... Of course she always lets you do something really dumb and then she tells you about it! Like I said, always fun and never boring! hahaha! I have to laugh at myself every time I'm around her!

Day 64...

Today I'm thankful for my hip stretches and excercises... They got rid of the pain in that strained muscle... And I realized that most of the "all over my hip" pain I was experiencing was coming from that! Unfortunately, I also realized that there is a spot above and to the left (still on my hip) where the pain is more pin-pointed. It's actually a lot closer to the joint than the strained muscle... But I'm also thankful that I'm able to target where that pain is coming from! One more week, and if it isn't better, back to the doctor I go... I'm hoping and praying that it will be gone by then!

Day 63...

Today I am thankful for the chance I had to go caroling with my youh group at the senior home where my grandma lives. I ended up on the 3rd floor (so not on a floor where I could see Mammaw...) and I got to see a man I met at lunch today! (We ate lunch in the dining room there! Just as good as a restraunt and FREE! ;) My group was, of course, the most awesome caroling group! (we split the youth group into 3 groups... one on each floor)... But before and after we did the caroling, I walked over to what they call the Wall of Honor... My grandpa's picture is hanging there under the Navy section. At that point I couldn't hold back the tears. What was the most heartbreaking, is the fack that his frame had a small crack and the glass was broken too. But I know that's a sad thing on what's supposed to be a happy, thankful blog... But what I'm really thankful for is my friend who understands and was there for me. It meant a lot just to have her come up while I was just staring and hold my hand.

Day 62...

Today I am thankful for a newly discovered love to draw... Or sketch... Really whatever you want to call it!!!!!!! Anyway, I've pulled out some old art supplies, and I've been having SO MUCH FUN! Yes... It IS late... Why yes, I did have Starbucks today! ;)

Day 61...

Today I'm thankful for my job... Again... But I love it! Even when it comes to mopping the floor or cleaning the bathroom! I've noticed if I sing or hum while I work, it gets done much faster... But then my day is over quicker... Bummer... Oh well! I am thankful that I can enjoy my job!

Day 60...

Today I'm thankful for a strained muscle in my hip! So far, that's what the dr. thinks is causing my pain... Well why am I thankful for it? Because it could have been worse!

Day 59...

Today I am thankful for some Bible verses I read today...

1 John 5:14-15

¹⁴And this is the confidence that we have toward him,

that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

¹⁵And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask,

we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

Cross references:

1. 1 John 5:14 : 1 John 2:28; 3:21; 4:17
2. 1 John 5:14 : 1 John 3:22; Prov 10:24

Isaiah 41:10

¹⁰fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand

1 Peter 5:6-7

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore,

under the mighty hand of God

so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

⁷ casting all your anxieties on him,

because he cares for you.

Psalm 34:1-4

¹I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
²My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
let the humble hear and be glad.
³Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!

⁴I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.

Day 58...

Today I'm thankful for my church's annual ladies ornament exchange! It's a lot of fun! And it's tonight! :) So I'm posting now because I'll be too tired later... And I'm also thankful for my boss's physical therapist! She came early today, so I was able to meet her... As she was about to leave, I asked if there were any stretches or exercises I could do for my hip.. She said that after I go to the doc about it (which has been scheduled for Thurs... Wait, have I mentioned that before?) she'll work with me when she comes to see Mr. G! :) So I'm really happy that I'm gonna have some help with it!

Day 57...

Today I am thankful that Mr. G. slept for most of the day! And my work hours changed! Woo hoo! So anywho, I was able to rest my hip for most of the day... :) Yay! Always happy for that! (Well, as of late I am!) And Mom was able to schedule an appt. with my doc today! So I'm going in on Thursday to get my hip checked out... Pleas pray that there is nothing too bad going on with it!

Day 56...

Today I'm thankful for the kids at our church! Why am I having this obsession with kids all of a sudden?! Anywho....It's really fun to watch how my dear brother and the cutest little boy at church act together! Sam follows Andy around and just loves him! And Andy is cute with Sam too! I'm not good with kids myself, but I wish I was!

Day 55...

Today I am thankful for a chord progression that got stuck in my head! I ended up writing a song with it! I'm so proud of myself! :)

Day 54...

Today I am thankful for a sore hip and ECD! Hahaha... Last Summer, I fell and injured my left hip on several occasions... Very painful... The pain went away after about two months, so I figured I just bruised it or something... Ever since then, it has been hurting off and on. Over the past few days, it's beenfeeling like I injured it again! I am praying that the pain will go away soon, but I'm learning to deal with it slowly... ANd I'm thankful that even with my sore hip, I was able to make it all the way through tonight's ECD practice! *Hallelujah Chorus begins playing...* And it may sound crazy, but I'm thankful for both!

Day 53...

Today I am thankful that it's December! Now I can finally listen to Christmas music without feeling "guilty"!