Day 177: meeting new people

Because every new person is a potential friend. And learning people's stories is one of my favorite things. And because it makes me happy. 

What are you thankful for today?

Day 176: family

Today I am thankful that I have a family. I'm thankful that I have someone to come home to.

What are you thankful for today?

Day 175: my sense of smell

I don't mean the sense of smell in general. I mean mine. Because I almost don't have one. Today I'm thankful for all those times when people complain about a bad smell and I can't smell it.

Day 174: I'm glad I'm not a housecat

We have two of them. Their lives consist of eating, sleeping, laying around not sleeping, moving to a new place to lay around, and occasionally being sick. As much as I love our cats, I'm so, so glad that I'm not one of them. I'm thankful that my life consists of more than being lazy. I'm thankful I'm not a housecat.

What are you thankful for today?

Days 153-173

Day 153: cool summer mornings

I'm thankful that the weather is cool enough in the morning to keep outdoor chores from being uncomfortable.

Day 154: registrar

I'm certain that my school has one of the best registrars in the country. She has spent so much time helping me get all my classes straightened out, transferring credits, answering questions, etc. so, so thankful for her :)

Day 155: free internet at places other than my house

It's really nice to be able to continue doing schoolwork even when I'm not at my house or school.

Day 156: when people offer to pay you for doing chores

Yay for opportunities to make money :) especially during my jobless summer.

Day 157: free summer stock

Because I like the theatre and free is my favorite price.

Day 158: when less people come to an event but it's still great

A smaller group offers a totally different flavor for a get together. Nice for a change, and I'm glad it worked out that people could come :) 

Day 159: breakthroughs

Today I'm thankful for breakthroughs: discoveries or revelations that change the way you see things.

Day 160: comfy shoes

I got new shoes today :) yay for replacing older not-so-comfy shoes.

Day 161: placemats

I am thankful for placemats because when I spill something it's easier to clean the placemat than the whole table.

Day 162: scholarships

Really thankful for the people who help provide for my education.

Day 163: debates

I've recently begun to appreciate the use of debates in politics in the US. If I watch the debates on TV I have a better idea of what the candidates stand for. So much easier than trying to sort through all the campaign stuff online.

Day 164: "Summer is waning"

My brother said that this morning. Being on the downhill slope of summer makes all that heat more bearable.

Day 165: pills

I'm not overly fond of pills, but on days when you can't chew tablets swallowable alternatives are a definite plus.

Day 166: youth minister

For the past three years or so our church has had a very good youth minister. He's taught the students about life and taken them deeper into the Scriptures. He's also been very inclusive. I've enjoyed working with him :) very thankful for who he is and what he's done in the lives of our young people.

Day 167: invisible disabilities

I'm thankful that my medical problems are not such that I have people staring at me.

Day 168: manual locks on car doors

Because when I lock it myself with my own hands I know it's locked. Yes, that's me, the person who has to lock the car with a beeper several times because I can't remember if I locked it or not. [insert eye roll/shrug]

Day 169: we got rid of our TV service

It's so nice not to have that box on as much :)

Day 170: my grandfather's place of residence

Another way of saying his house. Because "my grandfather's house's location" just seemed like too much. Anyways, he lives literally around the corner and I'm thankful that we can get to him quickly if we need to.

Day 171: running water 

I am really thankful that when I'm thirsty or need a shower or something I can just turn the water faucet on.

Day 172: electricity

Today I'm thankful for electricity. Because I can turn lights on and plug things in and etc.

Day 173: sound

The rhythmic thump of my feet on the boardwalk. The combined hum of various insects. The quiet murmur of people conversing at a distance. Sounds. They can be beautiful. And seldom do we take the time to listen. I took a walk today, and I'm glad I did. Thankful for sounds today.

Days 146-152

Day 153: air conditioning

Because summer is hot. 

Day 154: egg timers

Because sometimes I can't hear the laundry timer at the other end of the house and I can carry an egg timer around with me. Great Christmas present :)

Day 155: community colleges

So I can't make night classes and I need to take Spanish this year (but of course my school only offers it at night). Thankful for the local community college that is going to (probably--still finalizing) allow me to take Spanish online and transfer it in. Yay :)

Day 156: cousins

So I love my cousins. And last week they came over to hang out. And it was fun. I'm really thankful that I've been able to grow up being friends with at least some of my extended family.

Day 157: credits transferring

Once upon a time. I took some CLEPs before I went to college. But then they didn't transfer. And I lost a whole years worth of work and money. That was three years ago. Then last week I was trying to figure out my classes and I emailed the registrar and asked if they still didn't accept CLEP credits and she said she could look at them so I scanned copies of the documentation and Friday I got word that they accepted two of them. So now I have two less classes to take to graduate! And also was upgraded from a junior to a senior! And I haven't been this excited in a long time. I'm serious. #senioryear #wellseniorthreesemestersleft #party

Day 158: good news

I mean specific good news, not good news in general (although that is also great :D). Today I found out that a friend of mine is enrolling at my school for this next semester. Soooo excited! Wheeeeee!

