Thank goodness for kleenex tissues

And other things of course! :)
I've been thinking a lot today about things that I'm thankful for (I wonder why) and here are a few of them, from BIG to small. I give full credit to God for giving me so much to be thankful for, for blessing me in every way and for allowing my life to run smoothly. Of course, I'm also thankful to Him for turning the not so smooth situations into some of the biggest learning experiences so far in my life. I thank Him for hearing me, listening to me and answering so many of my prayers over the last year, and especially in the last few months.

Ooook, where to begin....

I'm so thankful that my mom is so healthy! It's been gradual so it's kind of hard to notice, but when I take the time to think back to how she (and we) used to live, I'm almost blown away. My mom is done surviving and is finally living. This makes me happier than almost anything in my life.

I'm thankful for my dad, who is stronger than any man I have ever met. It amazes me how God strengthens him, and how...selfless my dad is. How loving, how...supportive. He and my mom are incredible examples of God's love for me.

I'm thankful that my parents trust me. The offer me advice when I want it and I know they're always there for me, but the level of respect and confidence they have for and in me, is so nice.

I'm thankful for my friend, my brother, Galen. It used to be brother and then friend, but it's the opposite now. I think of him as my friend first, and not of a friend who is obligated to be so because he's my brother. This guy is so cool. He travels the world and takes chances, which, bit by bit is encouraging me to do the same. He's the only one in the world who knows exactly what I'm talking about when I complain about...my um...amazing parents...cough..haha, when they're being just plain normal. He's there for me to talk to, even (and especially) when he's off in Korea. I'm so proud of him for following his dreams, and finding out what they are, and being impulsive instead of being one of those people who always just talks about what they want to do and never follows through. Every year I grow, I find parts of me looking like certain attributes of his, and this makes me happy. Galen, you are the one person, other than myself, who will end up pushing me to my limits, and I'll be all the better for it. Thanks. :)

I'm thankful, so, so thankful that I did not end up going to Whitworth this year. I was so not ready to "go to college" yet, I could barely handle what I had at home. Whitworth was not the place for me to be, I never should have settled just to follow society's "norms." I now am now beginning on the long lifetime road of NOT going into debt, and I'm very proud of myself. I'm thankful that I can stay at home, grow in God, live a healthy life, not go into debt, still take college classes and challenge my brain, while relaxedly figuring out where and what I want to do with my life. I'm thankful for the challenge that staying home presented me with and how I grew so, so much through having my life turn 180 degrees in just a day. I'm thankful for God being with me through all of that and for being faithful to me and giving me immense peace and a hope and excitement for my future. :)

I'm thankful for Mitch. I only met him this summer, but these last 5 months have been...an intense ride. Through going out and breaking up and being friends through it all, Mitch has incredibly influenced and challenged how I think about things. In some ways, he's unknowingly made me realize where I stand on certain things and he's frequently knowingly challenged my thoughts to make me firmly know what I believe. And in still other ways, he's presented an entirely new perspective to my stubborn, anal tendencies and I've actually adjusted how I think and live. It's hard to sum up how thankful I am for Mitch...
I don't want to concentrate on the boyfriend attributes, because that's not really who we are anymore...lately he's been being an amazing friend to me. I guess, when I think about Mitch, the most outstanding things I see in him are patience and unconditional love. I can't really explain much about it, but he knows. This, I am thankful for. :)

I'm thankful that through Mitch, I have gotten to know and become a part of his interesting and wonderful family. I'm thankful for the way they accepted me (and still do even now) and how they love me. :) I love them all so much. :)

I'm thankful for my friends. After we all started college, I expected to grow away, but instead we've grown closer, and for that, I am SO thankful for. :) Lol, and I'm thankful they didn't all stop talking to me when I was going through my "poor pitiful me, im all alone and i have no friends" stage. It must have been irritating. Sorry guys!

I'm thankful that my life is starting to pick up out of the doldrums.

I'm thankful that I don't hate Green River and that I'm actually learning things in my classes.

I'm thankful that God loves me so much and shows me such mercy and patience. I'm learning so much. :)

I'm thankful for Friday morning Bible study.

I'm thankful for dreams, hope and artistic expression.

I'm thankful that I'm learning to work hard for what you want.

I'm thankful for learning about myself and what I want to do with my life.

I'm thankful that I'm learning to look at the big picture and not being so near sighted.

I'm thankful for learning opportunities.

I'm thankful that I'm FINALLY GROWING UP! (And loving it!! lol, well, most of the time)

I'm thankful that my optimism and imagination has come back to me.

I'm thankful that my Senior year was such an amazing one.

I'm thankful that I am DONE with high school FOREVER!

I'm thankful that I got to go to DC this year, and that my life changed dramatically because of it.

I'm thankful that I actually like being around and with my parents now. :)

I'm thankful for growth.

I'm thankful for holidays that make you stop and realize what you're thankful for.

I'm thankful that my family has stayed so close throughout the years and hasn't fallen apart.

I'm thankful for being content with the important things and not content other things, because that's what keeps me striving for the future.

I'm thankful for perspective.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to volunteer at the city hall.

I'm thankful for all the time I have to live.

I'm thankful for trials and just plain frustrating situations, because I learn so much through them.

I'm thankful that I actually can't think of anything superficial to be thankful for and that everything I am thankful for is a direct result of what God's been doing in me. =D

Haha, I'm thankful for blogging, to be able to use it as a creative outlet and a way to communicate with the people I love.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

-Rachel.

:)