When the world seems to fall apart around us, it can be really hard to find a reason to be thankful. However, by keeping Jesus' example in mind, we can learn to give thanks even in the hard times.

It can be super easy to be thankful for the good in life. Food, water, family, shelter, Jesus, you know, the traditional answers to the “What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?” question. Being thankful for happy things, is fantastic. It is a great place to start when beginning a journey to be thankful in all things.  However, we can’t stop there. Giving thanks isn’t a suggestion; it isn’t a nice thought, nor is it something we can just do… Read more »

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you’re having a wonderful day with family and friends!Today is relaxing for my family. (Saturday we’re going to my Grandparents’ for Thanksgiving with our extended family.) We woke up and watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, while eating our traditional Thanksgiving morning oatmeal. Then, we started to watch Miracle on 34th Street. Later today, we’re going to have a Thanksgiving meal, just the four of us. Every year at Thanksgiving, my mom places five kernels of… Read more »

This is a week of giving thanks, a week of gratitude, a week of gratefulness. Typically, on thanksgiving day, I make a list of everything that pops into my head that I’m thankful for. Most likely this year won’t be any different.I had a thought, however. What if I tweeted with the hashtag “so thankful” every time I thought of something to be thankful for.  After all, thankfulness is a way of life, not just one day on the calender…. Read more »

I love my church. It’s a small congregation compared to the church I grew up in, and I think it’s the perfect size. The people are so friendly and welcoming. For instance, this past Sunday after Sunday School, some sweet little old lady  tip-toed into our classroom. She told us, in an adorable accent, that if any of us didn’t have a place to stay over Thanksgiving, she and her husband were more than happy to welcome us into their… Read more »

It occurred to me that I haven’t blogged in over a week. (Oops.) And it’s not because I’ve been busy, but rather because I couldn’t think of any good ideas *she admits guiltily.* But, have no fear, I had a splendid idea tonight :) You see, my church service today was about gratitude and thanksgiving and how our thankfulness should spring from God forgiving us. Then, tonight I went to a girls-only Bible study and we talked about thanksgiving there… Read more »

The following are some of my favorite quotes (twelve of them, in fact, because today is November twelfth). Enjoy and be inspired :) God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in him. -John Piper You don’t loose friends, because real friends can never be lost. You lose people masquerading as friends, and you’re better for it. -Mandy Hale Is it weird to anybody else that we equate worshiping God with music? As if worship is something… Read more »

During my Sophomore year of High School, my English class and I read Ivanhoe. The unit was a blast. My English teacher had the brilliant idea of assigning each student a character in the book. Then, we created blogs and we had daily writing assignments to post on the blogs, and we were required to write in character. It was so much fun! I was Prince John, and I greatly enjoyed being the villain. (This was also a monumental unit… Read more »

I’ve been stressed out today over signing up for classes next semester and a bunch of homework left to do before Wednesday and finding time to vote tomorrow (I GET TO VOTE!!!!! Whoo hoo!). Matthew 11:28-30 says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my… Read more »