What have you been thankful for this week?

Days 126-145

Day 126: a friend

I have this one friend who is kind of unexpected, in the way of friends. We have similar interests but our personalities are...very dissimilar. We do not react to things the same way (or often to the same things) and disagreements are not at all uncommon. Perhaps the most unusual thing about our friendship is the age gap. She is older than my parents. But she doesn't treat me like she is. That is what I'm thankful for. She does not allow our many differences to get in the way of being friends. And I'm so glad, because as it's turned out, she's one of my best friends. And I wouldn't want to do without her.

Day 127: fireworks at sunset

A confession: I've never really liked fireworks. And it's not the noise or the way you have to crane your neck to see them sometimes. My first distinct memory of fireworks I can recall is of watching them go up and seeing the trails of smoke left in the light of each successive firework. And I thought it was scarring the sky. I suppose I didn't understand about the smoke yet. This year it was really stormy the day of the Independence Day celebration and they moved the fireworks display forward nearly two hours. The sky was not dark at 8:00. It was sunset and the sky behind the fireworks was purple and orange. Fireworks look so different at sunset. And for the first time, I could see (and not just know) that the smoke trails float away after a bit leaving the sky clear to see the sunset and the stars. Sometimes it takes a different light to see beauty where you haven't before.

Day 128: the joys of being ill

Being ill is a wonderful thing. When you are ill you are waited on hand and foot and you are allowed to eat only what you feel like and to lie around in bed playing iPad games for hours. People make you tea and bring you ice and a bucket in case you become sicker than you are. You may shirk all your responsibilities and be lazy for how ever long your symptoms last. The thing I'm really thankful for is how my mom cares for me when I'm not feeling well. She makes sure I have everything thing I need and fetches things for me when I'm too weak or nauseous to get them for myself. So thank you, mom. I'm so glad you make sure to be there for me. And I much as I adore iPad games (mostly for their mind-numbingly, fast-paced repetitive quality) I'd rather be helping you in the kitchen.

Day 129: Excedrin (a letter)

Oh, Excedrin, thou art my one, my only. None other will do. Thou alone shalt ease my pain. I have spent time with others, but they simply art not my type. They hath not the way with them to comfort as much as thou (I thinkest it may be the presence of caffeine). Excedrin, thou lovely one, thou are the only one for me. I thank thee for they comforting presence when I am in need of thee. Nevertheless, I shalt dare hope I needest not meet thee so oft. 

Day 130: vacations

Today I'm thankful for vacations. Vacations mean that I get relax with my family and I get a break from chores and stuff. 

Day 131: cokes

Because they make me feel better when I'm sick

Day 132: family reunions

I like going to family reunions. I like getting to see relatives and hear stories and make friends...but mostly I like seeing how much my parents enjoy themselves.

Day 133: no carsickness

I am thankful for not getting motion sick easily. I have been motion sick only a handful of times, but it's enough to really enjoy being able to ride in a car without being nauseous.

Day 134: food swapping

"You going to eat those sweet potato fries?"

"You going to finish your pimento cheese?"

Let's swap"

I case you don't like (or can't finish) what you ordered.

Day 135: hungry brothers 

Thankful for being able to dispose of unwanted food while on the road without being wasteful

Day 136: God know what He's doing

"we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" -Romans 8:28

I am really thankful that even when I don't know what's going on, and I don't know where I'm going that God has a plan and will not fail to work it out.

Day 137: earbuds

I am thankful for earbuds because I can use them to watch my cartoons without feeling awkward for everyone being able to hear a twenty-something girl watching cartoons.

Day 138: finding things

I am thankful for being able to find things we've lost. The ability to think and retrace our steps. I'm thankful that we don't think something stops existing when we can no longer see it.

Day 139: consignment stores

(hand-me-downs that don't fit + consignment stores) (time) = money = school = graduation!

Day 140: hemming in...

"You hem me in, behind and before" -Psalm 139:5 (ESV)

I am thankful that God has the power to course-correct my life if I go the wrong direction.

Day 141: lozenges

Because sore throat. Less pain. Yay.

Day 142: cold care tea

The most awesomest stuff for making you feel better when you have a cold. Traditional Medicinals brand, says Gypsy Cold Care on the box if you want to know.

Day 143: go-between

I am thankful for being able to be one of the chain links in a chain from a person in need to help.

Day 144: falling leaves

Because the wind swoops them around all pretty-like and it makes me smile :D

Day 145: waiting time

Getting places early, car trips, etc. often leave time for...whatever you have time for. I am thankful for this waiting time because I can use it to finish getting ready or read or chat or anything. It's nice to have a few extra minutes.

So sorry to take so terribly long. I have been under the weather and then out of town and then under the weather and...what's happened to summer?!? Oh, well. We have fun anyway. :)

What have you been thankful for the past 20 days?

Aaand...here's some happy music for you for being good while I was gone. Because I can :)