Reason Enough

The sun rose this morning and I thanked God for a new day. I remembered my reluctance to remove myself from bed that morning and as I drove to work with the glow of the sun through the perfect blue sky my perspective broadened.

I had been given life today. The One that breathed life into existence filled me with life yet another day. It's a life that is full of new mercies every morning. One that doesn't dry up or run out.

More than the life He gave me, I am given an unconditional love. It is a love I didn't deserve or earn but a love that was given with a great cost yet freely to me.

When the days seem dull I must remember that I have been given eternal life and unconditional love and that is reason enough for me to lift my hands and praise Him who gives it all.

We have every reason to thank the One who gives us life and love.

His love never fails us and that is reason enough to live a life of constant thankfulness.

Loving Fall and Giving Thanks

It was a beautiful Thanksgiving break spent with wonderful friends in Tennessee and special family in Alabama. A whole week off of school was amazing and I loved being with my family!

While in Tennessee we were sure to have a bonfire complete with smores! And not just regular smokes... but Reese's peanut butter cup smores. Your tastebuds will forever be changed!

A trip to Tennessee would not complete without a little tree climbin' and horse back ridin'. 

Of course a few pictures had to be taken (: 

Being around a little one made me so happy! Ben is a precious little boy and he constantly is full of joy. 

Family picture!

To end our time in Tennessee we relived a Target memory from two years ago from when we were in Alabama and our moms sat at Starbucks and talked forever so we made ourselves comfortable for a little while... So we decided we needed to take a similar picture!

The last few days of break were spent with family in Alabama. It was our traditional Alabama Thanksgiving full of lots of eating, dominoes, pecan pie, card games, and Big Bob Gibson's barbecue. This break was a perfect refresher to finish up the semester well! 

Life Happenings

My school semester is quickly coming to an end and I am currently enjoying Thanksgiving break with my family. I am so thankful for this week long break to be refreshed to finish classes strong! This season is so full of memories - remembering old ones and creating new ones.

This year is the first time I am not actually home as the holidays approach but so many wonderful traditions are continuing and the meaning and memories of this time of year are still a part of it all!

This Thanksgiving week we had the wonderful opportunity of spending two days in the beautiful state of Tennessee with some amazing friends... We left this evening and visited some great longtime friends who recently moved here and now will drive a couple of hours to Alabama to spend Thanksgiving and the rest of the week with mom's side of the family. Thanksgiving in Alabama is my favorite Thanksgiving memory ... We used to come almost every year but this is the first time in three years for us to be here for Thanksgiving. 

It's amazing how much changes in a few short years and how much people can change ... It's also amazing to see the growth in people and to connect with special people. This season of life sure has been a different one but I am grateful for it and am learning to thank God for every step of the journey.

Remember that you are here for a purpose. Live fully and love fully. And have a happy thanksgiving :) 

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances."
-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

{24 Days of Thanksgiving=Day 24}

The end of the Thanksgiving celebrations has come but it has been a wonderful few weeks celebrating this beautiful weather and the abundant blessings in my life. The thankfulness continues even into this Christmas season.

God's Word tells us to give thanks always and I am encouraged to be mindful of the many blessings I have. I absolutely love Thanksgiving. I love the baking and the warmth of a home during the slight chill. I love the reminder to be thankful and to recognize all that we do have.

It's a wonderful transition into the busyness of the Christmas season. Thanksgiving produces gratefulness and causes reflection. This time of year can be so hectic but Thanksgiving slows us down. I really believe God uses this time to prepare us for Christmas if we allow Him. Be thankful always. Don't allow the gifts and the shopping to consume you. Remember why we celebrate this holiday. Be thankful for the gift that God sent us.

That is why I am thankful on this day of Thanksgiving. God sent His Son into the world so that we could have life. Are we making it worthwhile? Are we remembering that every step of the way? He gave us His special and beloved Son because He loved us that much. Remember that during this season which really is all about the gift of Jesus.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

{24 Days of Thanksgiving=Day 23}

Today I am thankful for the wisdom of an older sister. When challenges come in life and there are tough decisions to be made a sister is a good person to talk to. She understands you. Older ones have experienced more than you and hopefully have learned from those experiences in order to offer advice and words of encouragement.

