Imagine this. We leave the house Wednesday and head to the middle of nowhere in Nebraska to meet all of my Mom’s family (aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, great aunts, great uncles, the whole shabang). We arrive that evening/night to campgrounds and immediately head to the gym. In this gym intense soccer tournaments, basketball games, and kickball occur for hours on end for the Thanksgiving weekend of a lifetime. Don’t worry, we shower and dress nice for the afternoon meal on Thursday, but right after pictures we are right back in the gym. There is a snack table full of all the sweet and salty treats you could ever imagine and not much sleep happens, I mean time with the cousins is much more valued. We leave Saturday morning after breakfast and wait around all year until we leave to do it again the next year.
It is so hard to miss my absolute favorite time of year twice in a row, however this Thanksgiving I still have a whole lot to be thankful for. Something I started doing about a year ago was starting every morning with writing 10 things I am thankful for from the past 24 hours. The Lord has used this and continues to use it to transform my heart and mind to seek out all the things to be thankful for rather than dwelling in negativity. So, I wanted to share ten of the things I am most thankful for this fine day.
FAMILY — I don’t know where in the world I would be without my incredible family. They love me through the hard times and push me into newness. They accept my weirdness and laugh at my jokes (occasionally). They support me even when it is hard and ALWAYS push me to grow more towards and into who the Lord wants me to be. They inspire me each and everyday and being away from them is the hardest part of being away. I owe a lot to you all fam bam! Thanks for loving me so well and choosing me even though we are forced to be together haha. Miss you all so much!!
COMMUNITY — From my church community to friends back home to my family to Gap K and now Gap Q the Lord has blessed me in abundance with community. He has given me some of the best real life friends I could ever ask for that push me toward Him and inspire me into more intimacy. They are my biggest fans and supporters and have played such a big role in al of my journeys in life. Whether it is a community I was placed within or one I sought out I am so thankful for all the people the Lord has put on my path!
THE WORLD RACE — Boy oh boy am I thankful for this journey the Lord has taken me on. I am thankful for the community I have been blessed with through it. I am thankful for the people I have had the honor of serving who in turn served me and loved me so incredibly well. I am thankful for the journey of “finding myself.” And I am most thankful for the intimacy that I have been able to walk into with the Father through this incredible journey.
A WHOLE LOT OF JESUS — I am thankful that I grew up in a Christian home and have been blessed to know and walk with the Lord my entire life! I am thankful I was raised in a country where I am free to openly worship my Jesus. I am thankful for my relationship and friendship with Him that is ever growing! I am just thankful for all of who He is and that I am able to spend my life making disciples and bringing people to the Lord I know and love.
FORGIVENESS — I am so incredibly grateful that the Lord’s mercies are new each and everyday. I am so thankful that even though I deserve the least the Lord washes me clean and calls me worthy. I am thankful that I can walk in freedom through repentance. I am thankful that the Lord meets me where I’m at and forgives no matter the circumstances.
RICE AND BEANS — I know this might sound a little crazy, but after being home and then coming back out into the field I realized how much I truly missed rice and beans. It has almost become a comfort to me these days. So, catch me eating all the rice and beans when I get home Mom!
SUPPORTERS — I am so grateful for each and every person who has supported me through life to get me where I am at. From family to friends to church to teachers and everyone in between the Lord has blessed me with such an incredible group of supporters. I have raised $18,000 in the past year for crying out loud! And shout out to all my crazy prayer warriors out there!! I am so thankful for everyone who has made all my crazy journeys possible!
SOCKS — I love socks, everything about them. My feet feel naked when I don’t have them on. I wear them literally everywhere whether it is with birks or chacos or tennis shoes or just by themselves. I like all sorts of fun patterns and just recently started matching them (although I do still enjoy the occasional mismatched sock life). So yeah, all that being said, you could say I’m thankful for socks I guess.
WHATSAPP — I may not be with my family, but I am thankful that doesn’t mean I can’t talk to them. I love my being able to see their faces and hear their voices even though we are miles apart. It also means I get to be a small part of the Thanksgiving festivities 🙂
This year while I’m not at my happy place with my family in Nebraska, I am so thankful that I got to celebrate with my Gap Q Family. Our sweet neighbor and landlord had us over for a Thanksgiving feast and festivities, so don’t worry…I am well taken care of! I hope you all were able to find so many things to be thankful for on this fine holiday!! Sending all the love and then some your way from Costa Rica!!
