Thankful Thursday, Take 55

Keeping with what's become a Thanksgiving tradition, here are 100 things I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving:

1. My Savior – who died for me, lives for me, saved me, loves me and allows me to live for Him.
2. The remarkable journey the Lord’s had me on for the past (nearly) 30 years. I can’t begin to imagine what the next 30 will bring.
3. Sunshine and blue skies
4. The Autumn – crisp weather, bright blue skies, beautiful colored leaves, yummy food
5. The Lord’s provision – always supplying above and beyond what I need even when I don’t think things will come together
6. My job – in a year when we now have HALF the staff firmwide that we had a year ago at this time
7. The opportunity to step into some new things at work – I’m making lemonade with lemons. I’m now doing the job of three people – but I love every second of it and am amazed at the favor and the opportunities I’m being given.
8. Getting to work for a company that’s far from perfect yet really still amazing. I’m telling you, they illustrate so many Kingdom principles and don’t even know it. I can’t wait to see what it’ll be like once they all do know Jesus.
9. Relational favor with so many of my coworkers – they’re friends, not just coworkers
10. Hope
11. Confidence
12. My parents
13. My siblings
14. My extended family
15. That I have such an enormous family when so many others don’t have any. (I simply cannot imagine not having so many amazing people in my life)
16. Awesome relationships with my younger siblings as they grow up and mature
17. My beautiful nieces and nephews: Kristin, Natalie, Damien and Kaleb
18. A couple new brothers-in-law: Mike and Ray and how happy they’ve made my sisters
19. My brother-in-law Ray’s salvation – the amazing life-change in him and how it’s effecting Rebecca and the boys
20. My dad’s good health coming through back surgery earlier this year and the hope that he’ll have full healing and mobility soon
21. The commitment my parents have to their children’s (and children’s spouse’s) salvation – I know they’ve prayed for years for all of our spouses and were directly responsible for Ray’s coming to know Jesus.
22. Sisters who are also good friends: Nikki and Jessie
23. Friends who are also sisters: Ini, Becca, Jennie, Tiffani, Melanie, Jill, Leslye and all they teach me about so many things
24. A completely platonic friendship with a guy from work – who doesn’t know Jesus – and yet, the Lord’s used SOOOO MUCH to teach me about Himself, about relationships, about my value and about what I can hope for in the future. (And the promise from the Lord at the very beginning that He is in the middle of this friendship….)
25. Seeing Jennie after the year+ she spent in Uganda!
26. My relationship with my “Little” – Angelica. She is so fun, so smart, so wonderful, reminds me how simple and lovely life really can be
27. The chance to effect a life and her family half-way around the world through Compassion International
28. The remarkable honor of pastoring others and watching them grow, lean into all the Lord has for them and pastor others themselves – Jeff, Angie, Missi, Kenton, Tim, Brittney
29. The opportunity to lead a small group
30. The people in my small group – it’s such a diverse group yet everyone’s so committed to Jesus, to each other and to the group. I’m excited to see what happens as the weeks unfold.
31. My Church – the Arvada Vineyard
32. The favor we (my church) have in the city, the community at large, the country and the world for the Kingdom. It blows my mind.
33. The honor and responsibility of getting to be on the church council and helping to architect, design and build what we do as a church
34. The promise of expanding our church into new sites around the city – specifically downtown in the next few months
35. The obvious heart and plan the Lord has for the people downtown and the privilege we get to be included in that plan.
36. The obvious and exciting call on Nicole who is leading our efforts for the downtown site and is its pastor
37. My pastors and friends – Jay and Danielle
38. Our amazing worship team – led by Jeff and Angie
39. My house – for a million reasons
40. My home – specifically that I can pay for it by myself and that I’ve lived there for over two years (the longest I’ve lived anywhere since I moved out of my parents’ house)
41. Living so close to downtown
42. Downtown at night – the lights and the skyline are GORGEOUS and I get to see it from my house!
43. The Giants winning the Super Bowl last season and being well on their way to win again this year! GO BLUE!!!!
44. Getting to spend Christmas with (most of) my family.
45. Getting to go on a road trip with Jennie over New Years – and that it’ll mean she’s back living IN Denver. Yippee!
46. The two cheap one-way tickets that will allow me to see my family for Christmas and fly from NYC to OH to meet up with Jennie so we can go on our road trip!
47. The healing and life-change that’s happening for my sister Nikki, my brother-in-law Larry and my nieces
48. The kindness of Larry to offer to fly me to MN for Thanksgiving since I’ve not seen them in over two years - even if I can't make it....
49. The hope of a future family for myself
50. All the things the Lord’s been reminding me of and doing in me regarding my future family
51. All that the Lord’s healed me of so my future husband and children don’t have to deal with it!
52. A “new” computer for $10
53. My 11-year-old car that keeps running almost as good as new– Go Toyota!!!
54. Lower gas prices
55. A fun trip to the Sand Dunes this spring with Leslye and Melanie
56. An amazing birthday party that merged so many of my “worlds” and that was thrown by my amazing friends Ini and Becca!
57. New (inexpensive) snow shoes and the promise of fun snow-shoeing adventures this winter! Getting to take in the majesty of the Rockies and see things/places few will get to….
58. The generosity of others
59. The Lord’s tender card for me
60. The Lord’s kindness
61. The Lord’s love
62. The Lord’s words of confirmation, affirmation and direction
63. The Lord’s patience
64. The Lord’s compassion
65. The Lord’s mercy
66. The Lord’s grace
67. The Lord’s forgiveness
68. The chance to sing in two weddings this year – one for a sister and one for a dear friend
69. Opportunities to share Jesus with my friends who don’t know Him yet
70. A great glass of wine
71. All the new babies being born to friends and coworkers
72. Seeing the fulfillment of things the Lord told me years ago and the hope that the rest will be fulfilled soon
73. Great recipes
74. The hope of Heaven
75. My friend and co-worker Chrisy who passed away a few months ago
76. The ability to sing and play the piano and guitar
77. Down comforters
78. Bargains
79. Working out and enjoying it
80. Reconnecting with old friends
81. Really great eye-liner
82. Cell phones, email, facebook and other ways to keep in touch with those far away
83. The promise that I won’t get sick like my mother
84. Sunflower Market!
85. The smell of Clinique Happy Heart perfume
86. Living so close to the majestic Rocky Mountains
87. Freedom from fear, anxiety, insecurity and timidity (most of the time….)
88. Having a story to tell others (of my growth, God’s faithfulness, proof of change) and how it encourages/challenges others in their walk with the Lord
89. Brothers & Sisters (my guilty-pleasure TV show)
90. Shuffleboard at church retreats!
91. Sunsets
92. The ocean
93. Pictures
94. Sleep
95. Kodie, my cat
96. Rest/downtime
97. Google calendar (yes, I'm a dork...but I'm telling you, this thing has changed my life...or at least made it more managable)
98. Movies
99. Holidays!
100. The promise of what’s to come….