this past thursday there was no celebration of thanksgiving whatsoever, no turkey, no sweet potato casserole, no classrooms dressing up like pilgrims and indians, no long weekend, no black friday shopping lunatics, for this is strictly an american holiday. i'm not even sure you can buy a whole turkey in sweden. it's just not as common as buying riendeer and moose, ya know? however, that does not mean i didn't live vicariously through my friend's facebook status' about going home for the break and decorating for christmas. i have to be honest i was little sad about missing it and that special time with my family, because i look forward to this part of our holiday season every year. november might possibly be my favorite month of the year, besisdes july and august. i did, however, have a splendid skype date with my entire family (all 5 of us, lol) who are currently living in 3 different countries. like always, we spent most of the time laughing and sharing stories. praise jesus for technology! although i was caught up in the busy-ness of my life as an au pair while all of my fellow americans were stuffing the faces with leftovers, i couldn't help but be reminded of all that i am thankful for here and there. so i've made a list, just i've done since the first grade:
what i am thankful for:
my personal relationship with jesus christ: amen and glory to him forever and ever because i would be nowhere without his love, his word, and grace. i have learned so much about our relationship and he has been my strength when i could not stand. he has also blessed me immensely with the following people in my life and i owe him all the thanksgiving in my heart. i could go on and on and on about how thankful i am, but what better way that to quote his word:
psalm 100
Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
amen.
my amazing family: there are five of us and i am stuck in the middle of two of the best brothers a girl could ask for. my dad is one of the most honorable and admirable men i know, and i have loved every single second of being the "daddy's girl" and seeing the way he loves me like jesus loves his children. he is a great example of leader in our family and has always pointed us to truth when he didn't know the answers himself. also, he's a beast runner and athlete and taught me how to play volleyball and love baseball. thanks daddy! my mom is the most free spirited and adventurous person i know. she can do pretty much everything and is never afraid to try anything new. she's taught me so many little life lessons along the way, and i am so thankful that she is always available to listen, even when i'm not interested in saying anything at all. she has been a great encouragement to me pursuing my dreams and i know she will always support the tough decisions. she's also an amazing cook and i can't wait to make christmas dinner with her! samuel/sammy is my older brother who i look up to more than he will ever know. he is a genius and wise beyond his 24 years. his patience with me as a younger sister is admiring, because i know how annoying and naive i can be, yet he would totally be there for me if i was ever in trouble. he's always looked out for me, even when he's been in other countries traveleing the whole world. he's inspired me to do things without thinking too much about it, especially when it comes to exploring what else the world has to offer. he's also full of great advice when i need it, just like a big brother should be like. luke/lukas-quite the goober, but my life would not be complete without him. he's just so cool, and i'm so thankful i have the role as his big sister, even though he's a lot bigger than me in hieght. we used to fight all the time when we were younger, but i thank him especially, because i'm pretty tough having grown up with those two boys. he is the best at making anyone laugh and has a personality that makes all the ladies fall in love. i adore him for his talent in art and in making drinks. i always know who to call for a laugh or a good story. precious.
friendships: there are almost way too many close friendships to even begin how grateful and blessed i am. honestly, my heart is so full by just knowing these amazing men and women (there are too many to be named and i don't want to leave anyone out). i don't know if i'll ever meet anyone greater and love anyone more than i love the people in my life right now, including my sweet friends in sweden. every single one of these treasures mean the world to me and i can't thank god enough for how they've ended up in my life. i have been away from my friends in the states for about 10 months, but i still have the encouragement and love from them when i see them on skype or when just recieving an "i miss you." knowing that i have these strong frienships to return to keeps me going. whether they have helped me or i them, whether it's been 10 months or years without having seen them, or whether i see them everyday and need a break from them, i can not be more filled with joy with the friendhsips i know and hope i will have for life. ecclesiastes says "Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up." i can't count how many times i have experienced this verse in so many different ways, for every single one of my close friendships are so unique but lovely all the same. it is amazing the community we were created for as believers, and the ability to form different kinds of friendships, even with those who do not choose to believe in christ. for me personally, i have a lot of love to give, and will give it all away to let my sweet friends know how much they mean to me and how grateful i am for them!
my kids: i can't actually call myself a mom yet, but i sure do have a lot of kids that i consider my own. from camden: will & matthew, and mary-caston, from greenville: caleb, phoebe, & webb, and sarah & amelia, and now in sweden: erik, emma, & elias. i have spent so much time with each and every one of these little joys, and it is never enough. i have always loved kids, but these ones are going to have a special role in my life forever. they are so close to my heart and i miss them so much when i am away and can't go to guitar recitals, baseball and soccer games, and dance recitals...oh and don't forget the CHRISTMAS plays!! it's so exciting to be a role model to these youngin's no matter how far away i am from them. if you just spend one day with a kid in general, you find you can enjoy the smallest things in life and become a kid again yourself. talking to them just to see what they will say can also have you laughing until you cry. my best dates have been with my kids (including holding hands and skipping stones...dead serious) and i have so many great stories. it seems my life is constantly surrounded by these little ones i love so much, and you wonder why i want to be a teacher. they are honestly the greatest gifts in the world, and i mean that. i am thankful for them always.
opportunities: i can not be more grateful for the opportunities that have been placed in my life thus far. i have had the greatest encouragers and supporters to push me to do all that i love and take on life at warp speed. there are many things i have accomplished that i would not be able to do without the right timing and opportunities. one for sure is being able to come to sweden as an au pair, something i never thought would happen to me. but it did, with a couple of contacts i made at the cliffs communities... ba-da-bing ba-da-boom and here i am. there has not been a time in my life where i have been stopped from doing something that gives me joy or has stretched and challenged me to make me a stronger person than i thought i'd be. some of the opportunities are just for fun, like being able to road trip through europe, meeting someone with connections to a great job, or a chance to babysit in panama city beach and meet new lifetime friends. other opportunities, i may not be as grateful for them until i realize that jesus was trying to teach me something, or use me to reach someone else. whatever the case, i am eternally grateful and blessed.
i am finding it hard to conclude this post on a solid note, for it to have been so sweet and sappy above. so i suppose i'll end it with what i started with: "ain't even need a turkey for it to be thanksgiving..."and i surely didn't even think about the fact that we came over on the mayflower. woops. maybe next year i'll include the history part.
Happy Holiday Season!!
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