197. Chocolate cookies...
enough said.

Contentment.

Million-dollar question: Will we ever be truly content this side of heaven? 

191. New Job.
So technically it's more hours, but I think my psycho-stressed I can't do anything feeling is going away... for now. :)

192. Thanksgiving.
I love an excuse to count blessings...

193. Cooking, sleeping, crocheting, watching Christmas movies.
Bliss. Oh and a margarita.

194. Hope.
I'd love to feel like I'm not in this in between stage for the rest of my life... but I'm thinking maybe I'd better learn to cope with the feeling rather than wait for it to go away. Hope. One day, I'll be where I was made for... Walking literally beside THE Father.

195. Children.
They really are beautiful beings. They amaze me. I want to be more like them.


196. Reminders that kick you in the behind.
Storytime:: I was sitting thinking about how certain things in my life could be better and how I feel like a failure in so many things lately. God ever so gently reminded me that I haven't laid them at His feet and fallen to my face and prayed about it. Ya, sure I've sent up a "Hey God... Here's what I'm thinking... This is how I feel... Could you please help me with blah blah blah... Help me not be a bleeep to so and so..." But really... I haven't surrendered. I haven't listened. I think I need to shut up more often.

 I'm tired... so more light gifts. I figure I should use this season of thankfulness to get back into my blogging... Just because my personality type says I often have unfinished projects doesn't mean I always need them! :)

186. Leaps of Faith.
Some days I make decisions in the hopes that they are for the best... this past week I made one that affects a handful of people... I have to trust... the Lord and myself.

187. Jesus, friend of children.
He really is a friend of children. He speaks to them and they amaze me with their wisdom. I should learn to have the childlike faith and remember that He loves me.

188. A smile.
Smiles are so powerful. I underestimate them.

189. The Library.
Ok, so maybe last month I had to pay a $6 late fee fine, but I had a boatload of books and I only paid $6 to read them. Maybe I should try for no fees. Ha... But I'm a nerd and I love the library.

190. Fuzzy Socks.
I should give them away to Salvation Army... Everyone needs a pair of these puppies.

On a role...

Two posts in the same month... I feel empowered! :) ha...

181. A break from the narrow view.
Sometimes I get so caught up in the little details that I forget to step back and look at the whole of my life... I have a warm place, food, and love... I'm living in abundance.


182. Eating my own advice.
Don't you hate those moments when you realize you need to take your own advice? I often think the Lord brings other people in my life to reflect my life back to myself... bad word choice... it's 11pm. Oh well...

183. God answers prayers.
So... I was on a roadtrip with the girls coming home from a beautiful wedding when we decided to try yet again the J. Biebs Christmas CD (it hadn't worked on the way down). Well, it didn't work. I told God half-heartedly that I just wanted to listen to songs about His Son's birth and literally 2 seconds later, the CD played. For real, God cares about the little things folks.

184. Reassurance. 
I love that the Lord knows I need reassurance in tough decisions. Turns out I'm not as independent as I thought... but shhh... don't tell anyone.

185. Goodnight.
Yes... I'm thankful for the fact that it is night night time. Sweet dreams. Pillow, here I come!

I've got more... but I want to bond with my pillow tonight. :)

The Fight

I love this season of the year. I may not be extremely thankful for the cold weather, or the fact that I have to pack the shorts away... but there's something about snuggling in with family and friends, the joy that Christmas music brings, delicious coffee creamers that taste comfortable, and most of all the reminder of thankfulness. I didn't realize how bad my heart needed that last one.

When we lay the soil of our hard lives open to the rain of grace and let joy penetrate our cracked and dry places, we let joy soak into our broken skin and deep crevices, life grows.

This is the quote on my blog... ever since I graduated, I have avoided this blog like the plaque... I used busy-ness as an excuse, but it's true that we make time for what's important. I didn't make time to be thankful... to count my blessings. I stopped fighting for a grateful heart because it was easier to complain about the fact that post-grad life is, well, less than wonderful. It's easier to complain with the ladies at work. It's easier to look at the grass that is greener on the other side. But honestly, that's not what I want. I want a heart that loves where the Lord has me because I love Him and trust Him. I want a heart that counts blessings even in the worst of times (this time in my life really isn't that bad).

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. [Psalm 139:23-24]

175. This morning.
Sitting in bed with an electric blanket, time with Jesus, peppermint mocha coffee, and Kenny G Christmas, getting served a piece of humble pie. Beautiful.

176. Forgiveness.
It's funny... I was talking to one of my preschoolers yesterday about asking for forgiveness for our actions... I'm eating my own words today. The Lord is so gracious to love us through everything. I have a lot to learn.

177. Joy and Peace.
I get this feeling every year when Christmas stuff starts coming out and I am reminded of the real reason for this season. I'm brought to tears and so grateful that the majority of people, believers or not, come together to give to others. I am reminded of the hope that God gives us. Everlasting Hope.

178. Christmas music.
Yes, I've already gotten it out. No I don't think it's too soon. I'm thankful for the joy of our Savior's birth, so I will celebrate during the month of November as well. Be a hater if you like. I'll be a lover and enjoy my music. :)  

179. Sleep.
A good night's rest changes your perspective real quick.

180. It is Him, not me.
I am so thankful that He alone makes me worthy... it kind of takes the pressure off to be completely perfect, because no matter how hard I try, I fail. Instead He says, I've conquered it all already, trust and walk with me... I have a plan for you... a purpose... a hope... and I will rock your world. Thank you Papa.

That's what its all about Charlie Brown.

My Cup Runneth Over.

170. Honesty of a friend.
It's often refreshing to hear the truth when you want sympathy.

171. A weekend of laughter... two weekends in a row.
Gosh... God works miracles that's for sure.


172. Best friends.
For real, I never realized that when I prayed for good friends God would answer that prayer several times over and in abundance.

173. God answers prayers.
As if the previous blessing isn't enough... I pray, God answers. He gives me a peace and a joy that makes me content in the fact that I am away from what I thought I wanted.

174. Coffee.
For real, it's debatable if there is a greater earthly gift...

Closed Doors

Today joy is not a feeling. It is not the laughter, the smiles, or the radiance of my face. Rather it is the knowledge that one day I will be in His arms. One day Jesus will make everything right. That will be beautiful.

168. Closed Doors. 
You know, I know I will thank you for this one day Lord. I know that somehow this is for the best interest of me and those around me. It is during times like this that I remember that the Lord lead the Israelites out into the wilderness before He lead them to the Promise Land. He was there then, He is here now. Thank you for being near Lord.

169. He cares more than I do.
Today I also remembered that God cares more about the people I love than I do. Humbling. Oh how He cares for us...