HI everyone! This blog is literally exactly what you think. A big fat gratitude list!!!! Over the past few months, while being in Ecuador, I have been making gratitude lists. They really cultivate a heart of thankfulness which is something I am working on!!! Also, I feel like they sum up my time in Ecuador pretty well. Which is coming to an end so soon.
Ps some of it may not make sense because it’s pretty specific but I wanna look back on this and be like “Omg I remember that!!!!” And also some things are on there multiple times but I’m just reaaallllyyy thankful for them lol, so they get to stay. Enjoy my BIG fat gratitude list— this is Ecuador!!!!!
1.) Alone time, finding myself and the Lord in the quiet moments
2.) How well Jesus knows my heart and my needs, not giving me the ministry I thought I wanted
3.) Christmas traditions I get to keep/start
4.) Organization, things going as planned
5.) Seeing the fruit of your labor as soon as you are done
6.) Spanish- hearing and learning more of it
7.) Mabe and Fabi
8.) My health
9.) My toiletries and my clothes- seeing Braeden lose her bag made me realize how lucky I am to have mine
10.) Showers. Even if they’re kinda chilly, just getting to feel clean.
11.) Yummy dinners prepared with love
12.) People that smile and wave through car windows
13.) Changing hearts
14.) Anticipation
15.) Peaceful worship
16.) Physical strength
17.) Laughter
18.) Mornings that I have lots of energy
19.) Seeing growth in myself
20.)The safety and protection that is found in Jesus
21.) My best friend at home
22.) Good food and better company
23.) Ecuadorian party buses
24.) Freaking comfy beds
25.) Relationships changing and growing
26.) Headphones
27.) Realizing I have my whole life ahead of me and I get to spend some of it here
28.) Jehovah’s witnesses and all that they teach me about my faith
29.) Finding goofy dresses to rock at our tacky prom
30.) Days spent at the house all day- relaxing!
31.) Toilet paper!! When we have it!! Which is rare so that makes it something to be super grateful for when we have it
32.) Sharing clothes with my girls allll the time. It’s like the cutest sisterhood I ever did know
33.) For music, and new music
34.) Sarah Barnes
35.) New Years dance parties that feel more like home than home ever did
36.) People that are SO willing to help. The ones that donated not only to my trip but who willingly donated for me to enjoy my time in each county to the full extent.
37.) Getting to feel fancy in a big fat cutie yoga room
38.) Friends that want to do the same things as me!! Thanks Christine!!
39.) Seeing growth when I’m not even looking for it
40.) Getting to dream about my future and all the possibilities it holds! Teacher? Psychologist? Florist? Author? All of the above? None of the above? The world is mine for the taking!
41.) Resisting temptation because the Lord transforms my mind and my heart. He aligns my heart with HIs. Thank gosh.
42.) Views that He set out just for me. He knew I was going to be there and I was going to love it. The mountains I got to see rafting in Baños.
43.) People that remind me I am loved, prayed for, and missed
44.) AMERICAN PANCAKES!
45.) Places that feel like home. Sat in a restaurant that felt like Kylee’s kitchen. Cried.
46.) Sushi, good fries, and matcha lattes
47.) New shower stuff!!!! Ugh. Too nice.
48.) Laughter with my team, even if it may be at the wrong time
49.) Stuffed taxis, watching people’s faces when 6 of us get out of 1 taxi
50.) Growing in patience and grace- struggles at ministry and the Lord making His presence known
51.) A new school to teach at! Newness is so fun. What’s to come????
52.) New music- especially from Erin.
53.) Possible internships already arising. Reassurance from the Lord.
54.) PICKING. MY. MAJOR. HDFS!!!!!!!
55.) Understanding the magnitude of the Race, the Lord giving me the dream of leaving to show me how special it is that I am here!
56.) Having people at home to miss
57.) Funny dinner nights where we STUFF ourselves. Corn galore. I looked PREGNANT.
58.) Reading new books and understanding a topic better!!!
59.) Empty grocery stores
60.) Finding a dollar on the bus and getting to get my ice cream sandwich I had wanted all week
61.) Extra sleepy sleep
62.) 21 Jumpstreet
63.) Getting stuff done! Productivity!