They don't expect perfection but believe that you can do everything and anything. They provide a realistic outlook on life when needed; they also know how to dream. They're fun, inspirational, and in my case, crazy!

I am so very thankful for my big sister and the encouragement she gives!

{24 Days of Thanksgiving=Day 22}

I am so thankful for each and every one of my siblings.

We are so different yet so connected. We know how to have fun, how to laugh, and how to have adventures! It's a very special bond we all share and I love that we all enjoy being together so much. As we grow up and our personal lives take us in separate directions we still stay connected and I don't doubt that will change.

I love every single one of them and can't imagine life without one. That includes my brother in law too :)

{24 Days of Thanksgiving=Day 21}

"These are a few of my favorite things..."

Baking. One of my favorite places to be is in the kitchen. I love making messes and experimenting. I love making old recipes and attempting new ones. I am not an artsy person nor a musical person but the place where my creative juices start to flow is in the middle of mixing and making and baking.

Playing games. I think games can bring such happiness! I absolutely love playing any game... from cards to Settlers of Catan to Monopoly to charades to dominoes to (insert a game). I'm such a game person and I really don't know why much other than it is exciting and a fun way to interact with other people.

Personal Worship Time. In my personal worship time is where I really feel that God meets me right where I am. The other night I was home alone baking while listening to worship music. I have to take advantage of a quiet house to really get special alone time with God. It doesn't have to be a specific way or a specific place. God tends to meet me right where I am. Baking is a great place to do that. So while quietly worshipping and floating around the kitchen to mix up some Thanksgiving goodies I spent time talking to God and listening for His response. I felt so much strength infused into me after that night. It is amazing how impactful just small amounts of quiet time with the Lord can be.

These are just a few of my favorite things that I am thankful for that I have been able to experience this week. I love how the Lord cares about the small desires of our heart and wants to provide that for us.

{24 Days of Thanksgiving=Day 20}

Today I am thankful for friends coming to visit! We have so much fun with our friends from Tennessee and I love that they are spending the first part of their trip to Texas with us!

Lots of loud crazy games, loud laughter, and loud talking (did I mention loud?)! When we get together it is a blast! We all get along so well and I love that we can pick up right where we left off even after not seeing each other for so long. I'm praying that the time in between visits is not so long in the future!

Thank you for making our week wonderful, friends!

{24 Days of Thanksgiving=Day 19}

Today I am thankful for my parents. They have so much wisdom and care for us so much. Both work hard to provide for our family and continue to support us in all that we do.

They love us so very much and fight for us all the time. I love that my mom will pray with me and encourage me through hard situations in life. My dad protects me and loves without condition. He is a wonderful example of our Father and he is definitely someone I look up to.

My parents also know how to have fun! We have a silly, weird, crazy and loving family. Every single one of us are so very different and it makes life so much more interesting. You never know what you will find us entertaining ourselves with on any given night (Most recent is the milk carton game. Oh yes, very fun.). I love my parents and I am so thankful for them!

{24 Days of Thanksgiving=Day 18}

Friday proved to be an eventful day and I am thankful for the opportunities that God gave me today. Sometimes you don't understand why you are doing something yet you know you are supposed to. That is how I felt about this particular experience.

Thursday my siblings and friends were shopping around in Southlake. We stumbled into Delias to see if we could find some jeans and noticed a "now hiring" sign on the window. My friend and I decided we would apply to just see what came of it! I had no reason not to it felt like so we just turned in applications and were told to come back in for an interview.

