DIY : : board of gratefulness

Since Thanksgiving is this week, I thought I'd make a post about my board of gratefulness.  I found this idea in this video and put it into practice a month or two ago.  Basically, I bought a big white board/cork board and put it right next to my bed.  I also bought some small sticky notes; I think it was about 200 for $1.  Every day I write down something that I'm thankful for and put it on the board.  It's really helped me to cultivate more of an attitude of gratefulness in my day to day life as I actively realize all that I have to be thankful for.  I apologize ahead of time for the quality of the pictures; I was in a hurry.

Me and Beth about 4 or 5 years ago

Today I'm thankful for this song--it's awesome!

20 random posts : : top 10 favorite photo memories and why

This is number 8 in my 20 random posts series: top 10 favorite photo memories!  I've been really looking forward to this post.  It was really hard to narrow the pictures down; I only chose pics from about the last 5 years.  They are in chronological order.  Hope you enjoy!

*credit for this pic goes to Corey

This pic is from July 2010.  My youth group and I were on our way back from a mission trip to Denver, and one of the vans broke down.  We stopped at a gas station about an hour away from home to get the problem fixed, and while our leaders took care of it we all sat on the sidewalk and sang a bunch of worship songs.  It was a blast!  I appreciated the way we were able to turn a difficult situation into one of worship.

This pic is from August 2010.  My family and I went on vacation to Red River, NM, and I rode on a ski lift for the first time.  I was with Chloe and my dad, while Rachel and Ellie rode separately.  It was kind of stressful because I was so worried about Chloe falling off, but this is honestly one of my favorite memories ever; I loved riding on the ski lift.  It was so beautiful, and I can't wait to do it again!

This is my huge graduating class of...five, including myself.  This pic was taken in May 2011.  All the seniors from my church got together and we had a sort of photo shoot in ABQ so we could have some group pictures for our graduation video.  We had a blast!  It was so much fun to spend that time together before we all went our separate ways!

This pic was taken in June 2011.  This is a couple from my church that is very dear to me.  They made the decision to renew their vows, and it was hands down one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever attended.  This couple's faith and love for God was such a huge part of their wedding, and it was just beautiful to see!

In July 2011, I went to Regeneration with my youth group.  It was my last trip with them before my graduation, and was definitely one of the best.  We all bonded so much during that week, and I learned so much through the preaching of John MacArthur, Rick Holland, Andrew Guitierrez, and Austin Duncan.  Here's some of my posts about that week.

In August 2011, my family and I went to visit the Explora Museum in ABQ.  We found these awesome mirrors that distort your reflection, and we had a blast with them!  It was awesome. :)

My cousin got married in September 2011, and all my family on my dad's side came to ABQ for his wedding.  It was so great to see all of them.  This is a pic of my aunt's wedding ring; it's one of my favorite pics that I've ever taken.

In January 2012 Chloe turned six, and my family and I went to Chuck E. Cheese for her birthday.  I can't remember that I'd ever been before, and the games were so much fun!  This particular one was a war game; I had lots of fun defending my post, even if I did feel a bit silly.  We just had a great family day.

In May 2012, my mom and sisters and I went to visit my grandparents at their cattle ranch before Rachel and I went to Glorieta for the summer.  Ellie and I had quite an adventure; it was so much fun!

Two weeks ago my family and I went apple picking with my grandparents when we went to visit them for the weekend.  It was such a peaceful, relaxing day.  It wasn't even that we were having really meaningful conversations or anything (though I did talk a lot with Ellie that day about some great stuff), but it was more that we were just being together; nowhere else to go, nothing else to do, at least for that time.  It was great. :)

Everyday's Thanksgiving, Part #40

I'm thankful for:

0781. seven great weeks of Fuge

0782. Regeneration next week!  I've been looking forward to this all summer; plus, the youth group from my church is coming, along with Ellie!

