However, just because I had a few terrible days this week doesn't mean I'm any less blessed than before those terrible days. So to remind me of what I do have to be thankful for, I'm going to make a list of 30 things I'm thankful for- one for each day of the month.
1. My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Even when I've been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad person- He still loves me. He still guides me to His truth and reminds me how I should be living and loving. Many people have given up on me, but He never has.
2. My health and my family member's health. So many people that I know are fighting illnesses, and I am so thankful that my family is not at the moment.
3. My job. I've worked at three different schools in three years and loved them all- but I will say that the one I'm at now was made for me. I enjoy going to work every single day. It's a challenge and I've worked more hours than I ever have before, but I love everything about it!
4. My twin sister. There are times in our lives when we scream and yell and say really ugly things to each other- but she really is my best friend. She knows the ugliest side of me, but loves me anyway. Life would be really dull without her.
5. My younger brother. He has grown up so much and has suddenly become this handsome, funny, caring young man.
6. My older brother. He is the most important man in my life. I look up to him so much and respect him so much. He has such a calming demeanor and genuinely cares about the people in his life. He loves the Lord and his family and is the exact kind of man that I hope to find one day.
7. My sister in law. My brother couldn't have picked a better wife. When I was having a crappy day, no one in my family could make it better. But she just walks into a room, and you know that you can't help but be in a good mood. She makes life fun and interesting, and I love that I can call her my sister.
8. My grandparents. I've recently talked with so many people who have lost all of their grandparents, but I am so blessed that I still have three left. My mom's parents are seriously my two favorite people in this world. I think if I lived closer to them, I would go to dinner with them every night. They are so loving and caring and willing to do anything for us. And you can tell just by looking at them that they love each other so much. I hope to one day be a grandparent with a man like my Pawpaw Georg-o, and I hope to be the kind of grandmother that my mawmaw is to me. I love those two people so much.
9. My dog. Is it lame to be thankful for your dog? I seriously am thankful for mine. After a long and terrible trip home, he has been by my side since I got back. He loves to cuddle and give me kisses. A dog is the one thing that will always love you, no matter what you've done or how long you left him.
10. My dad. There have been moments in my life where he was my least favorite person in this world, but I am thankful for the relationship we have now. I am thankful that we can laugh and enjoy our time together once again.
11. My car. That sounds silly, but I'm thankful that I have a car (and no car payments!) that runs and gets me where I need to go.
12. My apartment. I am thankful that I can afford to live in the location I want to be in, and I am thankful that my apartment is big enough to host people here because I love having people over.
13. My Dallas friends- I'd name them all, but that would take way too long. I am so thankful for every single person in Dallas that I can call a "friend". They keep me busy- literally, I'm doing something with one of them every night of the week it seems- but they make my life here so enjoyable. I am thankful for their fun spirits, their listening ears, their encouragement, their laughs, and their investments in my life.
14. Katey. We've been friends since I was 15, and we've been through all kinds of stuff. But she is one of my few friends from Alabama that I keep up with on a weekly basis. She is always listening to me venting about my troubles, contemplating the boys, and laughing at the good times. I am thankful that I can call her up at any moment and she is there to talk.
15. Nikki. She has been my best friend since freshmen year of college. We've had plenty of ups and downs, but she's there for the long haul. I am thankful that we make it a priority to see each other, even if it's just for a short time. I'm thankful that she loves me for me, the good the bad and the ugly. And I'm thankful that tells me how it is all the time- even when I don't want to hear it.
16. The Duggers. Neil and Paula have become like my Texas family. I know I can call them whenever I need anything, and they do such a good job of including Holly and I in on "family" functions. I am thankful that I have a family here when I'm so far away from the rest of mine.
17. My church in Dallas. For some people, it takes a while to find a church when you move to a new city. Holly and I were lucky enough to find PCBC on our second weekend in Dallas. It took a while to get plugged in, but now that we are, I am so thankful for this church. It challenges me weekly in my walk with Christ. I'm plugged into ministries that depend on me and make me feel included. I have grown more in my walk with Christ at this church than any other church, and I am so thankful that God led me there.
