At the end of each year, I kind of like to go over in my mind all the things that I have to be thankful for over the past year. I usually do this while I'm cooking my New Years meal...but later for that. I'm playing in these Afghani rocks. Anyway, the list goes like this:
~God allowed us to purchase a house! That is probably one of the most exciting things that happened this year. To see the look on our parents faces was priceless. I remember the first time we walked in the house, we just knew that it was our house. I am sooo thankful to be a home owner at 27. God has truly blessed us.
~My degree...I can almost FINALLY take a breath. I am now in the home stretch of getting this paper that proves that I'm educated. lol
~My Daddy is a Deacon! My proudest moment in 2010 is when I was sitting at work here in Afghaniland wishing I was at my father's induction ceremony. It was bittersweet. I was extremely happy that day in September, but I was also very sad. I could not even think about the ceremony without crying because I felt like this is one moment that I should've been there for my Dad. Duty calls...what can you do? I did what I could and sent a letter that was read during his ceremony. In the military, sometimes we miss important moments that we can never get back. This is one...BUT the most important thing to me is seeing all that God has done in my father's life over the last ten years. I distinctly remember praying that my dad would just start coming to church on a regular basis when I was 18 years old. That was in 2001. All I wanted was him to sit under the Word. God exceeded my expectations. My dad has always given me wisdom, but now he gives me godly wisdom. He stands at the head of his household as the spiritual leader in his house. Thank you, Jesus! Prayer works. I wish I could really explain how much all of this means to me, but I can't. All I can say is I am so thankful, and I am the proudest girl in the world in who my Poppers is becoming. I can see God working in him, and it's a beautiful thing.
~My cousin is getting married! I am so happy that he found his "good thing." My little, big cousin is like a brother to me. I am probably one of his biggest fans. I am proud of him, and I am proud of the things that he's accomplished in his 26 years. Now it's a new step in his life. It's like he's not my little cousin anymore. He's a grown man! I couldn't be happier for him. Lord willing, I'm going to be sitting there watching him getting married with my millions of tissues that I WILL need. lol...I couldn't even tell him congratulations without crying, so I know I'll be a mess at the wedding.
~I am especially happy about the friends God has placed in my life. I feel like I have a few friendships that have grown so much this year that I really cherish. When I first got to North Carolina in '08, I prayed that God would send me a good friend(s) near me. All my good friends are far away. Well you know what God did? He didn't put my friends where I wanted them in location, he put my friends where I needed them....spiritually. I have realized it, and I'm am very ok with that. I have some GREAT friends, and they're only a phone call away. I had prayed to God for good Christian friends in my area. Well, He put a spotlight on some people that were already in my life. I just needed to build on the relationships. I didn't NEED anyone new. I had all that I needed around me even though they weren't right next door. I already had friends in my life who are equipped with the Word and that give godly counsel. I already had people who truly cared about me and what the Word says about our lives. Once I started making myself more available and opening up to people more, I realized I have the friends I'm supposed to have....and I LOVE them! I thank God for the people who are in my life. I'm taking all of you that I love in 2011, too!
~I thank God for peace. I'm on my third deployment. We all talk about getting our tax free money, but everything ain't funny out here. There are sounds and situations that you never forget. I thank God that through it all, he ALWAYS gives me peace in the midst of the situations.
~One day something clicked in me, and I realized that I needed to know the Lord more. I am MOST thankful right now that God makes Himself available to me. I can't tell you how much I've learned and grown over the last few months. I've been convicted of things I never even thought of, and I feel a hunger for His Word more than before. This is the first deployment that I have had so many Christians in my work environment. I don't feel like that's a coincidence. I needed this. I am so thankful!
~I have a job in this economy!
~I am thankful for my husband~for so many reasons! I'd rather tell him personally.
~I have a great family who has encouraged me when I needed it most. I thank God for the family that He gave me.
~I could go on for days about the things that I'm thankful for over the past year, but I won't. These are just a few things. I can look back at this list and know that I have nothing to complain about. I have everything I need and more. I have so much to be thankful for! The material things are wonderful, but God has blessed me spiritually this year. I am a happy woman!
No comments:
Post a Comment