thankful thursdays {22}

okay, so maybe it's more like a thankful saturday
(but that just doesn't have the same ring as 'thankful thursdays' does it?)

here's my little list of thanks for the week
(as part of project: cultivate thankfulness)

peace amidst chaos
finding the perfect pair of red stilettos
late night chats
learning lessons in contentment and joy from cancer patients
playing soccer with my crazy coworkers
divinely timed encouragement
making it half way through the semester (holla!)
wise words over a good cup of coffee

Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world. -Sarah Ban Breathnach

thankful thursdays {21}

{via the notebook doodles}

Sorry about skipping out on my little weekly list of thanks last Thursday. I just plum forgot to do it... Needless to say, it has been a crazy few weeks. But I am back today with an extra thought out list of things that I'm grateful for!

writing letters with recovering drug addicts
a sweet visit from the lil' sis (diet coke in hand)
fage greek yogurt with honey
slap happy moments brought on by sheer exhaustion
the countless people in my life who invest in me
a birthday celebration for my bestie
getting an invite to sigma theta tau
my amazing gym buddy, emily
getting geeked up about the things i'm learning in my seminary class
a professor who (unlike the rest) is not making me jump through hoops this term
and another one who bought me pizza just to be nice
finishing up my psych rotation (holla!)
cinnamon vanilla creme coffee mate
being mentored by one of the coolest ladies around (through a project at my church)
learning a whole lotta stuff about cancer
zumba and kickboxing
blessings from project 119
long chats on the phone with my momma
2 new tires (after having a bad flat)
God's provision
the creativity that comes with being broke
walking through life with the goonies
this song. oh, goodness... give it a listen!
somehow finding time to journal and hit up the gym

and last, but certainly not least...
this precious little bundle


Introducing Isaiah Benjamin!
This sweet little blessing came in to the lives of two dear friends, Zane and Jasa, this past week. We held a shower for them last night and it took a whole 5 minutes for him to steal my heart. You can read their amazing adoption story here! Praising God for this beautiful little life!

Be blessed.

A.A.

2 Things:
I am NOT an alcoholic.
But I did go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting.

One of my recent nursing school adventures included attending an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. It was a really eye opening experience for me. I wish I could express how incredibly grateful I am that this organization exists... so many people are finding healing and hope through their well known 12-step program and support groups. I feel so privileged that I had the chance to sit in and hear their stories. I left feeling so encouraged that people really can change... the journey may be messy, but there is always [always] hope.

One thing is for sure, that may have been the tightest community of people that I have ever been around. And the most welcoming too. Seriously, before I even sat down I had 5 people come up to me to introduce themselves and start conversations. They were more vulnerable and honest and welcoming than any church group I have ever been around. I apologize if that offends you, but it's true (at least in my experience). You know, I think Jesus was on to something with His habit of hanging around people that struggled with things like alcoholism and addiction. I saw something really beautiful in this group of people. Maybe it was their desperation for change and healing. Maybe it was the humble common ground they shared - knowing that no one there had things figured out. I guess I cannot exactly put my finger on it, but I left feeling like I'd learned a big lesson from the people in that group. A lesson in humility and openness and acceptance and love and hope and transparency.

By the end of the meeting I felt like I had a confessional statement of my own to share... "Hi, my name is Jarah and I struggle with pride and piety and fear and insecurity. So, in a lot of ways, you all have more figured out than I do." In hindsight, I suppose it was my pride that kept me from saying it. I wish I would've.

I would like to challenge you to attend an open A.A. meeting. Yes you. I will warn you though, you will leave much more uncomfortable than you came. But not for the reasons you might think. If you allow it to penetrate your heart, it will challenge you in some really significant areas of your life.

Okay, getting off my soap box now... As always, thanks for reading the ramblings of this motely character.

thankful thursdays {20}

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.
- Hebrews 12:28 (ESV)

{via}

Here's my weekly list as part of Project: Cultivate Thankfulness.
Feel free to play along with this little experiment in gratitude!

watching my cute students perform in a multicultural assembly
a great breakfast date catching up with old friends
gaining more confidence on BMT
coloring with one of my patient's adorable kids
a beautiful time of prayer with the roomies
my warm winter coat & electric blanket (it has been frigid!)
staying healthy amidst a house full of sickies
a super interesting "field trip day" for my psych rotation
lessons learned in unlikely places
new perspective from conversations with a schizophrenic patient
the biggest loser (totally my guilty pleasure)
encouragement from so many amazing people in my life
a coffee date with my dear friend Jasa
oh, and another one with Christina
good news that a friend is moving back into town
google chat - wouldn't survive my psych lecture without it (right Al?)
slap-happy moments after many sleepless nights
a fun sister date with lots of good music and conversation

I encourage you all to make some time this week
to lift up your eyes to the giver of life
and thank him for all the beautiful things He has filled it with!