Family part 2

God knew what He was doing when He picked out my family (well, I guess that goes without saying, since He always knows what He's doing.) I shared my Georgia family with you last month, but you haven't met my Dad's side.  We are a bit smaller, but the fun, generosity, goofiness and love still abounds!
Here we are a couple of years ago....

I have no idea why we did this, but we did. (And to be honest, I loved every second of it.)

You can see Granny gets in on the fun too, although she wasn't too please about messing up her hair!  I am so thankful for my Granny.  She'll be celebrating her 94th birthday this New Years Eve and is still going strong.  She's always been such an important part of my life and some of my best memories from growing up are the times I spent with her and my Grandpop!  They had the best movies at their house, planned the best day trip adventures and we always had donuts for breakfast and cheese and crackers for snack (yeah, not so thankful for that part - still trying to lose that "baby fat"!)

Of course we threw her a big bash for the big 9-0!

I guess it's time to start planning what to do for 95!  She told me we're going to Vegas for 100!! :-)

For now, I'll just be thankful that we'll all be back in that dining room on Thursday.  My cousin will be back from her first year away at college and my uncle will hopefully be home from spending most of the year overseas!  I am sooo excited to see them.

There is really nothing like family!

Ketchup

Or Catch-up...I crack myself up.  Sorry if that wasn't so funny for you all!
So, if you think I fall off the grid from Friday-Sunday, you are correct.  I pretty much hibernate from the internet (except to check fantasy football scores) and it's fantastic!!!  So, back to Friday...
We've had our audit going on at work, which has kept me seriously busy.  Friday I was thankful for a break in the madness to go out to lunch with my co-workers AND to visit Starbucks for Buy One Get One Holiday Latte Happy Hour.  It's the little things people.  I was also very thankful for my friend Patrick, who's birthday we celebrated that night.  Patrick is an incredible friend and I'm so thankful I get to talk to him almost every day!
Saturday I was thankful for my two legs!  Our 20s and 30s group held our annual Turkey Bowl football game on Saturday morning and my friend Liz had the bright idea to run to the field from my house (about 4 miles).  Because I'm insane, I also thought it was a good idea.  I haven't run outside in a while, so it was definitely a challenge, but it felt great to do it!!  Then that night a group of us went country line dancing.  Amazingly my legs kept working - even though it may have looked like I had 2 left feet!
Sunday I was thankful for my bed!  I got to sleep in for the first time in a while (past 8 am).  I also finally got to take a fantastic Sunday afternoon nap - one of my simple pleasures.  At church it was baptism Sunday and my friend Kim got baptized.  I am so thankful for her friendship and I'm so proud of her!!
And today I'm thankful for short work weeks.  I love my job, but a few days off is REALLY nice!!
Happy Birthday to Cynthia today! I love our Jane Austen nights! :-)

Spin Class = Oww

Today I'm thankful for my friends who motivate me to go to the gym when I REALLY don't want to get on a bike at 6 am and sweat like crazy!!

I would have totally stayed in bed this morning if I didn't know Liz and Jessie would be expecting me!

(On a side note, I have to add that my bed was particularly comfortable this morning.  Funny story about last night.  I told you about the bite type things on my legs.   Well last night after I got home from work I thought I'd give my bed one more check for the bed bugs before I went to the gym.  We ALL know how I feel about bugs  and when I thought there was a possibility I could have bed bugs I started having almost an anxiety attack!  I was soooo freaked out.  As I was checking the bed for bugs and signs of bugs, my friend (who was away at the lake with me this weekend) texted me that she just found bites on her foot!  I didn't think it was possible for me to freak out more, but it was!  Then I found 2 bugs that I didn't think looked like bed bugs, but I couldn't really tell and no one else was home.  So I did what any rational person would do...I sat on my floor and cried.  One of my roommates came home about that time and assured me that the bug I found was not a bed bug.  That put me a little at ease, but didn't stop me from tearing my bed apart.  Like I moved the mattress and box spring off the bed frame and did a thorough inspection.  Then I cleaned under my bed and vacuumed.   