Friday was the interview. I didn't feel peace about accepting the job but I really did have peace about going to the interview. I didn't understand that but I went anyways. A couple of hours later we both received a call telling us they wanted to talk to us about hiring us and our hours. I immediately knew I wasn't supposed to accept this job. It was about the experience...the opportunity. I had never had a professional interview for a job and was so glad that I experienced what that was like. It made me think harder about what this season is supposed to look like though. I thanked them for their time but apologized and told them this is not where I needed to be this winter because I could not be fully committed.

Although I didn't accept this job it did cause me to think about this season and provided a great experience! There are some exciting things God has coming up and I am excited about that!

{24 Days of Thanksgiving=Day 17}

Thursday was a good day. It was productive yet restful. My to do list was long and I was prepared to conquer it so I went up to Starbucks and spent a few hours just working on homework, studying for a test, taking care of emails, and finishing a few things on the computer.

I am grateful for those times at Starbucks where I can sip a hot peppermint mocha while focusing on what is right in front of me. It is refreshing and always makes my day a little bit better to know I have been productive :)

{24 Days of Thanksgiving=Day 16}

This beautiful day I am thankful for music! I love a variety of music but I am so thankful for the tone that worship music sets. It creates an atmosphere of peace and praise to our Father. Turning on worship music and soaking in God's presence can completely turn your day around.

I had one of my favorite worship songs on repeat for two days and I couldn't help but maintain an attitude of worship and feel the peace of God throughout those days. It is so true that the things we let into our "gates" (eyes and ears) effect us. After being in a crowd where secular music is playing I come away feeling kind of icky. It does not provide peace nor usher in the presence of God. Not only the words but the heart behind the music really does make a difference.

It is completely opposite when worship music plays.

I am so thankful for the ability to simply turn on a few worship songs when I begin feeling stressed or just need to take some time to be calm and restful. It uplifts me, brings rest, and rejuvenates my spirit. I love how the Lord allows us to express our praise to Him in that way and how He will meet us right where we are.

{24 Days of Thanksgiving=Day 15}

I cannot believe Thanksgiving is only a week away! These past couple of weeks have flown by amidst the busyness of tests, papers, homework, and just life in general. I am hoping this next week moves slower while we have our friends here from Tennessee :)

Well, on this 15th day of November I am thankful for the sunsets, sunrises, and the beautiful picture God paints for us in this sky. It amazes me how we miss so much of the beauty in God's creation because we just don't stop to realize what is around us.

I love sitting outside at night as the sun goes down and the various colors are stretched across the sky. God's artwork is magnificent. What I love most is that He paints a new picture every day for us to enjoy.

"God's glory is on tour in the skies..." Psalm 19:1

The sky really does display God's glory. Take time to enjoy the indescribable artwork in creation that God has made for us.

{24 Days of Thanksgiving=Day 14}

Today has been a college day. My mom and I have spent lots of time emailing and talking to admissions counselors, registrars, and deans from Ouachita. I am signing up for my last semester at TCC (exciting!) for the spring and have been trying to iron out transferrable classes along with what I actually need. Tomorrow I will be registered for the spring semester at TCC then after that and a couple of summer classes I will be headed to Ouachita. :)

Every person we have talked to today has been so helpful. They are wonderful at responding to emails and clearly answering your questions. I love their willingness to serve and it makes me happy that I will be a part of such a wonderful school!

{24 Days of Thanksgiving=Day 13}

Today I am so thankful for all the families I babysit for. It is a blessing to be able to spend time with little kids all the time and make money doing something I love.

Because of these families I have not had to get a "real" job or try to make money elsewhere. Sometimes I am not as busy with babysitting as I would like but other times I have more jobs than I know what to do with! It really has been great! After years of babysitting I have saved enough to buy a car (used I might add but with very little miles on it... it's a car!) and will be able to accept more babysitting jobs because having a car won't be an issue. I am looking forward to that! All of my short term savings might be drained but this is what I have been working for, right?

Anyways, this really is because of the blessing I have received from all the families for whom I watch their kids. I love them so much and am thankful for these many opportunities!

