June has been one of the hardest months of my entire life. I have struggled with headaches for approximately ten years, but this month was knock down, drag out hard. On the 10th I had a procedure on my spine and due to complications, I was left leaking cerebral spinal fluid and the pain was excruciating. In the midst of that, I went to TLC - my favorite weekend of the summer - camp for teens who have been touched by the foster care system. The Lord was gracious and provided strength and endurance and perseverance so I was able to be present even though it was nothing like I anticipated. When I returned home, it was abundantly apparent that I was not ok and the pain was not going to resolve on its own, so I ended up back in the hospital on Wednesday the 24th. After two additional procedures (and some demerol) there was relief and the edge of the pain dwindled. I have been in recovery mode ever since, but it has been anything but an easy road, and let's just say #thestruggleisreal.
So, at the close of a month that has caused me to shudder and humbled me in every sense of the word, I was challenged (by my BiolaLove Stacey who is currently at camp LIVING IT UP and spreading joy (and snow cones) week after week to write a list of 50 things I'm thankful for. The Lord is good ALL THE TIME and I have seen Him in countless ways even as the tears have poured. He has promised to be present in our time of need and He is near even now in the midst of the darkness. I am blessed and I am grateful...
1. a comfy bed
So, at the close of a month that has caused me to shudder and humbled me in every sense of the word, I was challenged (by my BiolaLove Stacey who is currently at camp LIVING IT UP and spreading joy (and snow cones) week after week to write a list of 50 things I'm thankful for. The Lord is good ALL THE TIME and I have seen Him in countless ways even as the tears have poured. He has promised to be present in our time of need and He is near even now in the midst of the darkness. I am blessed and I am grateful...
1. a comfy bed
2. air conditioning
3. a home that is safe
4. modern medicine - praise the Lord for pain killers!
5. an AMAZING support system of friends that have become a whole lot like family
6. flowers that have brought a smile on even the hardest of days
7. words that have been gifts and soothed my soul
8. a full house of roommates - all of whom are kind and I look forward to getting to know better soon
9. cable - summer TV doesn’t have a LOT to offer, but the return of the bachelorette and big brother are undoubtedly highlights!
10. Kimie Cook Klawer - my surgery buddy for life - and amazing text messages about being tough kids and always getting through even if it requires cookies and donuts - Texas took one of the best!
11. Chickfila - the food that literally always tastes good - and the best arnold palmer on the planet
12. happy mail
13. TLC - my very favorite weekend of the summer
14. heart healing and unexpected resolution
15. painted nails and the ridiculous way in which that makes me feel WAY better
16. people watching in the hospital waiting room with Diane - when I asked her to drive me to outpatient surgery I had no idea that I was making the BEST DECISION EVER with that request. She made me laugh and laughing almost instantly relieves anxiety - she is always something I am thankful for, but that morning, God gave me a tremendous gift in allowing her to be by my side
17. hugs from teenagers that absolutely do not have to love me but somehow do
18. fun dip with Alise - and the blue tongue that lasted for DAYS (ok just one, but still - GROSS!)
19. a car to escape to mid-day when I just need a few minutes alone
20. tears and the amazing gift it is to let it out and just cry sometimes
21. Mands - there aren’t enough words, or perhaps the words are weighty enough, it can’t be encapsulated or fully described, but the Lord gave me a tremendous gift when He allowed me to walk through life with Amanda Jennifer Young by my side - we’ll just leave it at #top5
22. technology - specifically FaceTime and the glorious and radiant faces of Madeline, Charlotte, Jason and my beautiful sister in law Jamie - I cannot WAIT to hug them in person very soon
23. worship music and the way the words pierce straight to my heart even when I can’t seem to get there on my own
24. God's gracious financial provision - He is so faithful to provide abundantly above and beyond my needs
25. Rhonda who spent days helping me prepare games for TLC
26. J who came over and packed all the game bins and packed my bags for TLC
27. Best who came and loaded the car and took me to TLC
28. listening to the laughter of amazing teens as they ran across a giant grass field and popped balloons for team points and ultimately copious quantities of candy
29. the way God provides new friends who are somehow exactly who you need even when you didn't know you needed them - thank you Kendra Higgins for being such an answer to prayer and speaking God's comfort and peace and truth straight to my heart
30. getting to see my world changers best friend Sara - WHAT?!?!!!!
