thank you.

some reading music.... :)


"O give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known his doings among the peoples."
I Chronicles 16:8

how thankful are you? honestly.. do you ever stop and take a second to think about something you have that maybe someone else isn't privileged enough to have for their own? is there something you've done that maybe someone else fights to do with no success? of course this sunday's sermon was about being thankful.. i snubbed my nose thinking "i thank God all the time, nightly, daily, whenever!" ..and as the sermon went on, i realized while He is ultimately to whom i should be most thankful, i'm forgetting lots of people i really love and care for.

my parents, for one.. first and foremost. i don't think i could possibly have a better set of people to love, support and care for me. i'm so fortunate to be able to be honest and share anything with them and still be received with open arms in return. they've never judged me, have always stood behind decisions i have to make on my own and are always there to pick me up when i stumble and fall. i've come across people who aren't lucky enough to be able to say these things about their parents, and i am forever blessed knowing that i've never had to, nor will i ever, doubt their love for me. i owe everything to them and will probably never be able to thank them enough. :)

second being my friends :) i'm lucky to have friends that i can always be honest and up front with. i don't hold much back, and when i needed them to understand my struggles and help when they could, they did without a second thought. i'm not often ashamed or embarrassed, but i couldn't help but hesitate in telling my friends i suddenly took a quick trip to shade city because of some sudden anxiety disorder, haha.. they were all sweethearts and have since been understanding of all my little nervous habits :) lol.. mostly, i have to say thank you to heather for being one of my best 'new' friends! she's been patient, super understanding, and has been there for me anytime i've needed her! and i still remember lots of long phone conversations when i was going through some serious heartbreak a few summers ago =/ ha! i'm glad i have her to call when i need to cry about old boyfriends and new ones, puppies eating my birth control and any panic or frustration i may be experiencing! haha! i hope she can say the same for me :)

i'm also blessed to have a best friend that i can say i've spent my whole life with (minus 10 days, ha..). i couldn't be more thankful for jamie and her ability to help me, listen, and calm me down when i need it. i love that i'm always able to be comfortable around her, and she's the same with me. she's one of my "safe people" and i love her for it! haha! she'll never know how great she is and how proud i am of her :) we have been through so much together and apart and it's awesome to say that i have a friend who has been with me through every obstacle i've had to face. again, i'll forever be thankful to her for being there :)

i'm especially thankful for people like mrs. lori mullis :) who has been an absolute Godsend over the past year and a half! she's been an amazing friend and support system. this lady understood me, supported me and believed in me from day one! she has not only taught me many many invaluable lessons, but she has shown me everything i was capable of when i had no faith in myself. i'll never be able to thank her enough for the blessings she's given me :)

not only am i thankful for my family and friends, but i am eternally thankful for Him. i would never be where i am today without my faith. i'm thankful for His comfort through my struggles and distress, and His grace when i stumble. i know i'll get preachy, and i sorry :) lol, but the Bible teaches us that Jesus was forever thanking God and those around Him. even through His ridicule and death, He was thankful. i take that as a lesson that even when we're fighting, depressed, hurting or falling, we always have something to be thankful for, there is always some light and you will always be able to look forward to better days. you will never be stripped of everything, because He already has been for you. so be spoiled, and be thankful :)

.....and on a much lighter and completely unrelated note :D this week, i've fallen in love with a new nail polish! eeee! i've bought a few sally hansen polishes recently instead of my usual 8$ bottles of essie! ha! and they're not so bad!! this week i'm wearing "purble gala", it's sparkly! :)