thanksgiving and a list of thankfulness

In honor of Thanksgiving, I decided to make a list of everything that I am thankful for this year.

I'm thankful for:

• my mom and dad
• my sisters and their SO's
• my niece and her unconditional love
• being loved and cared for even when I'm far away
• my host family
• the little girls who freely give of their love and their hugs
• technology like Facetime and Skype that let me stay connected
• having my credits transfer in such a way that I can graduate 2 quarters early
• making new friends at school, at church, and around Queen Anne
• the billions of independent coffee shops
• surprise packages with everything but the dove bars
• hearts changed
• having food to eat
• having clothes to wear
• having a place to live
• my new church family at City Church
• my old church families at Legacy Chapel and Littleton SDA Church
• the women of my bible study who shower me with love and prayer
• the Starbucks near my house for the Clover, the coffees, and the baristas.
• a laptop and phone that work
• the mile walk from home to school that has improved my fitness
• being able to donate blood
• getting perfect scores on all three statistics tests
• being able to watch some of the broncos games on TV
• having a TV
• my ADX sisters and AGO brothers
• God-incidences that keep me alive and well
• being in the best health of my life
• two working ankles with no hint of weakness
• rain boots, rain jackets, and my umbrella
• life-changing experiences at GC College Camp
• the men and women who God has used to speak a word of truth into my life
• my best friend and her influence in my life
• the knowledge that I get to see my family and friends in 14 days
• being alive and out of my desert storm
• the peace that has come with knowing that Seattle is exactly where God wants me

There are so many other things I could add to this. There is so much that I am thankful for. The last two years have been the most difficult years of my life and to know that God has used those experiences for his benefit makes it all worth it.

Abba, I thank you for life. I thank you for carrying me out of my desert storm. Thank you for not leaving me there to die. I thank you for leading me to Seattle. I know you have a reason for me being here and I am thankful that you are in control. You truly are glorious. I glorify you.