November 10: I'm thankful for lessons on Biblical submission!

Our pastor has been preaching through Ephesians and came to the passage for husbands and wives. However, it is started in the previous verse. "Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ."

This verse was shared with me while I was working at a camp one summer in college. It was a difficult summer, mainly because of my direct boss. He wasn't really leading well and in my opinion, he wasn't deserving of my submission. One of my dear coworkers shared and encouraged me with this verse in the midst of our joint frustration with him. We were called to submit to his authority over us because of our reverence and walk with Christ.

Easier said than done. 

A lesson I reflect on often...

November 9: I'm thankful for rest!

I'm thankful for the rest The Lord provides. I'm thankful for weekends to relax, recuperate and rejuvenate.  Thankful for a king-sized bed that provides good rest!

By the way... Isn't the quilt beautiful?!?! My mom and I sewed it and she quilted it!

November 8: I'm thankful for the technology to connect!

We use technology so seemlessly now. At times it is an idol or distraction. For those reasons, I'm not always thankful for it

However, I'm thankful that it allows me to keep in lose contact with my sister in India. 

I'm thankful it allows me to communicate with friends and family near and far. 

I'm thankful it allows me to watch a former student play in their first D1 basketball game. 

I'm thankful it allows me to text Philip or a friend while at work when I'm having a rough day. 

Without it, these things would not be impossible but they would not happen as easily. 

November 7: I'm thankful for good friends/former colleagues!

Today was a pretty rough day. 

Students were rude. 

I felt under attack.

It seemed nothing was working. 

I sent an email to a former colleague. 

He knew I was having a rough day by my short email. 

He asked what I was doing. 

It was my plan time. 

Next thing I know he and another friend were here bringing me a Frosty while they ate their lunch. 

Timing worked that their plan time at another school and mine overlapped today. 

We all used to teach in the same hallway and see each other everyday. 

This year I am at a new school. 

Our friendship is still there and even stronger now. 

Good friends, former colleagues, who know me well and still care for me well are what I am thankful for today. 

30 minutes with them today was encouraging. 

I am blessed!

November 6: I'm thankful for our neighbors!

Every weekday since school started this year our neighbor, Mindy and her boys come over to let Lucy out once or twice during the day while we are both at school. She offered and we couldn't refuse. We hadn't decided how we were going to deal with letting Lucy out when school started but her offer came before we had to decide. They often play and run around with Lucy which the boys and Lucy love to do. 

They have been a huge blessing to us and today the boys gave us these pictures they colored for us! Our refrigerator know is a bit more interesting to look at!

November 5: I'm thankful for a "man and his dog."

Philip is an incredible husband and I'm so grateful for him! He serves, loves, cares and leads me so well. There are days where I would absolutely crumble under the stress or frustration and he lovingly listens and helps in any way he can. I am confident I am better with him than without him. He is my better half. 

Oh and the furry creature... Lucy! I'm thankful for her addition to our house. To be honest, there are days (and nights) where I am not thankful for her. But she is always joyful, always happy to see us come home and a pretty good dog (most of the time).

November 4: I'm thankful for my heritage!

You might be looking at the picture wondering how cookies demonstrate heritage...

Here's how... My heritage is from a family who loves the Lord and serves others well! These cookies are one small glimpse. My mom has shared her love and talent for cooking with so many people. She is gifted in hospitality. People love to come to her house for a meal as they know the food will be good, the conversation will be encouraging and they will be able to just sit for a while. 

She has learned and inherited these gifts from my grandma and great grandma who did these so well. Some of my fondest memories were spent at my great grandma's house after pre-school when we would make sugar cookies (the only kind of sugar cookies I like).  After we were done, we would take a few to each of her neighbors and sit and chat. As a 4 year old, I hated the sitting and chatting because I got bored easily. However, my great grandma was really good at knowing people, loving people and caring for people. 

There are many other pieces of my heritage I could talk about as this is one small glimpse of why I am who I am. 

Side note: my mom makes the best chocolate chip cookies and has the best recipe! I can only hope mine are as good as hers.