Thanksgiving Day

The weather here this week has been cold with various types of wintry precipitation. Christmas/advent decorations are beginning to appear. That, combined with the fact that we live on more of a German calendar when it comes to holidays, means that it took me a bit this morning to realize that it was Thanksgiving Day.

Here, there's no school break, no Macy's Day parade, no feast with family. However, there will be a Thanksgiving turkey dinner with friends tomorrow. And our thoughts are definitely with faraway family whom we miss.

I've been reminded multiple times recently of the importance of having a thankful heart and attitude. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, because of the time spent with family, enjoying delicious food without the commercial hype of Christmas (Don't get me wrong - I definitely enjoy Christmas, but Thanksgiving feels less hectic to me). Today, especially, I want to be thankful, but more so I want to be thankful every moment of every day.

I am blessed. Blessed beyond measure. I could write a neverending list of things I have to be thankful for, but let me share just a bit of my 2010 Thankful List with you:

*God's grace and what He is teaching me about it
*My wonderful husband (this is my first Thanksgiving as a married woman) and how he cares for me and encourages me
*This season of rest
*The beauty of creation around me
*Time spent with family and friends, and the ability to keep in touch with them across the miles
*A warm, comfortable home

...and much, MUCH more!

Gratitude Journal #22

What I'm thankful for:
*answered prayers
*that God protects and heals
*His sustaining grace
*BEAUTIFUL weather this weekend - it had me asking "Is it really November?"
*friends
*Truth
*The blessings, flavors, and scents of fall, especially as we approach Thanksgiving

What I want:
*To not let the gray, dreary, rainy weather today get me down
*To keep my mind and heart fixed upon Truth, to keep a proper perspective
*To be optimistic instead of pessimistic
*To be a mirror that reflects Him
*To have thicker skin
*To live life to the fullest

Gratitude Journal #21

I'm feeling a bit weary. But sometimes a simple glance out the window reminds me of all that I have to be thankful for:






What I'm thankful for:
*That I live in a place where I see the beauty of God's creation all around me
*Truth-speaking music
*My wonderful husband, who reminds me of Truth, encourages me, and washed a huge stack of dishes last night. :)
*Radiators: The next best thing to a dryer. (Yes, it takes longer, but I'm thankful to have clean, dry, warm clothes to wear.)
*Sunshine
*Walks
*Colors - their variety and their beauty
*That all of my needs and many of my wants are met.

What I want:
*To not feel weary
*Or, more so, to not get frustrated by the weariness
*To put my hope in God - He alone is my strength, my foundation, my reason for living
*To better understand the purpose God has for me and how He wants me to live my life

English Camp: Pictures

Here are a few pictures of the English Camp that I taught at last week. I'll post more words about the English Camp later...

A very telling picture of my class...

M. & his amazing card tower! This was M.'s third camp, and he brought his sister with him!

My colleague and fellow adventurer, Jennifer, selecting Bible stories for the classes to act out...

Two campers and the "beanies" (I had to go to English Camp to learn this word) that they crocheted during one of the "workshops" at camp...

On the last evening, we each received a piece of paper on which to write something that was standing between us and God. We then tacked it on the cross - handing it over to Him since His death on the cross covers our sins and weaknesses with grace.

L. was in my class and really struggles with English. One day, I was able to have a mixed English and German conversation with him and get to know him a bit more.

H. was another student in my class, and was very sweet to answer the random questions that I asked her. Her adorable baby sister came to pick her up on Saturday.

Gratitude Journal #20

What I'm thankful for:
*blue sky
*sunshine
*a morning walk in the brisk fall air
*red leaves
*holding a warm mug of coffee in my hands
*a warm house
*inspiring music
*my amazing husband
*friends who care and who I can be honest with

What I want:
*to love God more
*to not put God in the box that my human brain tries to put Him in
*more energy today than I had energy
*to love the people around me
*to cling to God and put Him before all else

Gratitude Journal #19

For the past three days, our sleepy little town has been blanketed in unusually thick fog. My mind and body feel a bit like they are stuck in thick fog as well. I start to get frustrated and down on myself for being so tired. But then I remember that it is Friday, and that this has been a pretty full/busy week. I am thankful for all of the people time and good conversations that this week has held. But I do need to find some restoration, some rest, some refreshment. As part of that, a gratitude journal helps my perspective.

What I'm thankful for:
*a mostly unscheduled day
*grace and truth
*friends and good conversations that resonate on a heart level
*all of the people standing with us in prayer, encouragement, and financial support

What I want:
*To love God more
*To love the people around me
*To feel more rested
*To keep a proper perspective of life

Gratitude Journal #18

What I'm thankful for:
*colors
*flowers
*sunshine
*how big my God is
*people who serve a big God, and so have big dreams/vision
*opportunities to be a spectator of or be involved in some of those big things.
*my siblings and the ways they make me laugh/smile
*baked goods
*friends
*deep conversations
*streaming radio online with truth-speaking music

What I want:
*To truly understand how big my God is
*To rest IN Him
*To love God more
*To love my husband, family, and friends more
*To wait patiently
*To be more selfless