0783. "Jesus Paid It All"

0784. my natural hair color.  A bunch of people had a "group dye" party yesterday, and for some of them, it didn't turn out so well.  I'm so grateful I've never dyed my hair!

0785. only two more weeks till I'm done with my first education class!

0786. being able to spend 11 weeks with the people here

0787. a bunch of different cultures and ethnicities all coming together here; it's really showed me what the Body of Christ is like as it spans countries, races, and peoples

0788. a good, well paying job

0789. a car!!!!  Only by the grace of God.

0790. getting mail

0791. music majors

0792. computer plugs that work.  I've been having such horrendous problems with mine, but I'm getting a new one tomorrow!  Yay!

0793. a wedding to go to on Sunday!  Congratulations, Hope and Matt!

0794. my Fuge sweater.  So warm.

0795. fast Internet.  You never know what you had at home till you're away from it for 11 weeks.  I think I just waited half an hour so I could fully listen to one song on youtube.

0796. friendships that will last a lifetime

0797. getting up at 5:30 today to go watch the sunrise!

0798. a pretty easy week of work

0799. the opportunity Ellie's had over these past few weeks to go on mission trips with Samaritan's Purse

0800. getting to spend all day Sunday with my family!

Everyday's Thanksgiving, Part #38

I'm thankful for:

0741. making to do lists

0742. making packing lists

0743. I'm so glad I actually don't have as much to do for finals as I thought!

0744. index cards for my history final

0745. "A Spaceman Came Travelling" by Celtic Woman.  They just came out with a new CD, and I really like this song, even though it's kind of weird.

0746. getting to go watch Chloe's soccer game today.

0747. she scored two points!

0748. bookshelves

0749. walking to Subway with Rachel and Ellie

0750. starting to cram for my history and Spanish finals on Tuesday!

0751. finding a great new store to shop at this week!

0752. going to see a "Fiddler on the Roof" play last night; it was great!

0753. wooden bridges

0754. baked chips

0755. graduation invitations

0756. doing well (I think) on my math and philosophy finals this week

0757. looking forward to seeing Ellie's play next weekend!

0758. so excited for a bit of a break from everything after this next week

0759. childhood drawings from Ellie and Chloe

0760. great teachers this semester

* photos from weheartit.com

Everyday's Thanksgiving, Part #37

* photos from weheartit.com

I'm thankful for:

0721. people who smile genuinely

0722. being SO close to being done with my freshman year of college!

0723. going to the botanic gardens with my family on Wednesday

0724. Reese's

0725. cubic art; it's weird, but interesting

0726. salad

0727. smores

0728. finding new, fun places to shop at

0729. a take-home math exam!

0730. this quote:

Do not regret growing older.  It is a privilege denied to many.

-- Unknown

 0731. "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie.  I'm going through this book right now, and I think it's just so interesting.  It's really gotten me thinking about how I treat people, and I like what I've read so far!

0731. reading other people's blogs.  I have such a great time.

0732. hashbrowns

0733. journaling

0734. duct tape roses and wallets

0735. Bill Crosby talking about dentists. ;D

0736. getting to visit with my aunt and her mom this week

0737. cleaning out and getting rid of junk

0738. Chloe's artwork...

0739. ...especially the art she makes for me

0740. laughter

Everyday's Thanksgiving, Part #36

I'm thankful for:

0701. new crew at work

0702. learning about God's goodness in the ladies' Bible study.  I'm going to try and do a post similar to this one about it.

0703. Sonic's Happy Hour special

0704. actually making friends in my classes this semester, especially my history class.  It's nice to actually talk to people from week to week, not just one time only!

0705. all the snow's melted!

0706. "Flower, Flower" by The Vespers.  I got a free download of this band's music this week, and I love it!  My favorite song by them is actually "Better Now", but I couldn't find a good video of it.

0707. getting a tip today at work from a kind lady I know from Bible club!

