Sunday, July 3, 2011
America
As I enjoy my long Independence Day weekend, complete with family, friends, food, and fireworks, I cannot help but be thankful for America. For the freedom I have because I was born an American citizen. The freedom that allows me to say what I want, do as I please (more or less), and take part in how things work for our country. Of course if I could take a bigger part in that, I would do things differently, but that is another story for another time. When I think about all our founding fathers did 235 years ago in attempt to gain our independence from England and the war that was fought for that independence, it is hard for me not to be thankful. I love this country, and I am so thankful to be one of its 300+ million citizens.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Time
It has been over a year since I have written here. It wasn't exactly a break because I don't feel like I ever got "going" with this blog. I've had a livejournal since I was 14 and have stuck with it. It has been amazing to look back and see the ways I have changed over the last several years. I have no idea if I'll keep up with this at all, mostly because I don't feel like I can delve into anything of significance.
I am thankful for the time I have had to learn and grow over the past months and years. It has been such a blessing to be with many different people in different places in their lives, and as the summer begins (at work), I am looking forward to being with my fourth graders. Engaging with them, spending time with them, bonding with them, and most importantly teaching them about Christ. I know it won't always be easy, but I know it will be worth it both now and eternally, and for that? I am thankful.
I am thankful for the time I have had to learn and grow over the past months and years. It has been such a blessing to be with many different people in different places in their lives, and as the summer begins (at work), I am looking forward to being with my fourth graders. Engaging with them, spending time with them, bonding with them, and most importantly teaching them about Christ. I know it won't always be easy, but I know it will be worth it both now and eternally, and for that? I am thankful.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The sun and the moon
The Sun and the Moon is the title of a song by Mae and I do enjoy that song. However, I am currently really thankful that today I got to see the sun and the moon. I haven't seen either one in a few weeks now due to the seemingly continuous cloud cover. I watched the end of the sunset tonight, and it was beautiful. Life is beautiful.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Complaining
I haven't written here in around ten months, I think. Lent started today and even though writing daily is not what I am doing for lent, it does go along with what I'm doing for lent in a way. I feel like reminding myself all I have to be thankful for will allow me to gain perspective, which is something I need desperately sometimes all the time.
For lent though, I have chosen to give up complaining. It has been a struggle today not to complain about things. All of them were insignificant and it would not help me in any way to complain about any of them. There were a couple times when I just had to say to myself "I will not complain, I will not complain, I will not complain." I pray that as lent goes on this will become more natural and I will not have to remind myself not to complain but that I will think less and less about the things I would normally complain about.
For lent though, I have chosen to give up complaining. It has been a struggle today not to complain about things. All of them were insignificant and it would not help me in any way to complain about any of them. There were a couple times when I just had to say to myself "I will not complain, I will not complain, I will not complain." I pray that as lent goes on this will become more natural and I will not have to remind myself not to complain but that I will think less and less about the things I would normally complain about.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Safety
This evening when I was leaving work, my mom called to tell me that the side door in our garage had been broken. It turns out that somebody broke into our house. All that was taken (at least as far as we can tell) was $100 which is not a big deal in the scheme of things. Scratch that, my mom just informed me that she has three rings missing as well as 3 or so necklaces and a pair or two of earrings and a knife that is my dad's. There are so many things they could have taken that they didn't (computers, medicine, camera iPod, etc.) Furthermore these are material possessions. Honestly, I'd rather them take money than pictures. Of course that is easy for me to say because nothing of mine was stolen but had my computer been gone, I would be super thankful that I have two boxes of pictures in my room that contain many many memories. Mostly this evening, I am thankful that my mom and I weren't home when this happened and that we are safe. This could have potentially been SO much worse. I was home part of this afternoon. I could have potentially waited another week to begin working so I would have been home which would have been SO scary, even if they didn't have anything they could hurt me with. Even when things seem "bad" God is good and I know He was protecting us in so many ways; more than we know, I am sure.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Everything happens for a reason
I use the phrase "Everything happens for a reason" a lot because I think it is true. It has kind of become sort of a coping mechanism of sorts for me.
Occasionally, I drive around just to think which I know is kind of a waste of money, but if it results in clarity of mind, I find it totally worth it.
