Days #31-41: Rest.

i haven't blogged in forever. i feel kind of like a failure, but i've been having so much fun this summer. i haven't been doing much...went to the lake last week, blue ridge this week, and lake next week again! woohoo!!

as much as i feel like a cheater for not having 11 things to blog about, i'm still only going to blog about one. i'm very thankful for rest. this summer, i have been able to rest my mind, heart, soul, and body and it's so nice. i'm thankful for the freedom my parents have given me to let me rest. i'm thankful that i have a place to rest. thankful for rest.

Day #30: Rubber Ducky, you're the one.

i cannot believe i've been blogging for a month already. time is flying!! not sure i ever want this summer to end.

most days i sing while in the shower and today i found myself singing the duck song about bath time. i wasn't actually taking a bath, but the catchy little song just got stuck in my head! don't worry, the tune eventually stopped reoccurring in my head. BUT i did get soap in my eye today, and that did not feel very good. at all. it stung reallllllly badly.

oddly enough as i was thinking about what God was going to reveal to me today, i was stopped mid-shower by how thankful i am for SOAP. i'm thankful to be able to keep myself clean and free of hygiene issues. thankful that i feel renewed. thankful that i am able to shower daily.

that's all for this wonderful day!

Day #29: Donations.

stephen has moved all of his stuff back home. looking at all of his "stuff" made me want to get rid of some of my stuff. i think this is at least the second time i've purged my room already...clearly once wasn't enough. i don't think twice was either. in any case, i'm thankful that my "stuff" can be someone else's who really needs it. we all get caught up in buying, collecting, and obsessing over clothes, purses, shoes, video games, movies, etc. why do we need all this "stuff"? i've yet to figure out why i can't get rid of all of my non-essentials and feel okay about it. something's wrong with that. but until i figure that out, i'm thankful that the things i don't need/want anymore can go to help someone else.

Day #28: Bookworm.

saturday, day 28

i feel like i've been a bookworm lately. i've woken up almost every morning this past week, gone downstairs, made coffee, and sat outside reading for what seems like hours. i'm thankful that we have books to let our minds explore. honestly, i'm thankful that it gets me away from the tv. i'm thankful that books allow me to dream a little bit more than i already do.

i just started reading "eat pray love" and so far...i like it. :)

Day #27: Refreshed.

The lake!!!!!

i used to dread going to the lake in middle/early high school. i don't know why i ever dreaded it, because it's one of my favorite places to be now. friday, tara and i ventured up to the house and had a really lazy weekend. i don't remember the last time i slept a full straight hours, and this weekend i changed that! but, we had lots of fun swimming (just a little bit- the water was cold!) and riding on the boat.

it took a lot of convincing myself that i wasn't gonna be a chicken, and finally jumped in the lake holding tara's hand and bringing her into the semi-cold water with me. although it was cold, i felt refreshed. i'm thankful that i can feel refreshed. thankful that i had a best friend holding my hand and jumping in with me. thankful for lake keowee.

and as i sit here typing this, i'm listening to "Our God" and can't help but to daydream back to Passion 2010 and what it was like to be part of movement for OUR GOD that was enormous. even better- it's happening again next year. 2011. be there. i already have my ticket. :)

Day #26: A bed to sleep in.

as i sit here typing, i keep looking at my bed and i can hear it calling my name!! it looks so cozy, but i was determined to get caught up in the blog world. but i'm simply thankful tonight that i have a bed to sleep in. that i have sheets to keep me warm. that i have a pillow to rest my head on. i'm just plain thankful tonight. there honestly aren't any other words. short, sweet, and to the point.

it's peaceful to sit in the quiet and reflect on life and everything in it. and tonight's one of those nights where i truly feel like i'm getting something out of this blog. picking out the ordinary in our every day lives and recognizing it. exactly my thought when i started this silly thing. thankful.

Day #25: Pizza cutters.

wednesday, day 25: pizza.

kelly and i ventured yesterday and made our own pizza....dough and all! just kidding- the pizza crust was pre-made by our friend the pillsbury dough boy. however, we did spread tomato sauce, cheese, and tomatoes onto the dough. but when we took it out of the oven, it was so easy to quickly cut it with the pizza cutter. it made life so much easier instead of ripping up the pizza trying to cut it. a lot of times it's the little things. and i'm thankful for that.

Day #24: Coffee mugs.

tuesday, day 24: coffee mugs.

it may seem silly, but i'm so thankful for pretty coffee mugs. i have a few of them that i always use. without a doubt, one of them is always available for use. it makes drinking the warm drink that much better in the morning. i have a favorite one that's pink and green and has lots of flowers on it. it makes me happy just thinking about it! and i'm thankful for that.

