Giving Thanks in 2009

This year has been a hard one. But despite that, or maybe because of it, I want to relate a few things for which I am sincerely thankful. This year at Thanksgiving, we went around the table and each said something we were thankful for, but the problem is that once someone says "family being together" you feel like a schmo if you say the same thing, and even more of a schmo if you don't!

So this list includes big things (like family) and little things (like my new TV) in no particular order:

* the opportunity to study at UCLA
* my small group at church
* the ladies I sit with in church
* my Tuesday morning talks with grama
* that my mom likes talking to me daily
* that I can pay my rent with my southwest visa... which has helped net me a few free tickets this year
* that I've been able to travel to visit friends and family using those free tickets
* knowing God loves me and is with me, even when I don't feel it
* my parents visiting me every quarter
* my dad's success at ASU and my mom's success at Qwest
* my brother's engagement and soon-to-be new family
* research ideas and support for those projects
* getting two papers/presentations accepted at different conferences
* my cohort buddies
* my new TV
* my loveseat (see earlier posts!)
* that my car is working great
* Dollar Dinners at Dustin and Jeremiah's house on Wednesdays
* my friends who are newly married
* my friends who are expecting babies


I know that these are just the tip of the iceberg. But knowing that makes it even better.

More posts to come!