Thanksgiving

Every year Thanksgiving comes and goes so fast that I feel like I don't take enough time to just sit and reflect on all that I am truly thankful for. For a person who sits around a LOT, it's a waste not to focus at least some of that time on all the positive things in life that I have been truly blessed with. I don't expect anyone to read this rambly post, but it's a good chance for me to list some of those incredible things...

-First and foremost, I am so grateful that God gave up his Son to die for me so that I can live. I know I don't deserve it, but I guess that's the beauty of grace. I know I'm not always a "great Christian" (I hate that phrase..), but I am so grateful that God loves me as I am and that I am able to have a relationship with Him. I can't imagine trying to get through life without the Holy Spirit's direction and the confidence I get from my relationship with Jesus.

-Secondly, I am thankful beyond words for my family, specifically my parents. I knew from an early age that I was loved, valued, and beautiful. They allowed me to choose my own path and supported and encouraged me every step of the way. My parents taught me how to find joy in life and the importance of loving and respecting others. I hope and pray that someday I can give my children even half of what my parents have given me.

-I also have an incredible group of friends, for whom I am eternally grateful. It is so rare to have the kind of support, love, and friendship that I have in my life. My friends are my world. As we have grown older, I love watching and supporting my friends doing the things that God has called them to do, and I am grateful for the support that they give me as I follow my passions as well. I could go on about my friends for pages, but that might be another blog at another time...

-Bev is a fairly new addition to my life, and I can't imagine a future without him in it. I've never been in love before, and I hate to admit it, but I'm not exactly perfect at it. I am so grateful that God has brought him into my life, and I know that he is the man I am going to spend the rest of my life with. Bev has been so incredibly patient with me, loving and affirming me every step of the way, even when I didn't deserve his kindness. His genuine, compassionate heart and goofy, easy-going personality is exactly what I've been looking for in a soulmate, without me even knowing it. Being single has not always been easy- and I know that relationships aren't always easy either- but God is faithful and good and I am so grateful!

-I'm eternally grateful to MOKA for all the lessons I have learned in the past 3 years. Actually, this is more of a shout out to God again, since I remember a time a few years ago when I had no idea what I was supposed to do in life. What a terrible feeling- not having a passion and feeling a bit purposeless. I stumbled into a job at MOKA, and it didn't take me long to discover my true passion in life. People. I have been blessed to meet such incredible people through my work at MOKA and learn so many valuable lessons (another blog...), and I am so grateful to have a passion, an interest, a purpose. I know 'people' is kind of vague, but it has opened up so many doors and brought so much joy into my life that I can't begin to describe it. I won't be at MOKA that much longer, but the people I have met and the things I have learned will go with me forever. God brought MOKA to me at just the right time in life, and I'm so glad.

-I'm also very grateful for the Ganderson. Megs and I have built a home here, and I love it. We have two snuggly kitties who bring joy every day. Megs is a true friend and an incredible person, and I've learned a lot about communication and friendship through this experience. I know I won't be here forever, but I consider it home and so blessed that this all worked out so well.
I'm also thankful for financial security in such a crappy economy. Obviously, this is all changing very soon with my upcoming internship, but I have faith in God that this part of my life will continue to work out, just like it always has.
I'm thankful for opportunities. Travel. Grad school. Coaching. I've been blessed with so many opportunities, and I know that not everyone gets to experience what I have. God has been good to me, and I want to make sure I am not only thankful but that I at least attempt to pay some of that back.

Tomorrow I leave for West Virginia with Bev. Lots of time to relax, play games, eat, and do nothing, and I plan to force Bev and me to reflect on the real reason for Thanksgiving. "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" (2Cor9:15)

grateful? for change

My roommate has this sweet new blog, where she's reflecting every day on something that she's thankful for. Now, I'm a terrible blogger, but I really enjoy reading hers and it's helped me lately to focus on being gratefulM. Pretty soon I'm going to be going through a pretty big life change. I will be leaving MOKA, where I have worked for 3 years and have absolutely LOVED... and I will be starting an internship in order to complete my master's degree in counseling. The past several weeks have been really hard for me, knowing that I have to leave a company that has given me so much, and so many people that I admire and adore, and move on to something new, and scary, with people I don't know and responsibilities that I don't know about yet. Oh yeah, plus the fact that it's an unpaid internship. That's right... no income... for at least 4 months. (Although I'm actually not worried about that part).

Anyway, yesterday I had another interview at Wegdwood and finalized my placement for spring. My anxiety level instantly went down. I've never been very good at change (as many of my friends and family can attest to...let alone changing my life when everything is going really well), but it certainly helps me to know where I'm going. I have a plan now. Yes, I'm still leaving, but now I know where I'm going. And it WILL be good. I am so grateful that the Lord has provided a direction for me, and I am learning to trust Him and know that it WILL be good. I'm also grateful that God led me to MOKA in the first place, because wow, what an incredible place to be. I'm also grateful for the people who have stuck by me the past couple weeks when I've been adjusting to the idea of change- DeeAnn, my supervisor, who has been more excited for me than I've even been, despite all the work that she will have to do because of my leaving, Megs, my awesome roommate, who I can come home to and just be myself, who will laugh at me when I spill my cranvod and mope around excessively, Bev, who has become both my quiet strength as well as my vocal encourager, and my parents, who have always been my safety zone when I start to get scared.

Taking this new gratitude approach to change, I can honestly say that today I am excited for my future. Change can be good, and God has always gotten me through it before. And as much as I have loved the past 3 years of my life at MOKA, I bet it will only get bigger and better from here!!

Plus I've got 2 kitties on my lap... how much better can life get??