For me thanksgiving looks a little different this year. I won't be playing in the 12th annual Turkey Bowl with my family and friends. I won't be watching the Ironbowl. I won't be eating delicious food around a table until I'm too stuffed to move. I won't be blessing the meal with the fam or going around the table naming something I am thankful for with my brothers.
For thanksgiving I will be in Nicaragua, a country that doesn't celebrate the holiday,which turns out to be perfect for me this year. Its perfect because I am exactly where I am supposed to be. Its perfect because I am learning how to be thankful every day, not just on a day called Thanksgiving. Its perfect because I am beginning to make giving thanks the basis of my life, not a season or a holiday.
One of my best friends encouraged me to start a thankful journal on the race, so in leu of Thanksgiving I am going to share one thing I have been thankful for on each day since I left the country.
1. Firework show when I felt so alone.
2. Worship on the hostile roof.
3. Freshly squeezed homemade limeade.
4. Indescribable love of the worship team, squad mates sobbing, chains breaking.
5. Children I had never seen greeting me with hugs.
6. Sharing stories with Sage about my best friends from home.
7. Burning the lies that defined us under the starlight.
8. Bare feet on cold concrete.
9. Lean on me as first worship song.
10. Be Loved-Christy Knockels.
11. Jesus telling KK to come give me a hug and say that I am made new.
12. Congregation praying/crying as we left even though we were there 5 hours.
13. Arif's compassion at the clinic for the boy without a number.
14. Naps in the pouring rain.
15. Parting of the clouds on top of the volcano, being reminded of my dependence.
16. Raging waterfalls.
17. "My daughter, you are mine"& "I know beloved"
18. Watching two births in one day, seeing the precious gift of life.
19. Teaching me that I need to make you, Father, my comforter.
20. Men of L squad being jungle gyms for the orphanage boys.
21. Tickle fights in open fields, surrounded by mountains.
22. Playing signs.
23." Sit at the foot of the cross, let me hold you and fight for you"
24. Catch phrase for team time.
25. Starting my day at the foot of the cross overlooking Antigua.
26. Bare feet, soft grass, garden quiet, cool breeze.
27. Praying for Michele on her birthday during my volcano hike.
28. Standing in the middle of the street at 3:30 AM praying.
29. Playing soccer in church clothes.
30.Thunderstorms.
31. Beginning a romance.
32. Surprise email from Zach and the friendship I am blessed with.
33. Breaking boxes: Manuels eyes being healed!!
34. Watching Merbs & Sage attempt to de-lice Ceci.
35. Crying at Javier's birthday party.
36. Age old tree roots "That's when My love for you began".
37. Jumping pictures with the kids.
38. Watching the love as Bob bowled with Melvin.
39. Mi Casa Kids singing Your Love is Deep.
40. Desire to know more of you Daddy.
41. Making cookies, letting go of pride.
42. Bob's words: "I would have paid Seth to send your team here"
43. Waking up to the joy & contagious laughter of the girls.
44. Being humbled as Ceci cleaned up the water I spilled.
45. Javi singing my heart will go on, Nestor's giggle, Kevin's sweet smile.
46. Light breeze blowing run away strands of hair across my face.
47. Quiet time under the stars.
48. Carmen giving me her grandmothers coin purse.
49. Dance party after the benefit dinner.
50. Massive ocean waves crashing over us.
51. Sage & Amanda passed out with the kids in their laps.
52. Skyping Kris for the first time.
53. Taking over 100 pictures on photobooth for Shawna.
54. Rosita sobbing in my arms, Suyapa's embrace, Bob's speech.
55. The girls sleeping on the floor to say one last goodbye at 2 AM.
56. Johnny's worship song.
57. Being reminded how blessed I am to have an incredible boyfriend.
58. March of Jericho around the walls of my heart.
59. Lemons the size of my face.
60. Quiet time in a hammock.
61. Vision for everyone of my teammates during our refinement prayer.
62. Pitter patter of small feet.
63. Sharing YL stories with Kaitlyn.
64. Run to the lake.
65. Hearing the voice of my Savior " Let go of your expectations & let Me love you"
66. Learning to bake in the stone oven with the moms.
67. Driving stick, windows down, listening to The Beat by Ben Rector.
68. Screaming Mumford in the kitchen with my teammates: Love it will not betray you, dismay or enslave you, it will set you free.
69. A mom sweeping her dirt yard with a broom.
70. P90x team workout.
71. Realizing I love calling my Heavenly Father Daddy.
72. Church in our pajamas with a podcast and ipod worship.
73. Lemon hunting with Mary B and Amanda.
74. Playing hide & seek and giggling for 30 min with the little boy on the bus.
75. Slumber by NeedtoBreathe.
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
