Thankful Day 11

Today I am thankful for Christmas Decorations. 

Yes I am one of those people who would decorate on October 1st if I could. 

This year decorations went up November 8. 

A tree. 

Lights. 

Wreaths. 

Stockings. 

Candy dishes shaped like stars and trees. 

Lights, oh so many lights. 

I am thankful that it is Christmas season. 

Although this is one of the most commercialized holidays driven by material goods. At the heart of it we get to celebrate the birth of our Savior. 

A birthday that changes everything. 

I pray for opportunities this season to share the good news with others. 

To point the glory back to God. 

As sit here and get to be reminded of the reason for the lights, trees, stockings and wreaths I am thankful that Jesus came!

Thankful Day 9/10

I am thankful for home cooked meals. 

I have been blessed to receive some amazing home cooked meals lately and even had the opportunity to cook tonight.  The process can be challenging but the end result so exciting! Either you prepare ahead of time and gather ingredients you know will work together or you look around with what you have and decide to get creative. Either way it's a process and the end result is a learning experience. I hope to always challenge myself to continue learning in the kitchen, to continue cultivating, to continue creating. 

Thankful Day 8

Today I am thankful for Saturdays!

Saturday come with endless opportunities. 

One could stay in bed all day. 

Head to the beach, to Tahoe for the day, catch up on errands from the week. 

This Saturday was filled with a birthday party for my favorite niece, community time with some of my favorite ladies and decorating my house for Christmas! 

Thankful Day 7

Today I am thankful for my health. 

I woke up today with a sore throat. Like most sore throats I thought I could drink some tea, limit my vocal interactions and I would be ok. 

At the end of my day I can tell you that is not the case. I stood in line at Safeway among your typical Friday night shoppers. Between desserts and flowers I put my throat tea, cough drops and soup. 

This will only last a few days and I will be back to 100%. However I am struck with the humbling reminder that so many are not as fortunate to be able to run to the store for a quick remedy. We are so blessed to have common aid readily accessible to us. 

So as I wait for my tea to cool I will continue to thank God that He is the ultimate healer and pray that when I wake I will be able to swallow again without pain! 

Thankful Day 6

Today I am thankful for laughter. 

There are so many "types" of laughs. 

People laugh when they feel awkward. 

People laugh because they think they have to.

People laugh because others are laughing. 

People laugh when they are nervous. 

But true laughter when it catches you off guard and something is really fun. That laughter has the ability to feed the soul. 

True laughter brings tears of joy  

True laughter takes away your ability to speak. 

With tears running down your face you look at each other and just keep laughing.

Laughing is contagious. Even if you don't know what started it if you see two people consumed in laughter you can't  help but smile. 

I pray that you all experience good hearty, my stomach hurts, I can't stop, I'm crying- laughter. 

And when the tears dry up and you can't remember what you are laughing about you begin to laugh at yourselves all over again. 

Thankful Day 5

Today I am thankful for leadership. 

I am thankful to have people who pour into me. 

To have people who know me and love me. 

People who see potentional when I see road blocks. 

I choose to submit myself to living transparently to allow my life to become all that God has planned for. 

To be truly humble to wisdom and being called higher. 

Great leadership inspires. It cultivates. It dreams together and puts words into action. 

I pray that I will always seek great leadership and allow myself to be discipled to live fully alive, fully present. 

Thankful Day 4

Today I am thankful for community. 

I have the rare privilege to sit front row to some incredible women. Together we share our wins and failures. We sing with joy and cry in grief together. When I am around them I can be completely me. Completely broken, frustrated, and defeated because together we remind each other that our victory is won, our future is spoken for and because of Jesus we can wake up each day with joy in our hearts and hope for the future.  

I am thankful for sisters who call me higher. 

I am thankful for quite moments when the Holy Spirit is speaking and together we can listen. 

I am thankful for love undeserved. 

I am thankful for forgiveness extended again and again. 

I am thankful for laughter that ends in tears and tears than end in laughter. 

I honestly know I am blessed and thank God for allowing me to experience His love through such incredible women. 

Thankful Day 3

Today I am thankful for day light savings! I know it was technically yesterday but waking up for the day was so much easier today when it felt later than the clock said! This also means that at the end of my day I am headed to bed much earlier than normal but hey maybe this is the start of catching up on my sleep!

Thankful Day 2

I am thankful for worship. 

One of my favorite things about being planted in New Life Church is the worship atmosphere. Each week we begin and finish service with songs of praise. What I always appreciate about the songs we sing is how they encourage the desperate, seek after the lost and celebrate the character of God. Tonight was no exception. 

I encourage you to search the song below and allow the lyrics to pour over you as you face the trials of this world. 

Strong God by Desperation Band 

Father to the fatherless
Defender of the weak
Freedom for the prisoner
We sing

This is God in His holy place
This is God clothed in love and strength

Sing out, lift your voice and cry out
Awesome is our strong God, mighty is our God

With us in the wilderness
Faithful to provide
Every breath and every step
We see

This is God in His holy place
This is God clothed in love and strength

Sing out, lift your voice and cry out
Awesome is our strong God, mighty is our God

Sing out, raise your hands and shout out
Awesome is our strong God, mighty is our God

There is no higher, no
There is no greater, no
There is none stronger than our God

Sing out, lift your voice and cry out
Awesome is our strong God, mighty is our God

Sing out, raise your hands and shout out
Awesome is our strong God, mighty is our God

Mighty is our God
Mighty is our God

Thankful Day 1

November 1st means red cups are back at Starbucks. This means Christmas is just around the corner. The happiest time of the year is upon us but before we deck the halls and put up the tree, I want to take the next 30 days to be intentionally thankful. 

Today I am thankful for friendship. I have been blessed by incredible friends throughout my life. Today I was able to spend time with an old friend. Our friendship has been through its fair share of ups and downs and through that our trust has grown, respect increased and understanding deepened. I am thankful for their wisdom, encouragement and ability to make me laugh.