on The World Race for 8 full months; I have yet to be alone (aside from the
time I shower and use the bathroom). I
have traveled to 14 countries, lived in an array of living situations, used
toilets that cannot at all be classified as toilets, slept on floors so much
that when I had a bed it hurt my back.
I’ve fallen in love with children, fallen even more in love with Jesus,
lived in community constantly, eaten foods I didn’t even know existed and
absolutely cannot picture my life any other way. I have slept in my own pool of sweat, had
bugs biting me constantly, seen the hugest bugs I never knew existed. I’ve walked for miles with my pack (which is
the size of a large child), jumped off waterfalls, explored the woods, watched
countless sunsets, seen God’s magnificent lightening storms, I’ve had know idea
what I’m doing or where I’m going or how I’m going to get there, but some how
God provides a way every single time and guides my path.
I started a thankfulness book, thanks to squad mate Kayla Griffin who gave me
the idea. We were sitting in a clinic
waiting for our friend to get out from seeing the doctor and she was writing in
this little book, I asked her what it was, her thankful book. That very day I bought a little composition
notebook, the size of a small change purse for 50cents and placed it in my
purse pocket (after it was decorated of course). This is my book of things that I am thankful
for. At first I wasn’t sure how it was
going to go or if I would have very many things to write down. Once I got started I couldn’t stop being
thankful for everything in my life. It’s
amazing how writing those little things down makes you realize how much we have
to be thankful for. Things that I had
always taken for granted; example: a toilet seat, or a toilet that has 4 walls
so people can’t see you, have suddenly become things that I am overjoyed to
see. I have become thankful to have a
designated place to go to the bathroom, for cup showers, even when I have to
walk to fill up a bucket and carry it all the way back, at least I get to put
water on my body; who cares that its rain water infested with mosquito
larvae. Its funny, things that I would
have said GROSS I could never do that, have now become second nature.
Writing
down what I am thankful for has proven to be addicting, I think of things all
the time. One day while I was in church
a fly tried to fly into my eye. In that
moment I was thankful that I had eyelids that shut to protect my eye. It may seem silly, but good golly has the
Lord blessed us. I want to challenge you
to start keeping a notebook of the things you are thankful for. One, it shows you just how many things you
have to be thankful for and two, when you are upset or frustrated you can look
back and remember all the little things that you were once so grateful for, all
the little or big things that make you smile.
I am beyond thankful for the Lords provisions in my life and
that he has place you in my life! Be
blessed. I love you all so much.
number of things I am thankful for is up to 380… Goal= endless
