November Thanksgiving

November begins the holiday season that I love. Yet I find we get lost in the busyness of it and even lost in the “I want” of it. So I am beginning my new tradition this year; 30 days of Thanksgiving. Every day I am writing down one thing that I am thankful for and I wanted to share it with you. May this encourage you to take some time to really think about what you are truly thankful for and perhaps post it somewhere so you can be reminded of these things when your world seems tossed about and gratitude may seem far off.

1- I am thankful for perfect fall days. 2- I am thankful for the beautiful fall colors that paint the landscapes. 3- I am thankful for the new friendships that God has given me in the past three months. 4- I am thankful for my time in the states and how I have two homes in two countries. 5- I am thankful to take my next breath. 6- I am thankful for my Tica family here in Costa Rica. What a blessing they are. 7- I am thankful for languages and that I can speak Spanish – though that might be questionable today. 8- I am thankful that Jesus died for me and is now my mediator of the Covenant. 9- I am thankful for my amazing friends that God has perfectly placed in my life. I couldn’t do without them. 10- I am thankful for the amazing grace of God that not only saved me but sustains me daily when I have done nothing to deserve it! 11- I am thankful that I get to return back to the best job in the world with my 40 girls today! I'm also thankful to all the men and women who serve, have served, and have given their lives for our freedom and our country! 12- I am thankful to finally see the sun for the first time since I have been back in Costa Rica. 13- I am thankful for sleeping in late. 14- I am thankful to be able to worship our God freely without the fear of being persecuted. 15- I am thankful for hope. 16- I am thankful for a new day with a blank canvas and all the colors in the world to paint this day...oh what will the creation look like at the end of the day? 17- I am thankful for technology that allows me to talk via phone with friends as if I lived in the same country and also to be able to talk "face to face" and have a cup of tea together. 18- I am thankful that I can live in the freedom given through Christ Jesus. Psalm 119:45 "I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to Your commandments." 19- I am thankful that I can choose to live in the joy of Christ no matter how I feel or what my circumstances are. 20- I am thankful to see the moon and a few stars that rarely are seen at this time of year. 21- I am thankful that my real true right is to be a daughter of God and with that my inheritance of Christ! 22- I am sooo thankful to God to have amazing friends both in the US and here in Costa Rica with whom we share life authentically...meaning not just the good but the oh so ugliness and rawness of life. I couldn't do without you my friends! I am also thankful for the salvation of Ana Cristina today! 23- I am thankful for the Kentucky team who pour out their love on my girls during their trip this week. I am thankful for the Omaha team who purchased and mailed 100 Bibles so that each girl that comes in can have their very own, easy to read Bible! 24- I am thankful for Skittles! 25- I am thankful to have a family away from home to celebrate life with. I am more than blessed. I am also thankful for having turkey for the first time in 3 years for Thanksgiving! 26- I am so thankful that God can and does radically change our ashes for His beauty. I am thankful for the 11 girls who graduated today! 27- I am thankful that God is our Great Comforter! 28- I am thankful for those who continually support me through their sacrificial financial gifts and prayers. I could not do what I do here without an awesome team at home! 29- I am thankful that my internet has worked for several days straight so I could finish my program proposal. 30- I am thankful that it rained some last night so I was able to sleep some.

Well that was fun and I think I have a new tradition. No not one that is only for November but I think for every month I will be doing this. It’s good to have to take a moment and think about what I am thankful for in that day. So what are you thankful for?