 Then i vacuumed my bed frame, box spring and mattress.  Then lysoled them and washed my sheets, pjs and mattress cover in HOT water (not to mention anything that went to Deep Creek or touched anything that went to Deep Creek.)  Coupled with the internet research (I am soooo thankful for google) and the frantic laundry washing, it was 10:30 before I slowed down.  In case you were worried, the bug I found in my room is a carpet beetle larva.  Like I said, I'm thankful for google!)

Needless to say I did not make it to the gym, which makes me extra thankful I had Liz and Jessie to motivate me this morning to get out of my extremely clean and warm sheets and newly flipped and fluffed mattress.  (Have I told you I have the most comfortable bed in the world?  I do...it's a proven fact.  Flipping it just makes it that much better.)  

So today I'm thankful for motivational friends, google and NO BEDBUGS (although I still have no idea what bit my legs).  :-)

I'm not sure I'll be thanking them when my legs and butt are sore and it hurts to sit down, but no pain no gain, right? 

I got up

It's as simple as that.  I'm thankful I got up today.  Wednesday's in general are hard.  My roommates don't have to get up early on Wednesday.  It's mid-way through a week of getting up early and busy days.
And today it was raining.
And I'm in a benadryl haze.  Yeah, I'm surprised I even heard the alarm.  Turns out these bugs bites are a bigger issue than I originally anticipated.  My sister's over-text-message diagnosis necessitated benadryl immediately.  I'm also extremely thankful that my roommate, mom and sister are all nurses with LOTS of patience to listen to my weekly complaints of strange ailments!
Somehow I heard the alarm and made it out of bed!  God's mercies are new every morning and I'm counting on them today!!

Hope

So I guess I need to catch you up on my thankful list.  Last Friday I was thankful for my health.  As of Thursday night I had lost over 10% of my weight in 8 weeks.  I'm eating so much better and feeling fantastic!!

Saturday I was in Deep Creek lake with some of my best friends.  We take a retreat every fall there and it is one of the highlights of my year!  The lake is gorgeous and we had beautiful weather for our hike on Saturday.  As we walked through the woods, laughing our way through the trails at Swallow Falls, I was struck by the beauty of God's creation.  (I forgot my camera, but the following pictures are all from my friend Andrea, who did a great job of documenting the weekend!)
How can you not be thankful for this?

On Sunday I was thankful for my amazing friends, who are part of what makes this weekend so great!

These are people I can totally be myself around.  They show me love, encourage me, make me laugh and inspire me!  It so great to see how much they love each other too.  I treasure their friendship and the time we get to spend together.  I think it's somewhat unusual to have such a close group of friends at our ages, so I'm thankful for every second I get with them.

Yesterday I was thankful for hydrocortisone!  I somehow managed to get eaten alive by some bug!

And today I'm thankful for hope...specifically hope in God's promises.  During my quiet time this morning, God brought to mind some verses on hope that really lifted my spirit.  Hebrews 6: 15, 17-19 "And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised...Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath.  God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.  We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."  There are so many things that I worry will never happen in my life.  There are even times when I feel like God has forgotten me.  But the key is patience and hoping.  I want that to be an anchor for my soul today.  I hope you all are encouraged as well.

Reading that chapter also brought to mind these versed.  2 Peter 3:9 "And the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead he is patient with you..."  Romans 5:5 "Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out on our hearts."  Be very encouraged friends - we serve a faithful God!!

Psalm 66

I am thankful that prayer changes everything.

I fell asleep on the way home last night.  Yes, on the train.  With a random person sitting next to me.  I was exhausted.  I was stressed about our upcoming audit at work next week.  I didn't feel like praying.  I showed up at church anyway.  Every other Wed night a group meets to pray for our generation and the next generation.  Honestly, I didn't really feel like it, but I knew it's where I needed to be.

We read 2 Corinthians 1 and someone prayed for us.  We separated and I got on my knees and begged God to soften my heart.  I pleaded with Him to take a way the things in my heart that were keeping me so bitter and unhappy.

