Day#263

First Fall Hiking Spree of the Year.  Thankful  for the beautiful weather.  Thankful that I am pushed to talk and walk through instead of  just work through on my own the battles I fight.  Thankful for Pastor Ryan who shared the importance of the Gospel message...I am a  needy and dependent person- apart from the Gospel I am NOTHING!

Day#262

Thankful for a day to get organized and put things away.  The move is almost done…and for that I'm thankful…Can't wait to be settled for a little while.

Day#261

I love that our life group is willing to go the extra mile for one another.  One of members grandmother passed away and most of the group set aside their plans and drove and hour  to be with him and his family…presence is a powerful thing.  I am thankful for community that is focused on loving God and loving others!

Day#260

WOW…Jim, Mike, Greg, & Luke helped me move  a majority of my stuff to storage.  I was going to hire movers but Greg suggested I higher them, and donate the money towards their mission trip.  I think that is an excellent idea!  Thankful that he thought of that...now I think we might have a great fundraiser in the works!

Day#259

Wednesday's always seem to be rough days… The battles I face on these days always seem a  little harder. I'm thankful for friends who are always ready at the drop of a hat to pray for me and support me.  Investing in one another is key to loving others well...and that they do!

Day#258

Thankful for the journey that began many many years ago of just mixing and matching things together for dinner.  Made a really good dinner…it was a little suspect at first…Hannah said if it doesn't turn out we can just order pizza.  And turn out it did...everyone got seconds.  Squash casserole was a hit!

Day #257

Thankful for time to catch up with my brother. We played golf at GoodPark…in the rain.  Thankful that we can be so honest with one another, and spur each other on, whether it is golf or in life!

Day#256

Thankful for the two men in our group who  agreed to step up and lead group for the next  couple weeks. We will be reading through Joel for the 4 weeks.  We are trying to shift our focus on to the group.  We want them to grow in leadership and this is  a great opportunity.  Thankful for the journey we get to take with them

Day#255

Thankful for family that likes to play games.   Had dinner with Brad, Mindy, Brianna, Luke, Michael, Kristina, and Baby Ethan!  We played a competitive game of catch phrase.  Rematch is in store!  Team KLM will be beating BKM  :-)

Day#253

I am thankful that I am learning to guard my time…that I need to be more intentional with my time.  I am learning that I need time to rest and relax.  It is not easy to make a transition from a very busy “GO” lifestyle to a more relaxed life style but I know that it is important to making steps towards the best that God has for me!

Day#252

Thankful for the freedom that is found in love.  God’s love for us is given to us freely without hesitation. God’s love for us is independent of our actions…good or bad…and for that I am forever thankful!

Day#251

Luke had asked some life group peeps to help me pack, because I have been very overwhelmed trying to pack up my house to move out by September 30th.  I am so thankful for Jim, Mike, Bethany, and Luke for all their help. They really knocked out a lot of stuff on Tuesday in just 2 hours.  Thankful that God provides and we have community to bear each other’s burdens!  Thankful for Luke who took the initiative to ask for help!!

Day#250

Laughter among family.  Today we celebrated Sheryl’s birthday.  What a fun time laughing and being together.  Thankful that we can celebrate another year of her life well lived.

Day#249

Went to Cincinnati for the day.  What a fun, clean city.  I love being by the riverfront.  Always wanted to live by a large river/lake.  Greg, Mike, Dwayne, Luke, and I took a day trip to attend the Reds/Mets game and to see The Great American BallPark.  On my bucket list is to go to all the major league ballparks… and we have been trying to knock some of them out this year.  Thankful for Greg, who was our excellent driver…that I could lay in the back and read my book, that in and of itself is a  great gift…time to read!

Day #248

I used to think my days were super busy and Jammed packed…and now I never knew that I could fit more in, or how I would give certain things up…But I am so thankful for this evening after running around that I didn’t turn on the OSU football game (right there I think that mig ht be blasphemy, LOL). Thankful because it allowed for some great uninterrupted conversation with Luke.

Day #247

I haven’t babysat at the Church on Friday’s in a while with summer and busy schedules.  I truly love these little kids.  I am so thankful to sit in the grass and just chat with “Abby” about what is going on in her life.  Even at the tender age of 9 kids just want to know that someone cares.  “Ricky” was so excited to see me and hang out even when I Had to discipline him he was sad to see me go …but excited when I told him I would be back next week.  Thankful for the opportunity to spend time with them.

Day #254

Thankful that I was able to babysit at CR 2 weeks in a row.  The kids make me smile with  their desire to be kids and have fun.

Day #239

Sometimes we need to experience rough times in order to appreciate the good times...We need to experience no sleep in order to be thankful for a night of rest...we need to know what pure exhaustion is in order to be thankful for a time to be still.   I am thankful for these rough times because I know it will make me that much more thankful to God when I have a good day, get sleep, and am not physical and emotionally spent...looking forward to that day!!!

Day #238

There are a lot of sandpaper people out there.  Some God asks us to love and through it we are changed.  Others Satan brings into our lives and out armor is challenged.  Either way we are called to love God's people.  I am thankful for the constant reminder that we all are in need of love!

Day#246

Thankful that I get to work  out out and mow my grass!  Yep…haven’t mowed my back yard in over a month…it is about due!  Thankful that I was able to say “NO” to things so that I would have the time to do the necessary things in life. 

Day #245

Thankful for the guys in our group who stepped up.  We had a cook-out and Luke was gone but they manned up and pretty much led everything….prayer, cooking, fire, etc.  It is exciting to see them step into the natural role that God has for them!

