Counting My Blessings

I'm always amazed at where inspiration for a blog entry can come from. I was watching Triple D (Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives) with Guy Fieri when I saw a commercial for some disposable contact lenses. Interestingly enough, it didn’t make me want to buy anything … I have better than perfect vision. It did make me want to list things I’m grateful for, though (like better than perfect vision!).

So, here’s my top ten (in no particular order):

1. My personality. I’ve come to a place of understanding who I am and who God created me to be and I have to say that I love it! Growing up I saw my personality and innate tendencies as a deficit (because I was so different from my siblings and parents), but now I see that it is one of my greatest assets. I’m thankful for the paradigm shift!

2. My family. Anyone who has met them or heard me talk about them knows that I have the most amazing family in the world. While we’re quirky and have our “moments”, just like any family on the planet, we genuinely love each other. On top of that, we love spending time with one another!

3. Friends and the ability to build relationships. I have been extremely blessed in the friendship area. No matter where I move to or what is going on in my life, God brings people across my path who are just amazing! I’m always surprised at the quality of people I get to call “friend”.

4. The hope He’s given me for the future. I know that I’m destined for greatness because the enemy tried really hard to take me out at a young age. I can clearly remember a time when I had no hope for anything, so I’m truly thankful that I not only have dreams to look forward to, but that His plans for my life are so much bigger and better fitting than anything I could’ve come up with.

5. My house and the places I’ve lived. My parents have this really awesome house in Texas that is big, beautiful and home. Some friends refer to it as “the fortress”, but they all know that if they’re in town and need a place to stay (even if I’m not there), it’s open to them. On top of that, every place I’ve lived (Memphis, Denver, Joburg, D.C., and Kansas City) has become a different version of “home” to me. I love that I'm a nomad. :)

6. Adventure. I’m so thankful that God’s placed in me this adventurer spirit that enables me to do crazy things that other people normally would not do. To me, it makes my life more rich and less “average”, which I love.

7. Travel & Food. It almost seems wrong to lump these two together, but exploring foreign places and sampling the food I encounter along the way are two of the highlights of my life.

8. A healthy body. Besides being free of illness and disease, I have to say that I have a decent metabolism and love to exercise. I’m thankful that everything functions the way it’s supposed to and that random food allergies are the worst things I have to battle at 35.

9. My best friend. I seriously have the most amazing best friend in the whole world!!! She’s know me my whole life, actually gets me, we enjoy spending time together and I can honestly say she brings out the best in me. If she were a guy I would marry her in a heartbeat!! Too bad she’s my sister. ;)

10. God. My relationship with God is the foundation for my life. I know I wouldn’t be the same person I am today if I didn’t know Him personally. I still wish on an almost daily basis that I could crawl into His lap and just sit there for a while, but for now I’m content to seek Him out. So glad He never gives up on me.