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Latte foam and road trips: a gratitude list

It helps my overburdened mind to slow down and remember how blessed I am, and how much I have to be thankful for.
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  1. Cooler weather beginning to settle in. Although the summer heat isn't giving up it's reign without a fight, I'm so thankful that fall is on its way.
  2. A reunion with my best friend. I can't tell you how much I've missed this girl. 
  3. Road trips. I love to hit the open road and explore new places.
  4. Latte art. I love people who can make a canvas out of hot milk. 
  5. The chance to meet my favorite singer/songwriter, Derek Webb. Not only was he super nice, but he recognized me from his music video and the footage I sent in for it.
  6. Chances to be bold and share the music I've been working on.
  7. Attending the Start Conference and being able to meet some online friends face to face. It was so neat to have real conversations with them.
  8. My husband, who has picked up the slack in most of our household cooking lately. He never complains, and always does it with a smile.
  9. Hosting the African Children's Choir at my church and having a packed house. Seeing and hearing the kids reminded me of my kids and brought back so many good memories. 
  10. Talking with one of the chaperones with the African Children's Choir and hearing how well my “kids” are doing back home. They're not kids anymore, as they're all in secondary school. I heard good reports, and I beamed with pride.

What is on your gratitude list this month? I'd love to hear.

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Gratitude list

Reflecting on the last month, here’s what I’m thankful for.

1. Live Christmas trees. I love coming home and smelling fresh pine.

2. Christmas music. Traditional Christmas carols never get old to me.

3. Spending a day at the coast with my wonderful hubby, celebrating five years ago when he asked me to marry him.

4. A week off of work right when I felt like I was going to snap. God seems to give me a break right when I need it.

5. My first electric guitar from my husband and a chance to expand my musicianship. (If you’d like to read the full, awesome story behind my Christmas gift, click here.)

Isn't it pretty?

6. Rest and creative time with my husband. I love that he enjoys being creative as much as I do.

7. Jon Acuff’s 5 Club. He continues to encourage and push me (and many others) toward passions, dreams and goals. I have a feeling 2013 is going to be a productive year.

8. Comforting passages of Scripture. As I read through the Christmas passages of the Bible, the familiar words made my heart smile.

9. Time with family. Laughter, food and copious amounts of crinkled wrapping paper make for a fun day.

10. Watching my nephews play Christmas carols on piano during a Christmas Eve service. They rocked it. (The big dramatic bow that my younger nephew took was awesome too.)

What are you thankful for this month?

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Thanksgiving

“Thanksgiving includes gratitude.   In fact, thanksgiving is but the expression of an inward conscious gratitude to God for mercies received.  Gratitude is an inward emotion of the soul, involuntarily arising therein, while thanksgiving is the voluntary expression of gratitude.”

E.M. Bounds

One of my favorite practices is to create a gratitude list. It pulls me out of myself when I’m feeling sorry for myself and renews my perspective. I thought it would be appropriate to offer one on Thanksgiving.

  1. My faith. As much as I struggle, especially with worship, my faith in Jesus runs deep.
  2. My husband. He is faithful, loving, patient, and awesome. He supports me and my creative endeavors, and is awesome tech support and website designer. I love you, baby.
  3. My family. I grew up in a loving, supportive home. My mom’s always been one of my biggest cheerleaders. Thanks guys.
  4. My family of choice. I have a set of friends that my husband and I have lunch with on a weekly basis. We call them our family of choice. They’re a fun bunch. I feel even more grateful for them this week as one of our members suffered a heart attack last week and is now doing fine.
  5. My health. As much as I complain about my little ailments, I know I am blessed.
  6. Creativity. I am thankful for a creative spirit and ways to release that creative energy.
  7. My blogging community. I love the people I have met through blogging. I love the amazing blogs I run across. You guys are too cool.
  8. Employment. I grumble about this A LOT. I am not in my dream job, but I am in a job. I have a paycheck, and even though it doesn’t always stretch very far, I know I am blessed to have any income coming in.
  9. My home. As cluttered as it gets and as much as it does NOT look like the Better Homes and Garden model, it is cozy, comfortable, and mine. I have traveled enough to know that being in out of the cold, rain, and elements is a huge blessing. I also went long enough without a home of my own to know how awesome it is to have one.
  10. My African Children’s Choir kiddos. I’ll be sharing more about them soon in my worship journey. I miss them like crazy and hate that they’re not in my life anymore, but I am so proud of the hard work they do in school and I know they are going to do great things. I pray to have the chance to return to Africa soon to visit them again. I’m way overdue on hugs.
What’s on your gratitude list?