Happy Thanksgiving

In keeping with the holiday, and due to the encouragement and inspiration of my friends Deborah and Christina, I dedicate this post to thanking God for everything he has done in my life.

I thank Him for my husband (who doesn't watch football on Thanksgiving, or any other time, really!) and for my three beautiful children. I thank Him for my home, my church family, and friends. I am thankful for beauty in nature, animals and the rest of creation. I am thankful for the Riverbanks Zoo, Lake Murray, the rivers, and all the other beautiful places here in Columbia. I am thankful for the mountains, and the beach. I am thankful for my camera so I can take pictures of it all.

I am thankful for my in-laws. I am thankful for spring and autumn. I am thankful for cats. I thank God for medicine, painkillers, and 21st century doctors. I am thankful for my health and the health of my family. I am thankful for air-conditioning, refrigerators and microwaves. I am thankful for my computer and the internet. I am thankful for library's. I thank God for vacations, airplanes, and elevators. I am thankful for Creme Brulee and Tiramisu and really all things edible.

I am thankful for the United States and my freedom. I am thankful for all the soldiers who risk their lives to protect mine. I am thankful for my parents and my sisters who all love the Lord and support and love each other. I am thankful for music and the opportunity to sing for Him on the worship team. I am thankful for my pastor and all others who have committed their lives to God in an extraordinary way by living every day according to His will in service to Him. And I'm thankful to God for not giving up on me because "I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in [me] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6).

"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18