Day #244

Went to my last Indians game for the year, which is sad…especially since they lost.  BUT I just love Joanna’s enthusiasm and excitement for people.  I am thankful for who God has made her because it reminds me to share in others joys and sorrows!

Day #243

Thankful for my friend and JEJIT (just enough just in time)  I texted my friend today for a little prayer…was meeting a lot of Luke’s family, and I was nervous (you get that way when you care about someone)…So I asked that my friend would pray that I would be myself and that I would be confident in who God made me…her reply was just what I needed at just the right time.  “You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you…this is how the lord sees you, Luke, me, and countless others…you are God’s masterpiece…own it! 

Day #242

I was able to spend some time listening to a girl in our groups heartbeat and what God has summoned her to and gave her a passion for…I love when people are excited about where God is taking them…even when it is outside their comfort zone! 
Thankful for being spoiled, flowers, fantastic shrimp & filet, walk, smore’s, and chapter 2! 

Day #241

Clambake day!  I mean enough said…but this year there was a lot more help from my Dad’s friends which made the day soooo much more enjoyable for everyone.  Thankful for the traditions we have…Brad and I picking up corn at Luther’s farm, shucking the corn, putting up the net, and tables and chairs, setting up the tv for the OSU game.  It is always good to spend the day with my brother

Day #240

I know it is not that exciting to say that I spent the evening putting away clothes and cleaning out my closets to some degree so I could put stuff in storage and donate stuff.  But I am thankful that I had company and we could have necessary conversations.  At the end of the day we were able to read chapter 1 of our book, Real Marriage…pretty excited to be doing this together!

Day #237

Thankful for a little girl named B.  We used to spend every other Friday together and how I miss that with my new job!!!!!  But she was so excited to see me tonight at volleyball because she learned that I was moving back home for a little awhile and would see her Monday, Thursday and Friday’s!!  Just to see her face light up again!!!

Day #236

I am thankful for community.  That we can stand together and do hard things together all in the name of Christ.  It is not easy but we need to take risk to accept the best that God has for us.

Day #235

Loved being able to share Mexico City with those who have a heartbeat for the people that went on the trip, the Mexicans, and missions in general.  As a group we were able to share some of the difficult aspects of the trip, where we saw God working on a daily basis, and some of our favorite moments from the trip.  It is always great to see that no one had the same experience!

Day #234

Thankful for Joanna helping to prepare for a fun evening at the orchestra.  Out conversations always make me chuckle!  Our life group and my family had a fun picnic and listened to a great show!  I am grateful for the way God works in the hearts of people and pursues them down dark paths and the depths that He is willing to go, to bring someone back to HIM.

Day #233

What a fun evening!  We celebrated Missy Flanagan and Bob Girton as they united into one!  A great night to get dressed up and celebrate with the couple.  Thankful for getting lost on the way home…thankful for the unexpected adventure!

Day #232

Evening of favorites.  Thankful that God has created us uniquely!  That we each have our own favorites.  I love experiencing other people’s favorites and what makes them, them.   We walked to Welch’s for some ice cream…I had one of my childhood favorites of superman ice cream.

Day #231

Coming out of the shadows is sometimes a little difficult.  You never know what the response is going to be.  Luke shared with the Life group today that…Him and I were committed to pursuing Christ together!  I am thankful for the response from the group…Someone clapped with excitement, and several of the guys were stoked. 

Day #230

There never seems to be enough time in the day/week.  I miss having lunch with my friend, Jenna.  It allowed us to download and see God working on a weekly and then monthly basis…and now we work pretty far apart and our schedules are very different.  So, I am so thankful that  My friend, Jenna, came early to bible study…it was only 15 minutes that we were able to download our life…but it was refreshing!

Day #229

Thankful for the impromptu dinner with my family because my Daddy-O sliced 2 of his tendons.  We had a great time laughing and watching the Brown’s preseason game.  Laughter is always present when we are watching the Brown’s together!  “What team are you rooting for?”  The Brown’s but, if I think it would help them more if Manzel gets sacked and ends up hurt.”

Day #228

Thankful for how God has been blessing my life…by providing what I need, just when I need it...My past is so muddy and I am thankful that God knows I need clarity and definition.  Thankful for the man that God has brought into my life.

Day #227

Today is Missy’s bachelorette party…thankful that God shows me the importance of friendships and the encouragement that is felt by just someone’s presence!  You need not say anything but your sacrifice to be present is sometimes all that is needed. 

Day #226

I am just a sinner saved by Grace…I am not perfect, not even close and some days I really struggle with that…I want to give my best and be closest to perfect as I can get on this side of heaven…BUT I am thankful for the reminder of Grace!  God’s grace covers me, and I can’t even describe how thankful I am for that…because I surely need it!

Day #225

I love the song, my God is Not Dead.  I smile every time it comes on the radio!  I smile because of a moment I won’t soon forget.  I was at The Garage and a student and I were just chatting and this song came on, and we both just started shouting it out!  Thankful for fun and meaningful moments like this!

Day#224

I am thankful that God hasn’t given up on me and continues to grow me each day.  It is messy but God loves to work miracles in our lives…glad that I get to be front and center.

Day #223

Thankful to be on the same page!  Today was a talk I won't soon forget.  I became the lucky owner of a gigantic mug from Mexico City and I couldn't be happier...and it is not because of the mug!!!!

Day #222

Who would have thought that playing volleyball in the pouring rain would be some sort of fun!!!!!   Some sort being the key words.  It was miserable while we were playing but I am thankful...because now I appreciate the days even more when it is not raining.