Happy December!

I'm sorry I've been away from my blog for so long once again. Since I've last blogged, I did eventually get off that bus while waiting for Obama. And then I headed straight home for a few hours before heading for some time off!! So that's why you haven't heard from me. I was in South Carolina all last week soaking up the sun (okay that is a complete stretch and pretty much a lie) and just enjoying quality time with my wonderful family (that is the absolute truth!) I was so thankful to have time off for Thanksgiving and it was great to see everyone!

I know Thanksgiving is technically over and most of us have moved on to the start of celebrating Christmas (I do admit I have already put up my Christmas tree and written my Christmas letter!) but I want to take a few moments to give you my top ten Thankful list! Allow me to be slightly more on the serious side for this post (and thanks to Darla for the idea....):

1. Family: This is an obvious first but I am so grateful for my family! We're not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but I couldn't ask for a better group of kin! My parents are absolutely wonderful people who have sacrificed so much for us through the years. My siblings are fun and great people and I count it a total blessing to consider my sisters as friends. I have two great brothers-in-law and two great nieces and a nephew to round out this special group of people.
2. Friends: This goes without saying too but I am grateful for all my friends and that includes many of you reading this! God has blessed me with exceptional friends at every point in my life and I try to stay in touch with as many as possible. On a lighter note, I am grateful for Facebook who makes it just a little bit easier to do so! :) In addition to my family, my friends have always been there for me whenever I've needed them and they love me no matter what. My hope is that I just don't annoy my friends too much and that I can be as good a friend to you/them that you/they have been to me.
3. Church: I am absolutely grateful for the group of people who make up my church- FBC of Alexandria. They are my family away from home in every sense! Not only do I learn a ton from them but I can always count on them any time I need them. I have had to miss church many times this year due to travel for work and fun and I always look forward to getting back to be serve along side of them.
4. Job: This one goes without saying because I doubt very many of you would be reading my blog if I didn't have the job I have. I know I am where I'm supposed to be for this point in my life and I'm only here because it's where God wants me. He's provided every opportunity to get me to this place in life and I'm extraordinarily grateful. I'm thankful for all the cool events I get to see and the exciting places I get to go- even sitting on the bus for 18 hours outside PEOTUS's house last week. Well I had to convince myself I was grateful for that but it's true! As I've said before, I realize that I am in a very unique place and most people won't get to experience a sliver of what I've already seen/done and I thank God for the job that allows me every exciting experience (and the rather boring ones too!)
5. Provisions: Those of you who know me well know that I'm not the best cook. Ok, I don't cook. It's not because I can't, I just choose not to. But God is always good about providing my basic needs like food and shelter and transportation, good health, etc. Over the years, I've never made gobs and gobs of money but I've always had enough (an overabundance in comparison to most places in the world) and for that I'm absolutely grateful.
6. New niece: This may or may not be the appropriate place to share but I am grateful that I will become an aunt once again in April. My older sister is pregnant and I know my new niece is an answer to prayer. I'm also grateful that once-scary test results have now come back negative and it appears that she is one healthy baby girl who I will get to meet in April.
7. Education: I am grateful that my parents sacrificed to send me to college and that I received a great education at Virginia Tech. But I'm even more grateful for the day to day opportunities that I've had to learn more and to see things first hand. I'm also grateful that my formal school-type education is in the past and I don't have to worry any more about writing papers and taking exams! :)
8. Vacation/Travels: As much as I love my job, I love days off even more. I look forward to those chances of just chilling out at home or taking a trip to see friends/family or going on a mission trip or whatever. I am grateful for the opportunities to see the country and the world and to be able to just recharge while enjoying time with others and/or seeing new things.
9. Stability: As soon as I write this, I'll probably jinx myself and everything could change at the drop of a hat but I feel like I'm financially and even more in-general stable. I've lived in the same house for 7 years and had the same job for four and life just doesn't really ever stress me out that much! I'm grateful that I don't have to constantly worry about things in general. God has been watching out for me and even as I watch the market tank almost 700 points, I'm confident that God will continue to watch out for me in the long run too!!
10. Christ: I saved this for last but He's certainly not on the bottom of my list! It's actually the top answer! Without Him, I would be nothing, have nothing. He's the reason I have so much to be grateful for and He's the Great Provider. I am so very thankful for my salvation and faith and that He cares enough about me to have a special plan for my life. I don't want to get to churchy on you but He really is what makes me tick and provides so much joy for my life!

Ok, so there you have it. I can now fully move into the Christmas mode without regretting to stop and consider all I have to be thankful for. I'm also very thankful for the few of you who kept reading all the way to the bottom of this long blog post!! I'm in a training class all week- with HOMEWORK!- so the chances of me having something exciting to blog about are pretty slim. Maybe I'll come up with something!!