64.) ICE CREAM
65.) Sushi. Wish I could afford to get it more, but in the meantime.. someone stop me
66.) Random people that speak English and are willing to help me communicate with others
67.) Mrs. Donna and Mr. Brian
68.) Self control from the Lord
69.) Staying in budget
70.) Not feeling rushed, having plenty of time to do stuff/get ready
71.) Praying over people with freedom
72.) Feeling beautiful
73.) When the taxi driver drops you off at the driveway instead of the gate
74.) ICED. WATER.
75.) Having enough free time to work out
76.) Teacher Dennis!! A gem and a half. She teaches me SO much.
77.) Bootleg amusement parks
78.) Seeing butterflies
79.) To all the boys I’ve loved before 2— getting to watch/comment on it with Sarah
80.) When plans don’t work out but they end up better than the original ones
81.) Watching my prayers get answered
82.) The notes Madi sent with me. Man, they are sometimes JUST what my heart needs.
83.) Raspberry and chocolate ice cream from the mall
84.) My mom’s generosity. Letting me treat Colby and Hannah to dinner. Thanks mom for helping me love people!!
85.) When the Lord goes above and beyond to love me
86.) New food places that result in the fullest bellies and hearts
87.) Dad wanting to go paragliding with me!! That sounds TOO fun
88.) Getting to speak the name of Jesus to people
89.) Choosing the hard things, and then seeing the reward.
90.) Kicking comparison in the butt!!! Realizing her beauty does not diminish mine.
91.) The broken door outside— how we always kick it in even though we aren’t supposed to. Not sure why that makes it feel more like home but it does!!
92.) Mabe texting me and checking in on me after she saw me crying. The intentionality of our ministry hosts. Unmatched!
93.) Open minds and open hearts
94.) Alone time that ends up being filled with laughter
95.) The ability to move on and let go
96.) Stillness. Quiet.
97.) When I actually understand Spanish and can speak back!!!
98.) That little mirror wall outside of Santamaría
99.) The flowers that are sold on the side of the street
100.) The pandería right next to ministry— seriously has the best banana bread I have ever had
101.) The kids at the school we teach at. I love them. They are SO SWEET. I MISS THEM ALREADY.
102.) The men of A squad. Their hearts for us. Probably the sweetest Valentine’s Day I have ever had. They washed our feet tonight.
103.) $3 manicures!!!!
104.) When someone gives up their spot for you on the bus. Or getting to see someone’s face when YOU give up your seat.
105.) The ratman painting where we get off the bus
106.) The fact that I get to show my mom and dad around Quito!! Praises for PVT.
107.) Hearing about my friends at home thriving
108.) Dunamis. Cristina.
109.) When the Lord speaks to me through my dreams
110.) Days my team and I aren’t on dishes
111.) TAYLOR SWIFT!!!!
112.) When our squad leader, Marissa, is with our team for the week
113.) Good ol vitamin D
114.) SQUAD DANCE PARTIES
115.) The bathroom door squeak. I know right now it’s annoying but I really would know that sound anywhere and I think that’s sweet
116.) Funny incorrect English sentences when I grade papers. LITERALLY THE BEST.
117.) When the plates fit perfectly in the cabinet when I do dishes
118.) The grass patch that overlooks the city— only the most beautiful place to do quiet time
119.) Getting to make pretzels with Jack and Alex— even though I am the worst they always let me help!!!
120.) The new lightbulb Morgan and I bought that makes any room look like a disco party
121.) Seeing my mom and dad!!!!
122.) That feeling you get when you take off in a plane— physically and mentally
123.) Realizing how much closer my squad has gotten over the past 3 months
124.) When people are patient with the fact that my Spanish isn’t the best, and they laugh with me
125.) Knowing that the Lord set out each and every one of those things for me to get to enjoy/seek Him in
Thank you Jesus for Ecuador. Thank you for the things it taught me. Thanks for all the hard times, bad times, and everything in between. Thanks for trusting me to find you in these things and for continuing to send them my way.
Ecuador, you were SWEET to me! Muchas gracias por tu amor. Te extrañaré.
Cambodia— bring it on!
