Thanksgiving.

Today, I am thankful for so many things, and I've decided to do a list of one thing for every year of my life...(*in somewhat chronological order...not necessarily order of importance!)
1. I'm thankful that the Lord blessed me by allowing me to be born into a Christian home where I knew of and heard about His love for me before I could even understand it. I am thankful for my salvation at a young age which, no doubt, kept me from a lot of the heartache many experience in life. I don't say that boastfully, but humbly, recognizing God's grace and goodness to me.
2. I am thankful that God blessed me with a husband who loves me, but loves the Lord more. Andrew is so smart and gifted. I'm grateful for the 5 years of marriage God has blessed us with and for the amazing journey we are on now while he works on his PhD.
3. I am thankful for my parents and for being able to personally witness their selfless service to the Lord my entire life. The ministry is more than a full-time job, yet, even in their constant working, our family was always the priority. I have watched them show grace to people who have been deeply hurtful, and I hope that because of their example, I too can be a gracious person.
4. I am thankful for my Dad who has always been my biggest cheerleader and encourager. I am so thankful for the time he took to be my Coach in high school and invest not only in my life, but also in the lives of my friends. I am grateful that he is in better health than he has been and am proud of his hard work.
5. I am thankful for my Mom who is my best friend. She is busier than any other mom I know, yet always managed to keep our home tidy and fix us dinner. She is so thoughtful of others and makes anyone she knows feel special by remembering their birthday or offering sympathy and encouragement.
6. I am thankful that when I was only 3 months old that God moved our family back to Wichita, Kansas. Most people who meet me find out quickly I'm a Kansas girl, and I wouldn't have it any other way. It is home, and there is just no place like it.
7. I am thankful for a close family. I honestly can't imagine a better childhood than the one God blessed me with. I will always treasure our family vacations and the memories made driving to all 48 continental states together.
8. I am thankful for my brother, Michael. It was clear at a very young age that he would be a leader, and the success that God has blessed him with at such a young age in being a City Councilman and now State Senator, has solidified that. I'm so proud of him. He is such a people person, and I admire his ability to make friends.
9. I am thankful for my brother, Tyler. He was the baby of the family, so I often tried to play the mom role, but I'm grateful for the little things like convincing him #14 was the best jersey number, in which he listened to me. I'm also grateful for his sweet wife, Katie, and that when he married her, I gained not only a sister, but a friend.
10. I am thankful for grandparents who were part of my life so significantly growing up. I got to see them on Sunday mornings and nights, Wednesday nights, and usually one or two other days during the week. That gift is one I will always cherish.
11. I am thankful for Grace Baptist Church which is full of people who invested in me and prayed for me my whole life. Very few experience the blessing of the same church their entire life, and I feel so privileged that God allowed this in my life.
12. I am thankful for growing up at Sunrise Christian Academy and the solid education and good friends I made during all of my school years there. I have such fond memories of volleyball and basketball games, road trips and State Championships.
13. I am thankful for my parents paying for a year of Bible college for my brothers and me, and the friendships I made because of that. Many hear the rules of BBC and roll their eyes, and although I too can be guilty of that, it was an incredible year and I made some of my best friends for life there.
14. I am thankful for one of my best friends, Crystal, who I met while we played volleyball together at BBC. We have been roommates and apartment neighbors, and she has been loyal to me for the past 12 years.
15. I am thankful for one of my best friends, Rachel, who I also met at BBC. We spent the summer of 2005 together in Thailand and I will always look back on that summer fondly.
16. I am thankful for my in-laws. I always hoped that I wouldn't have one of the typical in-law relationships where you can't stand each other, and God blessed me by giving me the exact opposite. Marrying into the Albritton family added a best friend into my life, and I'm so grateful for their love and support.
17. I am thankful for the Master's degree God allowed me to pay for as I went. I look back on those years and truly, 100%, have no idea how I lived on so little and yet didn't take out a loan. It is a testament of God's provision.
18. I am thankful that God provided for Andrew to get his Master's degree without paying a penny for it. His hard work allowed him to get his degree without us going into debt, and I am so grateful for that.
19. I am thankful that in the midst of a hard year when we didn't understand why Andrew couldn't find a job, that God provided me with a job that I loved. Watching Link and Hawk was a joy and my heart overflows with gratitude to God for placing them into my life. I miss those boys dearly.
20. I am thankful that God gave Andrew the desire to pursue a PhD and that the Lord opened the doors for us to move to England.
21. I am thankful that the desire to live overseas and do ministry is being played out in our lives right now. Although we are not in full-time ministry, God is opening doors and we are confident He has a plan for us living in England, aside from Andrew's education.
22. I am thankful for the details God worked out in allowing us to move to England. Even though there have been bumps in the road, we have seen God's hand over and over. I am grateful for Kia and Negin, who we had only heard about through a mutual missionary friend, taking us into their home while we found a place to live.
 23. I am thankful that God provided us with an amazing apartment. I have been meaning to blog the details of how it was undeniably God who orchestrated us being able to move in here. It is the perfect home with nice appliances and the most ideal location we could have ever dreamed of, had we even known what we were most wanting in a home.
24. I am thankful for the church God has given us in England where we have made friends and are settling in. It is amazing to know we can be thousands of miles away from our regular church routine, yet still praising the same God. It is a good reminder of God's worthiness, that no matter where we are or who we are surrounded by, He deserves to be praised.
25. I am thankful for technology. It is amazing to be living on a different continent than our family and friends and yet still be able to talk, even more than that, to see each other face to face while we talk. It is a blessing that makes life over here much easier.
26. I am thankful for America. I am thankful for the freedom we have and for the little things that we often take for granted. If there is anything we have learned in our time here, it is to appreciate the conveniences of America. Life is just easier in America, and I know I don't thank God for the little things nearly enough.
27. I am thankful for the ability to travel. I love to travel, and since leaving America in September I have been to Nottingham, England; Amsterdam; Paris; London; and Edinburgh, Scotland. I recognize that few people ever get to see other parts of the world, and I am so grateful that God is allowing me to do so.
28. I am thankful for holidays. I have so many fond memories of holidays growing up, playing with cousins at our grandparents house, and eating lots of yummy food. I'm also thankful that even though we're not always together, we can look back and remember the good times.
29. I am thankful for Dr. Pepper. I know it is a silly thing to be thankful for, but I love it. And I can't wait to have it out of a fountain with lots of ice when I'm back in America at Christmas.
30. I am thankful for Kansas Basketball. Again, I know it is quite trivial, but I enjoy the thrill and excitement of basketball, and my loyalty keeps me anchored to Kansas.
31. I am thankful that in 21 days we'll be in London boarding a plane to come home for the holidays. I am excited to be reunited with family and friends and celebrate Christmas together.

I know I am blessed, yet I often don't take the time to be grateful. My prayer is that I will be more thankful and mindful of God's goodness and blessings in my life.