grateful tuesday

today, i am exceptionally grateful for the body of Christ. 

never have i experienced such love from such amazing people.

for my most recent adventure, i flew to the other side of the country to help at a wedding (and see some amazing friends) on saturday and then surprised a friend for her bridal shower on sunday and squeezed in some other visits in between.

i am grateful not just for these friendships but they that the LORD placed them into my life. some i have known for many years, some only for a season, some only a couple of days, and some only a matter of minutes before we became friends.

a great friend of mine started a thankful thursday blog a few years ago, and ever since she has inspired me to do the same. my sad attempt at blogs is somewhat embarrassing, I can’t even figure out how to hide them to save myself from embarrassment (please feel free to search and have a laugh). you will also find my inconsistency. however, i know that this great, amazing friend will be nothing short of joyful that she has inspired me to be grateful for many things and finally have felt inspired enough (sad, i know) to blog about it.

here is a small list of things i am grateful for today, not just because its “thanksgiving season” or because “thankful tuesday” or because i am counting 30 day of thankfulness in november. no, these are things I am grateful for in and of themselves, and Somebody is due some huge credit and praises for them…

today i am thankful for

airplanes and the view you get of the clouds in them

clouds (is this what heaven looks like?)

a mother that supports all of my crazy adventures

friends of friends (of friends) to take me to and from the airport

friends that have become like family

weddings and how they shout out glory to God

snuggles of wittle babies (that aren’t so little anymore)

delicious coffee, no sugar, no cream

donuts, (don’t judge)

friends that drive out of their way to give me a ride

surprises, and co-conspirators

pictures and lots of them

finger food (how do you stop?)

friends that are straightforward but also gentle

friends that give hugs a little tighter than what is comfortable

friends that give hugs a little longer than what is acceptable

friends that are hilariously punny

parents of friends that take you in as their own

a church that I can call home anytime i want

facial expressions of friends are capable to read 

surprise and confusion and excitement all at once

friends that drive out of their way to see me

friends that lose sleep to spend time with me

yard house, a place to gather around a table and 

converse, laugh and eat more food

my ties to south africa and that my time there 

keeps blessing me in unimaginable ways

beauty of mountains

a bed to sleep to over sleep in

a family to return to after each crazy adventure

the LORD’s timing, although it is sometimes confusing

seasons of life

(because they are just a season)

today i am filled with thankfulness and i pray that this thankfulness is not just for a season, but that it would multiple, not just in my life, but also in others; because we serve a God that loves to answer a prayer that asks for more.