Things I'm Thankful For...

“To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything." ~Thomas Merton

I was just thinking about all the things I'm thankful for and thought I'd jot a few down to share with ya'll this Thursday!

- SoulMate Friend started a blog.  SHE STARTED A BLOG!  I seriously just about screamed in my office when I found out, and, of course, rushed right over to read it.  You should too.  Here's the link.  She's brilliant.  And the sweetest person ever.  And an amazing writer.  And one of my favorite people.  If I were you, I'd read her blog instead of mine.  No, seriously.  I would.  Now go.

Me and SoulMate Friend - Homecoming -  2008

-  The ability to run.  I've been complaining to anyone who will listen about how flippin' hot and humid it is here in this new home of mine.  I'm talking, you go running at 5:30 am and are still soaking wet and your glasses fog up kind of hot and humid.  And yesterday my legs were so sore I had to swap out my usual heels for flats.  But then I saw a woman in a wheelchair when I was driving home from the gym.  And I was reminded that instead of moaning and groaning, I should just be thankful.

OKC Half Marathon 2013

-  The kindness of strangers.  Last week, after a particularly stressful Tuesday, I found a loaf of homemade banana bread on my door with a note from a sweet woman who is part of the "bread baking team" at the church I attended on Sunday.  God speaks to us through kind strangers and carbs, I was reminded.

-  A loving family.  Sometimes, my family can stress me out.  You've never seen a bunch of people who are so up in each other's business all the time.  Basically like that tv show Brothers and Sisters except that we're conservatives, we're country, and we don't have money like that.  We're frankly complete insanity.  But you know what?  Those crazy people love me no matter what.  And that makes all the rest just fine by me.

Family Thanksgiving 2012

- Chocolate.  It just makes me feel better.  That's really all there is to it.

- College Roomie.  The professional wedding photographer snapped this shot and it just makes my heart happy.  That's what a photo of "best friends" looks like folks.

College Roomie's Wedding - May 2013

-  Airplanes.  Which are going to allow me to be back in God's country for Cousin Whitney's wedding in about half the time it would take to drive.  And I can sleep while getting there.  Score!

-  ND Friend.  Who is a rock star.  And did her first sprint triathlon last weekend.  Which has convinced me that I need to sign up for my own.  Please check out how cute she is AFTER completing a swim, bike and run.  Her hair looks perfect, her face is not flushed, not a drop of sweat on her.  Then she probably went home and made cookies for orphans or something.  I love that girl!

ND Friend is the one in the black.
You'll also recognized the male in the group as Tiny Dancer.

-  The ideas that Meg shared in this blog.  Here is my favorite part...

"but here’s the thing, and this is a relatively new thought for me, i wouldn’t trade my life for anyone else’s. because not everyone gets to have this experience. and maybe it’s lucky that i do. and others may live their lives better–but not with my peculiar flavor and music.  this is my lot and i’ll be damned if i don’t figure it out. and frankly i’d like to see how it all plays out. which is to say, i’m invested in the story. i’m invested in the story of my own life. which, i think, is not a bad place too be at twenty-seven."

Thankful Thursday

“We would worry less if we praised more. Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.”  ~Henry Ironside

My dear sweet friend College Roomie did this little link up last week, so I'm excited to join in this week!

* Speaking of College Roomie, I'm thankful that she asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding!  And even more thankful that she's letting me pick out any black dress that I want.  Love those kind of brides.  Love, love, love.  Feel free to send along any dress ideas you come across.

Me and CR at Bay to Breakers 2010

*  I'm thankful for the opportunity to volunteer with Make-a-Wish.  This weekend we will be granting the most amazing wish for the sweetest boy and his family.  I cannot put into words what it is like to be involved with something like that.

*  I'm thankful that I get to see BFF and Mrs. BFF this weekend.  These two are just my favorites.

*  I'm thankful for the "stress relief" aroma therapy bubble bath from Bath and Body Works.  Is it over priced?  Sure.  Does it relieve stress?  Probably not.  But dang it, it makes me smell good.  Good enough for this girl.

*  I'm thankful for LOKG who I will be running a half marathon with in exactly 93 days.  93 days!!  She's totally kept me going with my goal of eating healthy and getting back into the running game.  Bring it on, Oklahoma City Half Marathon.  You bring it on.

*  I'm thankful for all the babies in my life that are having birthdays this month.  I may have spent entirely too much money on gifts for the birthday kiddos (and their siblings...you can't leave them out!) and shipping them last weekend.  It's probably a good thing I don't have my own children, because I'd be broke as a joke at this rate.

On that note, check out this video of Little Linebacker (who turns 3 in two weeks!) singing "My God's Not Dead" and playing the drums--tree stumps, whatever--in the back yard.  Is this not the most precious thing you have ever seen in your life?  I just love that kid to death, and his parents are clearly doing something right!

* I'm thankful for ND Friend, who has to be the kindest person I know.  Right now she's praying multiple Novenas at the same time for other people and I'm still unsuccessfully avoiding the amazing homemade Nutella that she gave me for Christmas.  She's a Saint.  And a Betty Crocker.  Good combo.

*  Basically, I'm just thankful for my life and for all of the people in it.  I am blessed beyond belief.

Thankful Thursday: That Loved

“When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” ~  Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Well I've got to say that my 29th year rang in with a bang.  I can't believe the amazing, thoughtful gifts from people in my life.  Take a gander.

The coolest thing that I received was a box full of postcards that College Roomie, Loud Oklahoma Girl and my mom gathered up.  They had all sorts of different people in my life send a postcard from wherever they live to me for my birthday.  I ended up with cards from 50 different people that came from all across the country and even the world.  It was awesome!

So to cap off the night we hit up my favorite Mexican food restaurant for dinner.  Nothing like chips, salsa, tacos and sopapillas to say happy birthday to me!

All of this stuff is great...the gifts, the flowers, the food, but really it's all secondary to the amazing people that I have in my life.  I mean seriously, there are no words to describe it.  My secretary probably put it best when she saw the vases of flowers on my desk and said to someone else, "It must be nice to now you're that loved."  And you know, it really is.