31. celebrating Jennifer Leigh Linthicum and sweet Juliette - can't wait to hold her in August!!
32. a slumber party with my lifelong best friend Anna
33. my lifelong best friend Anna and the ways the Lord has used adulthood and all we've faced to bring us together and prove to us time and time again that He has given us an amazing gift in our friendship
34. Connie & Alise and the amazing partners they are in ministry - being on a team together and getting to love on our teens who have been touched by the foster care system is undoubtedly one of the greatest joys in my life
35. cold water straight from the fridge
36. podcasts (I really don't need to say more - but if you need recommendations, try The Big Boo Cast, InfluenceNet, This American Life or The Moth - those are my absolute favs!)
37. my parents who have been supportive - calling and checking in often never failing to remind me they care
38. coffee
39. Starbucks peach iced green team lemonade with only half the peach - delish!
40. text messages from friends who care just checking in to remind me I'm not alone
41. visitors who came for the bachelorette, or to deliver a meal, or a smoothie, or frozen yogurt, or simply to lie on my bed, who tangibly loved when I needed it so desperately
42. my recent upgrade to the master bedroom, which means I now rock a private bathroom - WOOT!
43. the great emtram who loves me so much she looked up flights to be here in the midst of the crazy - she just wanted to lie next to me, and watch endless hours of greys season 2 - that's a text from a true friend who knows my heart
44. a circle of deeply rooted believers who carried my burden boldly and prayed in faith
45. this super cute print that hangs on my bedroom wall and reads "you are so loved" - it's a great reminder for me!
46. a challenging book that has been rich and full of value
47. SAVOR - the Shauna Niequist daily devotional
48. phone chats with dear friends who know my heart and never fail to remind me they see the very best pieces of me
49. freshly washed hair
50. that because of Jesus Christ, I will literally never be alone and know absolutely nothing is too hard or too big for Him
25. Rhonda who spent days helping me prepare games for TLC
26. J who came over and packed all the game bins and packed my bags for TLC
27. Best who came and loaded the car and took me to TLC
28. listening to the laughter of amazing teens as they ran across a giant grass field and popped balloons for team points and ultimately copious quantities of candy
29. the way God provides new friends who are somehow exactly who you need even when you didn't know you needed them - thank you Kendra Higgins for being such an answer to prayer and speaking God's comfort and peace and truth straight to my heart
30. getting to see my world changers best friend Sara - WHAT?!?!!!!
31. celebrating Jennifer Leigh Linthicum and sweet Juliette - can't wait to hold her in August!!
32. a slumber party with my lifelong best friend Anna
33. my lifelong best friend Anna and the ways the Lord has used adulthood and all we've faced to bring us together and prove to us time and time again that He has given us an amazing gift in our friendship
34. Connie & Alise and the amazing partners they are in ministry - being on a team together and getting to love on our teens who have been touched by the foster care system is undoubtedly one of the greatest joys in my life
35. cold water straight from the fridge
36. podcasts (I really don't need to say more - but if you need recommendations, try The Big Boo Cast, InfluenceNet, This American Life or The Moth - those are my absolute favs!)
37. my parents who have been supportive - calling and checking in often never failing to remind me they care
38. coffee
39. Starbucks peach iced green team lemonade with only half the peach - delish!
40. text messages from friends who care just checking in to remind me I'm not alone
41. visitors who came for the bachelorette, or to deliver a meal, or a smoothie, or frozen yogurt, or simply to lie on my bed, who tangibly loved when I needed it so desperately
42. my recent upgrade to the master bedroom, which means I now rock a private bathroom - WOOT!
43. the great emtram who loves me so much she looked up flights to be here in the midst of the crazy - she just wanted to lie next to me, and watch endless hours of greys season 2 - that's a text from a true friend who knows my heart
44. a circle of deeply rooted believers who carried my burden boldly and prayed in faith
45. this super cute print that hangs on my bedroom wall and reads "you are so loved" - it's a great reminder for me!
46. a challenging book that has been rich and full of value
47. SAVOR - the Shauna Niequist daily devotional
48. phone chats with dear friends who know my heart and never fail to remind me they see the very best pieces of me
49. freshly washed hair
50. that because of Jesus Christ, I will literally never be alone and know absolutely nothing is too hard or too big for Him
1 comment:
I love this and you!!! GOD IS GOOD!!! Psalm 18:1
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