Day #23: Snail Mail.

monday, day 23: snail mail.

have i mentioned that i love snail mail? because i do. there is something so thrilling about opening a letter addressed to me. knowing that someone wanted to give/send something to me. i mentioned in another post my sweet friend christin. she's at camp for almost the whooooooooole summer, so i sent her some love via snail mail.

i'm thankful not everything is electronic now. i'm thankful for the thrill of opening mail. i'm thankful for hand-written letters of love/encouragement/whatever else they contain.

side note- ringo is so much better. almost off all his meds and walking again. praises for the sweet dog!!

Day #22: Sunday Brunch.

sunday, day 22: brunch.

on sunday, our family went out to eat for brunch. mom and dad got back from italy the night before, i had been in baltimore all week, stephen started his job, and elizabeth hadn't seen my parents since the engagement. it was fun to swap stories (mostly hear about mom and dad's fun time in italy-JEALOUS). but, i was thankful to be sharing a sunday morning meal with the people i love the most.

no one can ever replace your family. i like to believe that i have the best one out there. no argument. i'm thankful that i can share everything with the two people who have raised me and the best sibling in the world, and his soon-to-be wife who is just fantastic. and i'm so thankful for that.

Day #21: SAO

saturday, day 21: nicole's wedding!!!

my sweet big got married on saturday!! the wedding was beautiful and i cried so much more than i even thought i would (in a good way)! everything came together perfectly and we all had so much fun celebrating nicole's big day. it was so great that our family (three of us-me, evin, and samanthat) from SAO got to stand by nicole as she married the love of her life. our little family is so great!! the whole time i was there, i kept thinking of how thankful i was that i was able to find this group of girls that i adore. thankful that nicole is such a wonderful big. thankful that evin is such a great grandbig. thankful that samantha is such a great twin. they are the most trustworthy, true, compassionate, real girls i've ever met. and i'm thankful for that.

Day #20: Driving.

I feel like i've been on the go for so long now!! it's finally nice to be in one place for more than a couple of days. i've been so bad about blogging, but i'm gonna try to get back on track. i haven't forgotten, but i'm trying this new thing where i stay off of the computer as much as i can...it's the one thing i go to when i get bored, fidgety, or just want something to do. but, no worries- i have been keeping track of what i'm thankful for.

friday, day 20: driving.

like i said, i've had so much time in the car lately. on friday i drove to mcdonough to be with nicole and be a bridesmaid in her wedding...more of that later!! but, on my drive down i was able to sit and worship the Lord through music. i sang some of my favorite songs at the top of my lungs the whole way there. i probably got some funny looks, but that's ok!

so today i'm thankful for the time in the car by myself. i love spending time with the Lord and think about how glorious He is. i'm thankful that in the time in the car, i can think clearly and for myself. i often times worry about what other people will think of me. on friday, i think i finally got it. no more worrying about what others will think of me if i do, say, think, something that we may not see eye to eye on. i feel free. at peace. relaxed. and i'm thankful for that.

Day #13-19: The Nash Family.

I've been super busy for the past week around town and currently in Baltimore! since Sunday i've been spending time with my "other" family. The Nashes have got to be some of the best people in the entire world. So, call me lazy but for #13-19, i'm thankful for the Nash family.

currently sitting in the airport, i'm thankful for airport security. yes, it may seem silly to have to walk barefoot through the line, take out laptops, take off jewlery, etc. but i'm so thankful for the precautions that have been taken to ensure safety while flying.

anyway, this past week has been a relief from my life, and i'm thankful for that. i feel like i have been on the go since january, and now i can finally breathe. enough about me, i'm thankful for the nashes.

lynne is one of the most inspiring women to me, and i'm thankful for that. i'm thankful that she stepped into our bible study to teach along with susan. she's that other female figure besides my mom who i adore dearly.

steve is just awesome. laid back. chill. awesome. and i'm thankful for that.

olivia is sweet as can be. definitely owns up to her "miss priss" title, but what 9 year old wouldn't? olivia is an awesome dancer and i love being girly and talking about girly stuff with her. and i'm thankful for that.

sam is a pistol. he may seem hard as rock on the outside, but he is a teddy bear on the inside. he is compassionate and sincere. and i'm thankful for that.

james henry is fun. not theat the other kids aren't fun, but he is 4 year-old fun. he loves to give hugs, and i'm thankful for that.

i'm beyond thankful for the Nash family. one of the best families that i have ever been around. there is never a dull moment in their house and i love it! thank you nash family for letting me see you for the week. my plane is about to board...