Giving Thanks

Just a few of the many reasons I have to be thankful this year:

*A short but sweet break from school and work, which means time to write a blog post, time to enjoy family, and even time to do a little pleasure reading.

*A job I absolutely love, that makes my heart beat.

*Students who help me grow, laugh, and most of all, keep me on my toes (you have no idea).

*Brussel sprouts. They are in season, which is reason to celebrate. I don't think people are thankful enough for brussel sprouts and all their goodness.

*The cutest little brother who I prayed earnestly for, who God delivered over 25 years late but right on time.

*Amazing friends who do things like help me take my dog to the vet (easier said than done), spend hours and days house hunting with me, and super glue my computer back together in a time of freak-out and despair.

*Good music.

*Kind people.

*Education. There are many women in the world who are much like me, but because of where they were born have never had the right or opportunity to go to school. And there are many children in the world who are much like my students, who are deemed unworthy and not teachable, who will never be given the opportunity to pursue their dreams and strive. It makes me feel sad for the world, because they are truly missing out.

*The seasons. Here in Central California we are having the most beautiful fall that I can remember, and I get to see the best of it as the sun rises on my way to work every morning.

*And last but not least, a place to call home.

That's right. I feel like I did the impossible...I bought a house! I will get the key and sign the final papers the beginning of next week. It's 1,000 cozy square feet of possibilities. It was built in 1937, back when houses were made with quality and character (yes, I realize I sound like an old lady). The backyard is full of fruit trees and planters ready for lots of goodness to grow (maybe even some brussel sprouts). I can't wait to show you the inside, which I will do as soon as I find a working camera. I feel like someone built this house in 1937 with me in mind.

Hope you all have a beautiful Thanksgiving and that you have time to give thanks for all your blessings.

The Little Things

Sometimes in this crazy world I forget to take time to enjoy the beauty in the little things. Here are a few of those things for which I am thankful:

Mornings that are cool enough to wear a cardigan without melting

Kids coming in from recess covered in dirt and sweat from head to toe

First night's sleep on clean sheets

A washing machine to wash said sheets (Props to all the women in the world who hand wash their sheets. You are much stronger and tougher than I.)

Fresh cut flowers

Unexpected hugs

The colors of fall and pumpkins in every shade of orange

Learning new things 

Reuniting with old friends

Conversations with my grandparents

Real mail

Popcorn

My sixty pound pitbull curling up in my lap 

Airplanes

A sharp pencil, crisp white paper, and all the possibilities

A child's uncontrollable laughter


What are some of the things that you appreciate the most?



I will be unplugging for the next few days to spend some time absorbed in God's beauty and just being. Have a great weekend, and don't forget to enjoy the little things. 

Thankfulness

Sometimes I get so caught up in what I think I could have or should have, I forget to be thankful for what I do have.

I forget that I have so much more than I deserve.

I become so focused on the wants or the "they have"s I fail to see the countless blessings around me.

This week I was reminded of some sweet children in India, and what an example of humility they were to me.

I have shared these pictures before, but this week I have really been reminded of the beauty in these moments.

After meals were served at the Compassion centers (meals that many of us would consider meager) the children would take their plates to their place on the floor to eat. Before the serving even began, a project leader would say a prayer and blessing over the food.

What I watched day after day, project after project, child after child, was beautiful. For many of the children served, this would be their only real meal of the day, and no doubt their tummies were hungry from wait since their last meal.

Yet they took the time to say thanks. Separate from the group prayer, not being told or asked to do so, these kids would spend not seconds, but minutes in independent prayer. Because they were truly thankful.

From humility blooms thankfulness.

The Day of Small Things

*Over Thanksgiving week I ran next door to my neighbor's house each day to feed and pet their kitty cat. No big deal. Then yesterday they surprised me with a "Thank You" card and gift card to Target. I spent the evening debating if I would use the card on some boring necessities, or put the money towards a much needed, new, and bit more exciting jacket. I really weighed my options, and decided my 10-year-old jacket would be more than adequate for another year.

Then, this morning my coworker and friend, who recently blessed me with some gently-used, much-needed, new-to-me jeans, gave me this:

a beautiful, warm, wonderful coat. She said it's been hanging in her closet, rarely worn. She felt it was being wasted, just sitting there taking up space. I promise you, I have dreamed of this exact coat. It's red.  And it will forever remind me of how He provides: How He loves. So thankful.

