Better late than never!!!
So on with the list:
1. I am thankful for Sunshine. Its officially rainy season here in Quito so the days I see sunshine mean so much more to me.
2. I am thankful for cheap fruit. It makes eating healthier so much easier. Just saying.
3. I am thankful for challenges. Yep, What doesnt kill you makes you stronger right? (Thank you Kelly Clarkson) haha
-This age has given me the opportunity to go off to foreign country for a year of service.
-This age has given me opportunity to relate to these high schoolers in a really cool way. ( I cant say it enough, I LOVE these students)
5. Financial Support:
- I am thankful for the family and friends back home who support me in every way including financially.
6. New Experiences
-living in a foreign country, these come almost every day.
7. Christmas:
- Christmas means so much to me, it always has but this year getting to "come home for Christmas" is going to be a blessing like no other, and Christmas will mean that much more.
8. Grace-
-Just because I am a missionary doesnt mean I have it ALL together so thank God for his grace that covers me every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
9. The Beach;
- I got to experience the beach here in Ecuador over Thanksgiving-- and let me tell you, theres nothing like it. We went to La Playa de Canoa and I did NOT want to leave. The beach has always held a special place in my heart but my beach experience here in Ecuador was one for the books.
10. Skype- Technology has been such a blessing to me here and I never thought I would be so thankful for technology.
11. Kindergarteners- I spend alot of time in this area at school and I love it. I love their innocence, their desire to learn, their loving personalities, and just how darn cute they are.
12. Family:
- parents who love me unconditional- who show me a glimpse into my heavenly Father's love on a daily basis. They support me in ALL I do and I couldnt be more grateful for the parents I have been given.
13. Friends:
- I have the bestest friends anyone could ever ask for back home. I have been reminded of that daily here in Ecuador and even in preparation to come to Ecuador I was shown the awesome, Godly community God has blessed me with from the support, love, and laughs my friends back home give me.
14. 2 feet:
- I wouldnt make it in this country without them.
15. Community:
-It doesnt matter where I am, whether college, at home, or off in a foreign country, Im a social person and the Lord provides me with community to meet this need of mine and Im glad He does.
16. College:
-college taught me so much about yes, Kinesiology, my major, but it taught me way more than that and more than any classroom setting could ever teach me and I'd go back right now if I could but unfortunately that cant happen so I am thankful for the time I had.
17. A sense of Humor: I laugh at almost anything and people have been telling me that for years but hey, im learning about its advantages all the time.
18. The south: Yall!!! I miss home ALL the time, I miss MISSISSIPPI, (crazy huh)...I miss the smells, I miss the flatness of the land, I miss driving for hours and seeing nothing, I miss pumpkin, I miss crocheting on the front porch drinking hot coffee, I miss talking and people undertanding me, I miss country music, I miss lake water, and the list goes on and on and on.
I am so thankful to have been raised in the SOUTH: I wouldnt change it for anything!! There's just something in the water down there and its something special.
19. Thankful to know the Lord as my Savior:
short story: met this person at the beach, really cool, nice, good person. Yes, this person had some issues (who doesnt) family troubles, daddy issues, and I am sure other things that I don't know about or need to for that matter but the "people pleaser in me" wanted to fix this person so badly, so badly, I wanted to bring to the surface all the baggage, all the struggles, all the challenges, and get to the bottom of this but then I came to find out this person is an atheist and needs a Savior to do the fixing NOT me. My heart breaks for this person on a daily basis, literally my stomach is in KNOTS, my heart drops every time I say it out loud and I become more and more thankful for my SALVATION every time I think about it. I hope and pray this person will come to know the Lord. And if I never see this person again here on earth, I pray its okay, cause one day I will see them in heaven.
**With that being said, Keep this person in your prayers: if youre a believer, I pray youre heart is breaking for this persons and all those others out there who do NOT know the Lord.
20: Back on a lighter note: I am thankful for- EXERCISE- and people who enjoy doing it with me here.
21. I am thankful for memories being made, I hope to take advantage of every opportunity to do so here.
22. Spanish Lessons- They may only be once a week but thats better than nothing.
23. I am thankful for Chacos-
haha laugh, its okay but I really do love my chacos- the shoe with many uses.
24. A home to "come home" to at Christmas:
If you ever visit an orphanage you become more thankful for even just your own bed.
25. Thankful for Music:
- I love music! its good for the soul, its good for a run, its good to concentrate, its good for a dance! its all around just GOOD.
26. Post-its: I seriously would lose my head if it wasnt attached.
And, I forget everything! So, post-its have saved me from ALOT of stress.
27 Hart of Dixie Nights with the roomie! :)
28. Guardians! LOVE these kids.
29. My major: its been a blessing for the athletes at AAI.
30. Mail!- yes email is great but the feeling of getting a letter in the mail is so great and even better overseas.