Here's the amazing thing.  He did!
He showed up.  My heart beat a little faster.  I spent some time confessing the junk in my life.  I asked God to speak to me about how He wants us to work in this generation.  I was struck at how often we are trying to fix things and people, leaving little room for God to do His work.  As I prayed, I heard Him reinforce to me that our job is to praise Him - to live fully in the joy He gives us and to show others that joy!  When we're doing this, He works through us to meet the needs of the people around us and draw them to Him.

So I praised Him, because that's all I could do.  I opened my Bible to the Psalms and came across Psalm 66.   I encourage you to read it!  For now, here are some of the verses that stuck out to me:
vs. 3-4 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! 
   So great is your power 
   that your enemies cringe before you. 
 All the earth bows down to you; 
   they sing praise to you, 
   they sing praise to your name.” 

vs. 5 Come and see what God has done, 
   how awesome his works in man’s behalf! 

vs. 10-12  For you, O God, tested us; 
   you refined us like silver. 
 You brought us into prison 
   and laid burdens on our backs. 
You let men ride over our heads; 
   we went through fire and water,    but you brought us to a place of abundance.

vs. 16-20 Come and listen, all you who fear God; 
   let me tell you what he has done for me. 
 I cried out to him with my mouth; 
   his praise was on my tongue. 
 If I had cherished sin in my heart, 
   the Lord would not have listened; 

 but God has surely listened 
   and heard my voice in prayer. 
 Praise be to God, 
   who has not rejected my prayer 
   or withheld his love from me!

And in Psalm 63:5 it says My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; 

   with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

In that moment I can honestly say I was fully satisfied with God.  In Him I have all that I need.  I pray that I can keep that attitude.  It's so tempting for me to think I won't be satisfied until this or that happens - to listen to the lie that I'm not complete unless I accomplish this, I'm not whole until I find "the one" (yeah, that's a toughie and a constant battle.)  But the truth is - I lack absolutely nothing!

I walked out of that room with a heart full of praise.  The bitterness, frustration and anxiety were gone.  Prayer changes everything and I am so glad that's the truth.

Sister

My sister posted this on Facebook the other day.  I'm the taller one, although she has since outgrown me. She's still the most adorable person I know though!!  Look at that hair!  Bright blonde ringlets!  The best part is that she knew she had something special.  She would ask our Grandma, "Don't I have pretty hair Granny?"  as the sun reflected off those curls.

She still has beautiful bright blonde hair.  She's still my best friend.

She gives me the best advice (always with brutal honesty!!)  She's more organized than anyone I know and is always up for helping me organize my crazy life!  She knows what's important and helps me put things in perspective.  She has fantastic taste and loves shopping (and I get her hand-me-downs!)  She is an incredible judge of character.  There are so many ways I would love to be more like her!

I don't get to spend nearly enough time with this amazing person.  Thankfully she works hard and plays hard, so she ends up with more vacation time than I knew was possible!   When I need to get away, she is the perfect travel companion.

Vegas, a cruise, the beach - we always have fun.

I'm so thankful for you Heather!!!

I complained yesterday

Sadly, in a moment of weakness, I threw my thankful attitude out the window and vented to my co-worker that I wanted to run away screaming!!
Why is it so easy to forget what we're thankful for?  When life overwhelms and you realize you just don't have any control - fear, anxiety and frustration start to take root.  If you let them, they grow and grow, because they are so easy to nourish.  Our friends even help us water them without even knowing it!  Pretty soon, they rule our hearts and our attitudes and complaining goes back to being our natural instinct.
Today, however, I'm not going to let them take root.  Instead I'm going to be thankful that I DON'T have the control and someone else does.  Rather than get frustrated when things aren't going my way, instead of letting anxiety flourish when I just don't know how it will all get done, I will BE THANKFUL that Some One else has an amazing plan, that I just need to let Him work out.


Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."


I'm thankful for hope.  I'm thankful that the One who created life lives in me and has amazing plans for this life.  I think I'll focus not this today.

Find a small group!

Yesterday I was sooooo thankful for the end of daylight savings time.  It is so much easier to get up in the morning now!  I feel like a new person!
This morning, as I was praying, God was bringing to mind the prayers requests of the people in my small group.      I was overcome with what a privilege it is to be a part of their lives and to know that they are praying for me as well!  I know today will be a good day because I have their support whenever I need it!!
I'll get to spend the weekend at the lake this weekend with them (and a few other friends!)  Here's a picture of some of our group from our house on the lake last year!!