{24 Days of Thanksgiving=Day 12}

Today would be my Nana's 67th birthday. I guess it still is. Though she is celebrating in Heaven. It is probably the most glorious celebration. I am sure the day was filled with tea parties, Geraldine stories, laughter, Sonic drinks, spearmint gum, and all things Nana.

I only wish that everyone would have been fortunate enough to meet her. She is the grandmother everyone wished they could have. She cared more for others than anyone I know and always put them first. She knew Jesus. And Jesus knew her. He was first in her life. Than others. She understood what it meant to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul" and "love others as I(Jesus) have loved you."

When I was just nine years old she passed away from a long hard fight against cancer. She is still my inspiration. Not one time did she complain while she was in this battle. She believed that God could heal her and did her best at being the best Nana through it all. She did a great job of that. I was only nine when she went to be with Jesus but I have buckets of memories of things we did together. I remember details. Anything from putt-putt to shopping or going to the movies. My Da, of course, was a part of that too. We had the best of times together.

One thing that she is most remembered for is her love for tea parties. Tea parties where we dress up. Tea parties under the dining room table (yes, she got under the table with us and loved it). Tea parties while talking very properly. There didn't have to be a reason to have a tea party. We just did. Sometimes we would eat yummy delicacies, sip hot tea, and get to hear a Geraldine story. She was famous for her Geraldine stories. (Geraldine is a cat by the way. A very sneaky cat who liked going to the grocery store and especially liked going to church). My Nana was creative. She always had a Geraldine story. We could even ask to hear the story "when Geraldine went to church" and she would relay it the exact same way she had before. Same details, same sweet tone in her voice, same expressions (especially when Geraldine got in trouble). See, she was the best Nana. I miss her dearly.

So today on this 12th day of November I am thankful for my Nana. She left a legacy. She inspired me even as a young girl. She inspires me still. I have so many fond memories of times spent with her and I find myself often thinking of what life would be like if she was still here. She would love my friends. She would love to come watch our shows at our theatre. She would still take us shopping and to the movies. Most of all, we would still have tea parties under the dining room table.

{24 Days of Thanksgiving=Day 11}

Did you recognize your freedom on this beautiful 11th day of the 11th month of the 11th year of this century? Did you remember those who have sacrificed their lives so that we could have freedom?

Our school had our first annual Veteran's Day service Friday at eleven in the morning. It was a beautiful site as boy scouts, who are also students from our school, proudly carried the flag across the yard, students read speeches, then everyone thanked veterans who humbly joined us so we could thank them for their service.

As I stood amidst this wonderful happening I remembered the ultimate sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us. We see and some know (I have an uncle who fought in Desert Storm and a cousin who is still enlisted) those who (have) fought/fight for our freedom. It is hard to let them go. Isn't it? They are taking a step into the unknown. They really our sacrificing their lives. What if they didn't though? Where would we be? It is a bit scary to think about.

You know what I think is worse? Thinking about life without the sacrifice of our Savior. There would be no life. But because of the hope we have in Him I can put on the armor of God and fight in this battle. I have a reason to fight. I can fight. I can live. I have freedom in God because Jesus laid down His life for us. For that I am thankful.

On the 11th day of the 11th month of the 11th year of this century I am thankful for the sacrifice of life by our soldiers but more importantly the sacrifice of our Savior.

P.S. Did you say a special prayer (or make a wish) at 11:11 on 11-11-11? :)

{24 Days of Thanksgiving=Day 10}

Some people might find this strange or not believe my sincerity but today I am so thankful for my school and the education I have been so blessed to receive. When I think about those who are not given the opportunity to learn it makes me even more grateful that I am. Even though I don't always enjoy all of my school or my homework God can use it all to teach me something. Education is important to me. There is so much that I gain from studying history, learning physics, and my english classes. I have learned a lot more about the history of our country this semester as I study American History, interesting (and applicable) things in Physics, and so much more than just writing in English.

