2010 Top Things I'm Thankful For

A day late...but here's my annual gratitude list:

1. Unexpected redemption and restoration
2. Family healing
3. “Seeing” my mother after 13 years (via pictures/video from my brother’s visit with her)
4. Realizing afresh how much I’ve been saved from
5. Realizing afresh how much my family’s been saved from
6. The way God pursues my heart
7. The way He brings freedom to pain I didn’t even know I had
8. The way He redeems brokenness
9. God’s Protection
10. God’s Advocacy 
11. God’s Faithfulness
12. My phenomenol church, the Mile High Vineyard
13. A job at a company I really enjoy
14. An upcoming new position at that same company
15. Bosses at that same company who believe in me enough to let me risk and branch out for this new position
16. My ability to write and edit
17. The chance to go back to school to further that ability – inexpensively, online and from an accredited university
18. Risk
19. A new business that’s actually taking off (faster than I can keep up)
20. God’s Provision in unexpected ways
21. A fabulous roommate 
22. And another new roommate after the previous one got married
23. A great house
24. A 14-year old car with low mileage that still runs well
25. The chance to lead a small group
26. The amazing, stunning, courageous and lovely folks in my small group
27. The ability to play the piano and (a bit of) guitar
28. The ability to sing
29. The opportunity to be a part of worship/worship leading
30. The privilege to counsel and disciple others
31. Watching those people make hard decisions and experience freedom
32. My own experience of freedom – from shame
33. Great new friendships 
34. Finally feeling free to be myself around my friends
35. And, realizing they’ve always accepted me as I am
36. Deeper intimacy with friends whom I’ve had for years
37. The ways God orchestrates experiences and relationships
38. Fresh awareness of how desperately He loves those who don’t (yet) know Him
39. The crazy ways He works to bring them to Him to know Him
40. The ways He guards my heart
41. Proof that He knows my heart better than I do
42. His promises – that have already come to pass and those that will in the future
43. Hope in Him and for the future
44. The unexpected chance to see my cousin Mariel and her husband Matt on our birthdays as they passed through Denver – first time we were together for our birthdays since we were small kids
45. The chance to see my cousin Chris to get married
46. The chance to see my cousin Joe and his wife Dana as they passed through Denver 
47. The chance to be a part of my friend Jennie’s wedding
48. Having two of my sisters visit me for Labor Day
49. The amazing provision of house sitting while they were here
50. Getting to show them a bit of my life and why I love my life in Denver
51. An awesome camping trip this summer with some of my favorite people 
52. Getting to hike and white-water raft on that trip.
53. Also, getting to experience the awe and gentle beauty of God’s creation
54. A healing and lovely trip to Phoenix for a worship conference
55. The crazy amount of laughter we experienced on that trip
56. A great, healing, redemptive trip to visit my father and see his new life
57. Seeing some fantastic concerts this year – Mumford and Sons (twice!) and David Gray – in spectacular venues (Telluride, CO and Red Rocks Amphitheater)
58. The privilege to play the processional for my friend (and former roommate)’s wedding
59. The ability to cook 
60. Others’ enjoyment of my cooking
61. My “little sister” via Big Brothers Big Sisters
62. Seeing her grow into an amazing young woman right before my eyes
63. My adopted child – via Compassion Int’l – Letu
64. The humbling honor that my small monthly gift to her is changing her life
65. Good health
66. A cheap, two-year membership to a great gym
67. Actually enjoying working out
68. The most beautiful autumn I’ve experienced in Colorado 
69. Autumn in general – my favorite season of the year
70. Living somewhere that does experience four seasons
71. Living somewhere with next-to-no humdity
72. Wine
73. Cheese
74. Good food
75. New recipes
76. Fun breakfast recipes
77. Coffee
78. A great new coffee shop
79. Digital Cameras
80. Laptops
81. The Internet
82. Skype
83. Facebook
84. Blogs
85. Holidays
86. The snooze button
87. Flannel Sheets
88. Lazy mornings
89. Pedicures
90. Happy Heart Perfume
91. Journals
92. Memories
93. Happy Hour
94. Laughter
95. The NFL
96. Travel
97. Rest and Peace
98. Salvation
99. Contentment
100. Grace and Mercy