0708. building up my strength

0709. layering

0710. remembering art techniques from last semester, like atmospheric perspective.  It's where, as you look farther back into the picture or painting, it gets lighter and bluer.

0711. only a few more weeks of school, and then I'll be done with my first year of college!

0712. fish in a pond

0713. lightbulbs

0714. being able to read "Blue Like Jazz" by Donald Miller.  It's really interesting.

0715. getting off of work on time today

0716. my ever-faithful alarm clock.  I hate it sometimes, but it presses on. :)

0717. velvet boxes

0718. BACON!!!! :D

0719. bronze hoop earrings

0720. doing really well on my Spanish exam yesterday!

* pictures from weheartit.com

Everyday's Thanksgiving, Part #35

I'm thankful for:

0681. French vanilla creamer

0682. big, fluffy skirts

0683. reviews before Spanish tests

0684. "Good" by Matthew West and Leigh Nash from Music Inspired by the Story

0685. weird New Mexico weather--yesterday it was very nice and warm and springy; today it's snowing

0686. April Fools!

0687. going through old sermon notes for quotes that I forgot to write somewhere else

0688. warm baths

0689. friends getting engaged

0690. knitting (I can't knit personally, but I admire people who can) :)

0691. free music

0692. old love poems (I found this page in an old book ages ago and I just think it's really cool.)

0693. studying the Bible as a family in preparation for Easter

0694. as much as I enjoyed the sunrise service last year, I'm glad we're not having one this year

0695. summery dresses

0696. newborns

0697. little kids that are all rambunction (?) and energy

0698. hot pink

0699. brilliant ideas

0700 (!). The Hunger Games.  I know, I know, but I actually really liked the books, and the movie was great too.

Everyday's Thanksgiving, Part #34

I'm thankful for:

0661. my own cell phone!  I love my phone, even if I don't often have opportunity to use it.  I hardly ever have to charge it, either; it's been at two bars for about three days now.

0662. how even Chloe encourages me to witness to people

0663. and how she talks about Daddy's sermons.  It's amazing how much she remembers.

0664. this music video.  I love the creativity of this band, Walk Off the Earth.

0665. it's been so nice and warm here lately

0666. my second exam in my math class was a take-home!  Hurray!

0667. meeting awesome Christian people at the most random places

0668. walking to the mailbox with Chloe

0669. that my best friend hasn't spoken to me for a few days because she's getting to spend some time with her sister. :)

0670. "Discipline: The Glad Surrender" by Elisabeth Elliot.

0671. my beta fish, Titus

0672. how my Compassion child, Djamsel, writes to me and calls me "mama Sarah". :D

0673. prayer meetings at my church

0674. getting caught up on math homework (I was SO behind!)

0675. homeschool conventions

0676. Tylenol

0677. unique ways to reach out to people

0678. green clothes for St. Patrick's day

0679. I like coffee now! (although it's kind of pointless since caffeine doesn't do anything for me, but it still tastes good)

0680. the World War II era

Everyday's Thanksgiving, Part #33

I'm thankful for:

0641. a fantastically relaxing spring break.  It's been awesome.

0642. spring is here!

0643. mending clothes

0644. The Piano Guys

0645. and specifically, this incredible song covered by them

0646.a biography of Oswald Chambers

0647. meeting great customers at work

0648. being able to go outside more often in the fresh air now that it's warmer

0649. St. Patrick's Day!

0650. filling up notebooks with notes from sermons

0651. having been given the opportunity to play guitar

0652. being able to write to my Compassion child

0653. going to see movies with my family

0654. Coldstone Creamery

0655. cool new restaurants to try out

0656. playgrounds

0657. getting ahead in my schoolwork over spring break

0658. a new cell phone!

0659. Chloe starting soccer in a few weeks

0660. cleats

* photos from weheartit.com

Everyday's Thanksgiving, Part #32

I'm thankful for:

0621. Charlotte Bronte

0622. midterms.  As stressful as they are, it's kind of cool to see how much I can actually pack into my brain.