This evening as I was driving into the middle of nowhere, I started thinking about my major. I am a Psychology major and I don't plan on changing that. What has changed a lot though, is what I plan on doing with that degree. When I first thought about doing psychology back when I was in high school, I wanted to be a counselor. That has changed several times though. In fact, it has changed just this semester. The thing is though, the reason I wanted to be a counselor was because one of my friends freshman year came to me about everything and I realized I enjoyed giving advice and just being able to listen to people. In all honesty, the reason I know this person is so ridiculous and messed up that the only way that even begins to make sense that we are friends is because God is in control and everything happens for a reason.
I would be thankful for the friendship of this person had he not unknowingly steered me in this direction, but I am so thankful that God used such a seemingly random friendship to put me where I am supposed to be.
Occasionally, I drive around just to think which I know is kind of a waste of money, but if it results in clarity of mind, I find it totally worth it.
This evening as I was driving into the middle of nowhere, I started thinking about my major. I am a Psychology major and I don't plan on changing that. What has changed a lot though, is what I plan on doing with that degree. When I first thought about doing psychology back when I was in high school, I wanted to be a counselor. That has changed several times though. In fact, it has changed just this semester. The thing is though, the reason I wanted to be a counselor was because one of my friends freshman year came to me about everything and I realized I enjoyed giving advice and just being able to listen to people. In all honesty, the reason I know this person is so ridiculous and messed up that the only way that even begins to make sense that we are friends is because God is in control and everything happens for a reason.
I would be thankful for the friendship of this person had he not unknowingly steered me in this direction, but I am so thankful that God used such a seemingly random friendship to put me where I am supposed to be.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Yes! In ALL things
School is beginning to wind down for the semester (which I am so thankful for).
As I look back over the semester as a whole I have a lot to be thankful for.
This is the first semester since starting college that I have actually liked all of my teachers. I am thankful for that because it makes the class more interesting and makes it easier to learn the material.
At the beginning of the semester I was unbelievably nervous about my speech and debate class but I am thankful that it has actually not been that bad except for the whole getting up and speaking in front of people part. I know it could have been SO much worse than it has been.
One of the first weekends back at school was the weekend a pipe in the sprinkler system burst in the apartment and I keep coming back to that and how thankful I am that it was a pipe by the common room and not in any of the bedrooms because the damage would have been much worse since there are sprinklers directly above the desks in all four rooms and water + a computer is never good.
I am thankful for the time I have gotten to spend at home on various weekends and over spring break.
I am thankful that my car issue was a very simple fix. The wiring to the starter got messed up. They fixed it and I got it back Wednesday afternoon (it got towed Tuesday night). Also, I am thankful the repair costs were relatively cheep. In fact the parts only cost $4... The labor was a wee bit more expensive but regardless, it could have been the actual starter and that would have definitely cost a smidgen more than $4.
As I sit here typing this, I just glanced over at my laundry basket which is full of clean clothes and I am thankful that I not only have clothes but that I have the ability to wash my clothes on a regular basis.
It's easy for me to get so caught up in the busyness the last two weeks of class brings and in the hustle and bustle of preparing for finals that I forget how much I have to be thankful for. Like, you know, the fact that I have the opportunity to go to school.
As I look back over the semester as a whole I have a lot to be thankful for.
This is the first semester since starting college that I have actually liked all of my teachers. I am thankful for that because it makes the class more interesting and makes it easier to learn the material.
At the beginning of the semester I was unbelievably nervous about my speech and debate class but I am thankful that it has actually not been that bad except for the whole getting up and speaking in front of people part. I know it could have been SO much worse than it has been.
One of the first weekends back at school was the weekend a pipe in the sprinkler system burst in the apartment and I keep coming back to that and how thankful I am that it was a pipe by the common room and not in any of the bedrooms because the damage would have been much worse since there are sprinklers directly above the desks in all four rooms and water + a computer is never good.
I am thankful for the time I have gotten to spend at home on various weekends and over spring break.
I am thankful that my car issue was a very simple fix. The wiring to the starter got messed up. They fixed it and I got it back Wednesday afternoon (it got towed Tuesday night). Also, I am thankful the repair costs were relatively cheep. In fact the parts only cost $4... The labor was a wee bit more expensive but regardless, it could have been the actual starter and that would have definitely cost a smidgen more than $4.
As I sit here typing this, I just glanced over at my laundry basket which is full of clean clothes and I am thankful that I not only have clothes but that I have the ability to wash my clothes on a regular basis.
It's easy for me to get so caught up in the busyness the last two weeks of class brings and in the hustle and bustle of preparing for finals that I forget how much I have to be thankful for. Like, you know, the fact that I have the opportunity to go to school.
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