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*These will actually be the thankful for... the weekend!*
1) Camping! This weekend I traveled up to Beaver's Bend State Park in Oklahoma with some dear friends. We got into the park about 11:30 Friday night and set up camp. I just love being out in the midst of creation. I laid on my back that night after we said good night and I just stared at the stars through the top of the tent. I laid there praying for the rest of the weekend!
2) God's beauty! I was amazing over and over again on Saturday of God's beauty in His creation! I woke up early and went on a walk with Theresa along the riverbed. There was steam coming off of the water and the view was amazing! Later that day two of us went for a hike, we took our time and stopped at a few places to rest and enjoy the scene. We finally stopped and laid on a rock overlooking the river. We sat there for awhile, talking about what God was doing in our lives and enjoying the beauty!
3) Cabin's in Beaver's Bend! One of the friends I was with had family in the same area. They had rented a cabin so we went and ate supper with them Saturday night. It was so fun to meet this family! I love meeting the families of my friends and being able to learn more about that friend. It was fun to go there and ended up being such a blessing because of....
4) Thunder storms! I love, love, love thunderstorms! They are such a picture of who God is in my eyes. They are so powerful and yet somehow calming. We got news that a storm was about to come in and so my friend's sister graciously offered for us to stay at the cabin. We went back and tore down camp and go back just as it started to rain. We all put our sleeping bags out on the back patio and watched the storm for the next few hours. It was the most amazing lighting storm and then the thunder rolled in and the skies opened and rain just poured down! We all slept out there on that patio as the storm brewed around us. It was such an AMAZING night!
So again.... SO THANKFUL for the cabin and for my friend's sister who let us stay! I don't think the tent would have survived!
5) Family meals! This morning I got up and made everyone breakfast. I made french toast, bacon and eggs. I love being able to cook for large groups of people and to be able to all sit down and eat together!
6) AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING friends! It was so good to get away this weekend and spend time with good friends! It was nice to be able to speak truth to one another and just have fun!
I am thankful for another great weekend! Here is a picture of us before the rain started!
What an AMAZING weekend! I have been able to spend the last two days with some people I absolutely love and adore. I sat with one of those friends this evening and we laughed and cried as we talked about what God has done and continues to do in our lives. We laughed at the fact that it is next to a miracle that we are still friends. We have done things to one another in the journey of our friendship that has wounded the other to the depths of our beings. And yet tonight I sat with her and we thanked God for the redemption that He has done in our lives separately and in our friendships. We spoke this evening about how so often we are walking through life experiencing the same peaks and valleys and how God draws us near to one another in those times.
Earlier today I stood around a kitchen island with three of my dear friends. We talked about how when the four of us come together God moves! We stood around that island, tears streaming down our cheeks because we are each struggling in our own way and yet God spoke to each of us individually and allowed us to walk though those things together. We talked about how God was moving and how we have to choose to walk in that movement. I love that these women KNOW me, they know my struggles and they know my heart and I know these things of them. I love how God has called us to walk through life together!
This morning I sat on the bed, eyes closed, head bowed and crying out to the Lord with these same friends. We had gotten less then 4 hours of sleep and were so tired, and yet it was so refreshing to sit at the feet of the Lord with these women petitioning for truth to surround our lives on this day and the days to come. We sat there in our brokenness believing that God is our healer and redeemer. We sat there and rejoiced about what God has done in our lives!
Last night myself and 6 dear friends attended a banquet for a ministry that has dramatically changed the lives of two of those friends. It was amazing to hear story after story of how God was redeeming people for His glory. It was so sweet for my heart to be surrounded by people at that table who love the Lord and out of that love, love me well. It was amazing to be in a room filled with 450 people, most of whom knew the depths of struggle and who were broken at the feet of Jesus. It was sweet to feel the love in that room! We ended our night at an amazing venue in Dallas The Library Bar. There is an amazing woman who sings there and it was such an fun place (Dallas got a few more cool points in my book!) It was so good to just be with these sweet friends of mine. To laugh and to enjoy each others company! It was such a good night!
I am SO thankful for these 3 women in my life. Two of them currently live in Oklahoma and tears were shed as I said good-bye to them today. I love how God works in our lives and it was SO encouraging to spend time with these sweet women I call my sisters! So today I am thankful for these women and the true and authentic friendships I have with each of them!
1) Sweaters, I checked the weather this morning as I was getting ready and it said it was 59 degrees outside. I figured I would wear a sweater to work. Well by 10:30 it was mid 80's and I was hot! I was very glad for the fact that my office is always cold! I am more and more excited for sweater weather!
2) Pintrest! I love it more and more. I found a great idea for a gift for a friend of mine. I will post pictures after this weekend when I give it to her. But I love how it inspires creativity in me!
3) My job, I have been reminded lately how blessed I am in my job. I have really enjoyed this transition into being a supervisor and really enjoy it. I love how my gifts and talents are being used in this position. I have had some long days already this week but it's been good. I am having an open house tomorrow and have had a lot of things to do to prepare. But I think it will be good!
4) Hot Apple Cider K-Cups! Remember how I said my office is always cold... well these new K-cups offer a great way to warm me up! I keep them hidden in my desk drawer and it's such a good treat for me!
5) What Women Fear by Angie Smith and AMAZING book!
I think more than anything in the past couple of days I have really been reminded to truly be thankful for everyday. The reality that we are not promised tomorrow has become very real to me. These last few days have been hard, but in the midst of the hardness I have seen glimpses of how great God is. I know that God is sovereign and I praise Him for knowing those things I do not understand. I will continue to be aware of those sweet gifts in my life I am thankful for...
1) A job that I love. I am so blessed to have a job that I love. I have transitioned into my new position and have enjoyed being a supervisor. I hope that I am able to encourage and challenge my staff to be the best they can be. I really enjoy being able to guide my staff and be able to assist them as they help people in crisis.
2) Bubble Bath! After a long day, there is nothing better to me than taking a hot bubble bath to relax
3) Restored friendships. This week I have been very blessed by a friendship that I once thought would never be restored. It's amazing how God can heal hearts. I praise God for grace and forgiveness!
4) Colder weather! I am so excited for fall!
5) TOMS. I sprained my ankle a month ago and it is still not healed completely. It hurts daily and I am not able to do much on it. I attempted to wear heels last week and made it all the way to my car before having to change shoes. I have been wearing my TOMS and am totally in love with them. I think I may another pair (or two or three!)
1) This week has been a a roller coaster of a week for my emotions! But in the midst of it I have realized how thankful I am that I have a Savior that calls me His daughter! I am so thankful that in the midst of hard times I have a comforter.
2) For the sweet memories I have with my dear friend April who went home to be with the LORD Friday morning. She was such an encouragement in my life and I will forever hold the truth that she has spoken into my life dear to my heart.
3) Theresa Butler Mellard! I was able to go and spend the weekend with this dear friend. She opened her home to me and I was able to take refuge there! It was so good to be with people I love. We spent hours talking about what God is doing and how He is at work. We talked about how we are struggling and hard life is. In that hardness I am so thankful that I have friends such as Theresa whom I can walk through life with. I love how God continues to bring people in my life who love me well!
4) The reminder that I truly need to be thankful for today and love those people around me well!