0623.speaking of midterms, I'm thankful for the blessing of recalling information!

0624. Hosea

0625. mustaches

0626. old drawings or stories that we made/wrote when we were little

0627. honey

0628. spring is almost here!

0629. cool gizmos that don't really have a purpose, but are interesting all the same

0630. chocolate chips pancakes (aren't these the most amazing pancakes you've ever seen?!)

0631. bell peppers

0632. cucumbers

0633. "Hard Times Come Again No More".  I love the harmony in this song.

0634. symphonies, even if I don't really enjoy them.  It's cool that God gave some people the ability to create them.

0635. time lapse videos

0636. spring break is almost here!

0637. red paint

0638. dance lessons

0639. cash (even though cash and I are basically strangers)

0640. my math teacher is really awesome

* photos from weheartit.com

Everyday's Thanksgiving, Part #31

I'm thankful for:

0601. white out

0602. schools of fish

0603. "Never Once" by Matt Redman

0604. peace that literally surpasses all my understanding

0605. urgent care

0606. the incredible testimony of John Owen.  He saw all eleven of his children die, but trusted God through all things.

0607. stuff that's on sale--discounts, coupons, clearance, etc.

0608. huge fish tanks

0609. "My Hope is in You" by Aaron Shust

0610. beta fish

0611.faithful love

0612. lots of opportunities

0613. my grandparents

0614. Valentine's cards (this one got two pictures, in case you're confused)

0615. sunset paintings

0616. art classes

0617. knowing where stuff is on the map

0618. No necesito mas (con ascento) tiempo o mas (con ascento) dinero.  He is faithful to provide.

0619. slow dances

0620. "Dancing in the Mine Fields" by Andrew Peterson

Everyday's Thanksgiving, Part #30

I'm thankful for:

0581. the exact amount of hours in the day that was God's purpose in the beginning

0582. different ethnicities.  It'd be really boring if we all looked the same.

0583. hair bows

0584. Valentine colors--red, pink, purple, white, etc.

0585. "Jesus, I Am Resting" sung by the Shelly Moore Band

0586. strange people that make me laugh

0587. being able to walk

0588. the fact that God will sustain me for all the stuff I have to do next week

0589. that I don't have to work tomorrow

0590. that I get paid tomorrow!

0591. being able to enjoy food.  I think it's cool that God didn't have to make us have to eat, but He did so we can enjoy His provision (and all the awesome food He's made).

0592. giant sucker fish

0593. loaches

0594. that I got to go to a bluegrass concert tonight!  We went and saw The Wintons.  They were great!

0595. Boba Tea

0596. adoption

0597. that God allows us, and provides for us, to care for widows and orphans

0598. graceful aging

0599. "old" love

0600 (!). this awesome body of Christ

Everyday's Thanksgiving, Part #29

I'm thankful for:

0561. the challenge of my math class.  I am having such a hard time with it lately, but once I get it it's OK.

0562. sign language

0563. seashells

0564. the 8 year anniversary of COGBC!

0565. water glasses

0566. abundant water

0567. chocolate peanut butter ice cream

0568. store bought sheet cakes.  I love those cakes for some reason, except for the colored icing, which is gross.

0569. "Sound of Your Voice by Third Day.  I loved how they used this song on the Courageous movie.

0570. watching Chloe and Rachel wrestle

0571. Rachel's new cat, D'Artagnan, even if he is incredibly irritating.  He's fluffy and cute.

0572. jellyfish

0573. flash cards

0574. Valentine's Day.  I love Valentine's Day.

0575. thick hair

0576. financial aid

0577. facebook chat

0578. Isaiah 50:10

0579. Chloe's cute play-voices

0580. vegetables we can grow in the summer

* pics from weheartit.com

Everyday's Thanksgiving, Part #28

I'm thankful for:

0541. the new movie "Courageous".  So powerful!