English may be seen as a boring and tedious subject by some but I have a love for words. It is not my best subject and does not come easily yet I really enjoy it. I owe the love for writing to my wonderful teachers. Throughout middle school Mrs. Watson inspired creativity through her teaching and personal love for writing. Then in my eighth grade year I was so blessed when Mrs. Minter came to teach at our school. Not only did she love writing but she loved us. She truly cared and that made english all the more enjoyable. I had her through tenth grade and in those three years she taught us so much. I was sad when my classes with her ended but I felt well prepared for whatever God had next; and I was. In my junior year I took English Composition 1 and 2 and came out with A's in both classes. Now in my senior year of high school and taking World Literature (not the easiest class but bearable with the teaching I have previously received) I look back and remember the great times I had in those english classes with Mrs. Minter. How often is someone able to receive a quality education with caring and wise teachers?

I have learned not to take that for granted...especially as I encounter challenging professors in dual credit college classes. It helps me to realize the blessing I have had in my teachers and my school too. I love my school. It is so different than any school anywhere. Quality education. Inspiring teachers. Freedom to be yourself. I love that you never know what to expect when you arrive at CAIA. Sometimes there will be kids outside throwing the football or maybe having a deep discussion about the Lord or an important issue. Always, though, there are multiple kids making music. Talented kids. These kids know how to use their gifts to bless others... It might just be sitting in a circle outside the coffee shop or it may be performing onstage in our theatre in a show where a couple of hundred people just enjoy themselves and the talents other people have to share. Wherever it is, they bless people. They bless me. Teachers who I no longer take classes from but frequently stop to talk to me and catch up with my life bless me. One of my favorite teachers, Mrs. Bare, inspired my love for science. She plays a part in why I have decided to pursue an education in the medical field. She instilled a love for learning and science in me. She made it interesting. And she still stops to talk or hear what is going on. Mrs. Minter is the same way. I love it. The friends who love you for who you are and will gladly pray for you, be silly with you, or just be whatever you need in the moment bless me. I love that place. I am glad I have younger siblings who have some years left before graduation so I have a reason to go back and visit. Not that I need one other than the fact that I will just want to :)

The quality education I received from the teachers at my school has amazed me. I am beyond grateful and anytime I start to feel frustrated with school I remind myself of a verse that forever changed my perspective of school.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man."

Colossians 3:23

It makes it worth it because it is for Him.

{24 Days of Thanksgiving=Day 9}

This day I am so thankful for prayer and for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I love sharing my thoughts and my day with Jesus. I love that I can share anything with Him and hear His response. I am thankful for the voice of the Lord that speaks to me.

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." - John 10:27

It is easy to "get caught up" in the business of our days and to ignore His voice speaking to us. When we are willing to listen and open our ears to hear He will be there speaking to us. He never stops speaking. We just stop listening. We tune Him out and tune the world in. How would you like for Jesus to "know" you though? Because He does. He says that we hear his voice and He knows us. It makes my heart happy to know that Jesus knows me. In the Greek "to know" means "to feel or understand." He feels what we feel. He understands us. He understands us better than anyone else. Our Father knows us and wants us to know Him.

"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings."

- Proverbs 25:2

He has many mysteries for us to seek out so that we will know Him better... so that we will discover Him. Will we tune into what He has to say? I want to know Him better and hear what He has to say to me. I'm thankful that He does speak to me and that He hears me when I call upon Him.

{24 Days of Thanksgiving=Day 8}

"A cheerful heart is good medicine..."

Proverbs 17:22

Can you imagine life without laughter? I can't. Many of my days are filled with smiles and laughter from all the sweet children I watch to my silly siblings who know how to make me laugh (especially when I don't want to)! :) On this 8th day of November I find reasons to laugh and I am thankful for that.

Laughter makes life lighter and more enjoyable.

I relate to Elizabeth Bennet when she says, "I dearly love a laugh... I hope I never ridicule what is wise or good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can."

I do love to laugh. Laugh today. And tomorrow. And every day after that.

"A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance."

Proverbs 15:13