So thankful for this group!!

Thankful for the weekend

Sleeping in.  A lazy day.  Time to rest. Time to cook.  The sun is shining.  I fit a workout in.  It's Saturday and it's a great day!!

I know I've said this before...

...but I am so thankful for coffee.  It couldn't be any more perfect on a cool fall morning when all I want to do is go back to bed.  It keeps me going, warms me up, AND has no calories (only a few when I add skim milk!)  I think my co-workers share my enthusiasm!  They are not a fan when grumpy Val comes to work!

Do You See What I See?

Do you see what I see?

To me this is more that the beginning of my morning commute.

Do you see the cross?

I love when random things remind me of something with a totally different meaning.  Something important to me.  Something meaningful deep in my soul.  There are examples all around us.  I saw this telephone poll this morning, with the beautiful pink and blue sky in it's background, and thought of the cross.

To say I'm thankful does not do this emotion, this truth, justice.  Forgiven, clean, free.   Full of life.  I only am because of Christ's sacrifice on a cross looking not all that different from this telephone pole.  His agony is my redemption.

"Thank You for the cross my Friend..." (Matt Redman, "Once Again")

What do you see today?

Added note: I would be remiss to not update you on David today.  David has started chemotherapy and is responding well.  He's joking with people and showing so much strength.  We are looking at a miracle.  His heart stopped and he stopped breathing two times last week.  Carlos had to fill out the papers for funeral arrangements.  The doctors who said there was no hope last week are now hopeful he will recover.  It's still a long road.  This form of cancer is apparently very aggressive.  Please keep praying that he continues to respond to treatment and the doctors continue to have wisdom on how to treat him.  Thankfully the Mexican government will most likely take care of the medical bills.  However, because Carlos cannot work and they have had to transplant their family to be close to the hospital, they are using the donations to help the family with food and housing.  If you're interested in donating, please go to the Cuirim Outreach facebook page.  Thanks!

A Messy Desk

Thankful for a messy desk today.

That I am able to work.



I have the tools I need.



Fantastic coworkers.



My Bible open on my desk is not something strange.
In fact, it's encouraged!


My messy desk means there's work to be done.



It's good work.



It's making a difference for the most vulnerable and empowering the church.



Yes, I'm thankful for my messy desk.


Even when the alarm goes off way too early.
Even when it's too cold to get out from under the covers.
Even when the train is late.
Even when the piles of papers overwhelm me.

I can definitely chose to be thankful.  And today, I do.


"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive and inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3:23-24

Thankful November

One year in college the girls in my small group decided to go on a complaining fast for the month of November.  What we found was that you don't realize how much you are complaining until you try to stop.  (Isn't that the case for so many things in life?) Philippians 2:14 says, "Do all things without complaining and grumbling".  All things being defined as ALL THINGS, like everything, even if it's something you don't like or really don't want to do.  Do you know how hard that is?

We quickly learned that in order to stay true to this fast, we needed to find something to replace the complaints.   With Thanksgiving just weeks away, the obvious choice was to replace complaining with its opposite - being thankful.

This morning on facebook I posted that I was looking for the blessing in today.  In response to that, my friend posted this quote - "Be on the lookout for mercies. The more we look for them, the more of them we will see. Blessings brighten when we count them." (M.D. Babcock).     I found this statement to so eloquently say what I was trying to express.  When you are looking for things to be thankful for, you will find them.  In the same way, when you are looking for things to complain about, you will find them.

I've heard some people call this month "no shave November."  I think I will try to go back to "no complain November."  Instead, I will attempt to share something I'm thankful for each day.  I've seen people do this as their facebook status in November and they are so great to read through.

So here goes (and this is in no particular order):

Halloween 2011

I couldn't find a good one of the 2 of us (this is Nicole with Audrey)
Today I'm thankful for having 2 amazing roommates (both named Nicole).  :-)  They are great friends and the best people to share life and my house with!  


An update on David - the little guy is still recovering.  Please keep praying!