*Last night I rolled change I have been saving for my Haiti and/or Bangladesh fund. Mere change that clutters ash trays, pennies that people toss aside on the sidewalks, coins that fall forgotton between the couch cushions. And guess what, my friends? Two hundred and seventy-two dollars. That's $272 closer to hugging one of my babies young men.



                                 



*Then, to top it all off, today my friend Sarah posted this:

Sarah traveled to Haiti last month with Compassion, and I was able to send along some cards with photos and stickers to be given to unsponsored children. This sweetie pie got one of my cards, and I love her :) This picture is like a hug from Haiti.

Tonight I sit here, feeling so very loved. Thankful for the things that the world may see as small, but are so very big.

How have you experienced the Father's love lately?

Oh, Deer

I am still in Colorado, hanging out with my family and these guys in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

I spent the last four days in the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. The name (which means "Blood of Christ") is perfect, because the beauty is so engulfing that it is impossible to not be filled with worship for our Creator and Savior in this place.

I am so thankful to have this time of fellowship with my family and with the Father.

I hope you take the time today to let His beauty engulf you.



~I'll be back in three days. I can't wait read about what you all have been doing the last few weeks.

Summertime Tradition

Last night I took some of my Youth for Christ girls to our annual summer baseball game. Each year a wonderful local business donates baseball tickets for our local minor league team, and through going to these games each year, we have started our own little tradition.

We get to go in through a "special door" with no line, and to the littles one's delight, we even get to take the elevator instead of the stairs. Oh, and not to mention, we have great seats!

And not only do we get to go enjoy a baseball game, we get to do it in style. Last night we got free tickets to the buffet, and on top of that, free hotdogs and sodas (delivered to our seats), and all we could eat popcorn! (And its a good thing I brought my mom purse, cause one of my girls insisted on taking some of the goodies home for her siblings. My purse now smells like a concession stand :)

We had such a fun night, and to top it all off, we stayed to enjoy a post game fireworks show. It really is a blessing to be able to give these kids a little special treatment once in a while.

 Thank you, Giersch and Associates, for your generosity, and for helping us create lots of great memories!

So Incredibly, Undeniably, Undeservingly Blessed

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Psalm 95:1-7

Among other things, I am thankful for:

*Clean water

*A bed with warm blankets

*Freedom

*My job

*A car

*Shoes

*Opportunity

*Education

*Old friends and new friends

*My dog

*Being able to visit my friends in Zimbabwe

*Dilsly, Ruth, Lorkems, and Elahi~ my precious Compassion kiddos

*Running water

*Rain

*The seasons

*Access to medical care

*Hugs

*My students

*Toothbrush and toothpaste

*Children

*Coffee

*A home

*Food (especially Indian and Mediterranean food :)

*God's grace

*The leaves changing colors

*Change...

...and the list goes on.

I pray that your Thanksgiving would be blessed with warmth and laughter and love.

The Perfect Fit

The elementary school where I work is located in an area of Fresno called Highway City.

Fresno in itself has many poor communities. Based on poverty/population ratio, it is actually the most impoverished city in the United States, and Highway City is one of the poorer areas of the city.

I feel as though the Highway City area is often overlooked because it is on the very western edge of town. Most people have no reason to go into the area, making it easily forgotten.

Today, though, the children of Highway City were remembered.

The local business called Granville Homes donated loads of coats for kids. Teachers have been taking notes as the weather has turned colder as to which students are in need of winter coats. And today every single one of those kids recieved one.

In our little autism classroom three of our students were blessed with big warm beautiful coats. The kind of coats that are well made, warm, and will last a long time. And it just so happens that the coats they were given were in their favorite colors. All three of them. One could call it a coincidence, but I will say that God cares so much about these little ones, that not only does he want them to stay warm and healthy, he wants them to feel beautiful and so very loved.

Our kids don't quite understand where these coats came from, but there was priceless joy as they put them on and pranced around the room.

So, thank you Granville Homes. Your gift of love was the perfect fit.

Reflections.

At the end of each day I sit down and reflect on all the things I am thankful for. Here is today's list:

-Crisp fall mornings

-Experiencing the crazy love of Jesus through people he places in my path.

-Short but meaningful visits with long time friends.

-Cuddling with my dog :)

-Hugs from my students.

-God providing above and beyond.

And last, but not least:

-Reading the intimate thoughts of people I have never met, and knowing we were meant to be friends.

For you, I am thankful.