18. My finances. Teachers don't get paid a ton of money, but I am thankful that I get paid what I do. It covers the bills, the emergencies, the extra things, with even some left over to go into savings. I am thankful that I have the money to do the things that need to be done, to give to people, to do things that I want to do, as well as save for things in the future. I have realized lately that this is a blessing that not all people have these days.
19. Alabama football. Is it pathetic that I just put that on a list of things I'm thankful for?! But it's true! I'm thankful for Alabama football. It is exciting and it helps to keep me tied to my past. Maybe it's sad that I just put that, but I really am thankful for it! haha!
20. My education. Studying at the University of Alabama definitely prepared me for my job as a teacher. The hundreds of hours that were required of us in a classroom before we could graduate prepared me more than I could imagine. I am so thankful that I went through the education program at UA, because it made me the teacher I am today.
21. My 147 crazy 7th grade students. They are crazy, and sometimes they make ME feel crazy, but I love each and every one of them. I am thankful that God has put each of them in my life this year, and although I can't talk about Christ to them, I pray that I can live and love like Christ to them.
22. Facebook, blog, and twitter. That sounds crazy, but it makes it so easy to keep up with people from home! Sometimes too easy- I know I should pick up the phone and call people more often- but it always helps to make me not homesick since I can still know what everyone is up to!
23. My college friends- I am so thankful that I can get together with any of them anywhere (Alabama, California, etc) and still have a good time with them. Too many times friendships fade away and can be awkward, but that hasn't happened to us and I'm so thankful that we are all still friends!
24. Clothes and shoes. Yes, I have way too many! But I am thankful that I have any at all, especially the abundance that I do have. God has truly blessed me, because I know there are so many out there who need more of these things.
25. The little babies in my life- Tenley, Charlie, and Braxton! I don't get to see any of them as much as I'd like, but I love looking at pictures of all three of them and seeing how they all have changed. It is truly amazing to watch the miracle that is a child. I can't wait until the day that I will have one of my own to have and to hold and to love on!
26. That God knows my future. There are days when I just want to know what the future holds-- and when that future will get here!-- but it's such a blessing to remember that He knows it all and will bring it all to me in His own timing.
27. Darren. Man, that boy drives me crazy. He really and truly does! But at the same time, he's always been there for me. Even when he hates me and wants nothing to do with me, he's there for me. He makes me laugh and he makes me cry and he's one of the best friends I've ever had. I'm thankful that we still have that friendship, even through all the crazy things these past few years.
28. My craftiness. Again, that may be a weird thing to be thankful for, but I'm seriously thankful that God made me crafty. It gives me something to do on boring days, and I really do get a joy out of making things. That may sound weird, but I'm thankful for that interest.
29. People from my past. There are plenty of friendships and relationships that have come and gone- people that were once so important to me who now have nothing to do with my life- but I am thankful for each and every one of them. Some of them had a huge influence on my life and who I am today. Some of them walked through some pretty crappy times with me, and some of them soared with me through the best times of my life. Some of them I still miss terribly every single day, and some of them I don't even think twice about it. But regardless, I am thankful for every one of those people. Because without them, I wouldn't be who I am today and I wouldn't be where I am today.
30. My mom. I saved the best for last. I miss her the most this time of year, but I am so thankful for the 18 years that I did have with her. I've said this over and over, but it's so true. She was the greatest woman that I've ever known. She had the biggest heart, the kindest spirit, and the most generous soul. She gave and gave and gave until she was called home to the Lord, and if I had to guess, she's still up there giving today. We went and visited her grave while we were home, and it just made my heart ache... but also made me thankful at the same time. Her body was right there underneath me, her soul is so far away, but her spirit- that happy, kind, generous spirit? Well, her spirit is with me every single day. And I am so thankful for that- and for the 18 years I had with her.
