Give Thanks.

So. Being that it's thanksgiving, i thought i'd post a thanksgiving day appropriate blog.
I'mma make a list of things that I'm thankful for.
I'm thankful for
My family- They pretty much drive me crazy sometimes, but I'm incredibly blessed to have a family that loves me.
My friends- They're awesome, I don't always treat them as best as i should, but most of them are insanely loyal, and love me anyway.
My church- God has BLESSED me big time with Meadowview, I loveeee that church.
My job- I LOVE my job. I'm blessed in that I can say that, and mean it whole heartedly. Sure, there are days where I wanna run away from it, when the kids get super hyper, haha, but I know it's where God want's me to be for now.
The Hauts- I love this family. I don't think they realize how much I look up to them. I only hope that I can half as great a mother as Beth is to her kids. If I find a man some day, that's half as great a father, and husband as Noah, I'll super happy. I love their kids so much, if the YMCA payed me more, I'd babysit them for free, anyday.
The Wilsons - Shelly is such a blessing to me. She's prolly the only adult I feel comfortable talking to all my guy and friend issues about. She's great. Dr. Ben is very wise also, and I'm blessed to have them both as Youth leaders. Abigail's a sweetheart too.
Sarah Greene- Sure, she could be included in the friend category, or the family category for that matter. She's been my best friend for 10 years. I don't think many people can say they've been best friends for 10 years. That's more than half my life. She's terrific, even though she's forgetful, haha. After ten years though, i'm pretty used to it.
Umm. What else.
Country.
Freedom.
Health.
I have everything i NEED.
A car that i can pretty much use whenever.
Forgiveness.
GRACE.
mercy, Lord knows I need both of those more than most.
So, I might come back and add later, but I'mma go spend time with my family.
It's thanksgiving. :)

'Tis the season.

I enjoy giving people gifts for christmas. I love spending time thinking about and purchasing the perfect gift for each person I care about. Most gifts are pretty simple, or silly, but it's something I love to do. This year, I have found that there are a LOT of people I would love to purchase something for, but don't necessarily have the cash flow to do so. I'm also lacking in ideas as to what I would purchase, if'n i could. SO. I came up with an idea, and after seeing a video on another blog, I'm not the only one who has had this idea. This year, a lot of people will be receiving gifts from me, not purchased by money. I'm pretty excited about it actually, because I know the people I care about will appreciate them. So far, I just have one dear family's gift figured out, but there are many that i'm trying to come up with.

Also, on the note of Christmas, I'm determined to be filled with the Christmas spirit this year. The spirit of Love, Joy and Peace. Last year, I remember never being able to push myself into those spirits, I can't remember why, or if there even was a real reason, but such is life. Soooo. This year I'll be FILLED with it. It will help that i'll have a long break from most of my school work to add to the festivities. Hehe.

Joy.

So, my greatest "weakness" in my christian walk is that i have a very difficult time reminding myself to read and love the Lord's word. Part of what made this weekend so great was that Susie gave us tips on how to develop a way to study the bible every day. She told us that if we have trouble in that area, we need to commit to reading about a minute every day. The minute will soon grow to five, then ten, then more, as we develop a love for his word. This morning i began my commitment, and read a chapter of of colossians. I felt more awake and alive than i normally do in the mornings. When i walked into math class, one of my friends said, "Meghan you look like you are in a really good mood this morning." I replied, " I do? The only reason i can think of is that I read my bible this morning."
My good spirits continued throughout the day, and it was one of the best i have had in a long time. Praise the Lord for the happiness found in reading His Word!

Doin' Laundry.

This weekend I went to a women's conference at my grandmother's church in Virginia. The speaker was Susie Shellenberger, and the worship was done by ChicKBand. There was also another lady there whose name I can't remember that did 2 skits. Everywoman who spoke and played there was truly amazing. The first "speaker" was the lady who did the skits. Her first skit was her reading a story, the title of which i have forgotten.. haha, about a princess. The story was pretty much an exact portrayal of my life right now. I started to tear up in the beginning, and by the end I was full on crying. The story ended up with lots of hope, and that is part of why I was crying. I was thinking, "Geeze, we haven't even been her 20 minutes, and I've already heard what I needed to hear, and am crying." I was wrong about that though. The first thing Susie spoke about was finding our "dirty laundry." She told us that we needed to find it, and give it to Jesus to cleanse and dispose of. I pretty much instantly knew what mine was, and it is something that I have been trying to wash by myself for a long time. And the longest I've been able to keep it clean has been about 2 weeks. This has SERIOUSLY injured my relationship with God. I have been discouraged about that for a long time, but haven't been able to gather the strength on my own to fix it.
Throughout the day, Susie said everything i needed to hear, to leave encouraged, strengthened and feeling closer to God than I have felt in months. He definitely used her to speak to me, exactly the things I needed to hear to feel encouraged in that moment, and give me the things i will need in the coming months to continue to be strengthened and grow closer to God.
She also told a story, found in Luke, about a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years, lying beside a pool. He had all the opportunities to get well, but yet he was still there. So, Jesus asked him, Do you really want to get well?
Susie then asked us that question, Do we really want to get rid of our dirty laundry.
I realized, I desperately wanted to, but I was too scared. Getting rid of the laundry, I would have no excuse to no longer be close to God, and I would have to live a life worthy of the calling that I have recieved. I realized however, that I was ready now, God was giving me the strength I needed to rely on Him, and to know that he was all i needed, and the reasons I were scared were not important.

Also, speaking of laundry,
My loving mother washed a pair of my jeans this week. My first thought was, "Did you check the pockets?"
She replied that she had not, and I said, "bye-bye, babysitting check from the Hauts."
So, I have an amusing conversation waiting for me this week.
Just one of many I'm sure.