0542. the police force

0543. "You Are On Our Side" by Bethany Dillon

0544. all my college classes!  I'm enjoying them all so much more than I thought I would!

0545. being able to get a room "makeover". :)

0546. little kids' art

0547. carnations

0548. hoop earrings

0549. that purple dye from the town where Lydia lived

0550. how my history class is teaching me more about the places where a lot of biblical things took place

0551. being able to learn Spanish.  It's really interesting!

0552. a warm house

0553. double mocha coffee mix

0554. unique guitars

0555. a new fish tank that Rachel got for our room!

0556. marathons

0557. Chloe starting to lose her teeth!

0558. honesty

0559. solitaire

0560. mud that's finally starting to dry up!

* last two pics taken from weheartit.com

31 Days of Song, Day #12

I'm so thankful for Mondays.  Mondays are my day off from school, work, etc.  I save this day, usually, so I can get all the rest of my homework done and get ready for another busy week.

I mentioned this song a few days ago.  It's my favorite song from Sovereign Grace's Savior: Celebrating the Mystery of God Become Man.  Enjoy!

We have come today to worship

We have come to praise the One

Who came down into our darkness

Born a lowly virgin’s son

You who did not come with splendor

Pomp and strength and majesty

You who came to us in weakness

Born to us in poverty

Emmanuel, Emmanuel, Emmanuel

In You alone we hope and trust

Jesus, Savior, God with us

Emmanuel

We were blind and lost and godless

Wandering a trackless waste

Then hope arose, a glorious beacon

Like the star the wise men chased

Down from heaven came a Savior

Born a child, so small and frail

Taking up our pain and troubles

Conquering where we had failed

You who with a word created

Sun and moon and seas and sand

Lay there sleeping in a manger

Cradled by Your mother’s hand

You who made the mighty forests

Would lie down upon a tree

Fastened there with nails for sinners

Would bleed and die to set us free 

-- Mark Altrogge

Thanksgiving

Taking a little bit of a break from Christmas music:

I meant to post this around Thanksgiving, but haven't gotten around to it 'til now. Enjoy!

The leaves are falling, swirling fast in all-abundant shades

Summer days are now long gone; it’s time for shorter days

And now we gather all our friends and all our loved ones too

To think awhile on this past year and all the gifts from You

We are thankful for the blessings that You give

We are grateful for Your grace that lets us live

We are thankful for our families, and Your church that is in unity

But most of all, God, we are thankful for knowing You

And as we think on this past year and all the gifts You gave

Sometimes it seems to overwhelm for all things do is change

But in Your Word we see that You are ever truly God

You never change—all is for our good—You will not spare the rod

Though at times Your gifts were hard some gave us joy and tears

For in those gifts such love was shown—Your goodness made so clear

A new baby life, the gift of love where there was none before

We are in awe of all Your gifts; Your love is shown still more

Oh God, You are unchanging

Our Lord, ever true

And all the blessings You ever give us

Are just a glimmer of what we have in You

We are thankful for the blessings that You give

We are grateful for Your grace that lets us live

We are thankful for our families, and Your church that is in unity

But most of all, God!

We are thankful that You took away our sins

We are grateful that it's by Your grace we live

And if You should take our families and allow the church disunity

You give, You take; God, we still bless You

It could never be enough to thank You that we can know You

Everyday's Thanksgiving, Part #27

I'm thankful for:

0521. It's Thanksgiving on Thursday!

0522. Thanksgiving break

0523. only two more weeks after this in the semester!

0524. getting all my classes for next semester

0525. dried roses

0526. my grandparents coming for Thanksgiving

0527. tamales

0528. bangles

0529. big floppy hats

0530. TV mini series

0531. English papers

0532. and art papers

0533. teacups

0534. teapots

0535. brown eyes

0536. that Sigmund Freud's disturbing psychological theory isn't widely taught

0537. people whose strength is in Christ

0538. medical advances

0539. surgeons

0540. the knowledge that my path is exactly God's path for me