30 Days of Thankfunless - Day 16

Today I am thankful for my job.

I am thankful that I have a job in the field that I love. I am thankful for the people that I work with and the company for that I work for.

And right now...I'm thankful for the ability to use the rest of my vacation days over the next week...WHOOHOO!!!

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30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 15

Today I am thankful for podcast sermons.

If we missed church one Sunday when I was a little kid, it was unlikely that we'd ever hear the sermon. When I was a teenager, it was possible for us to get a CD or a sermon or sermon series, which I thought was pretty cool. But now...oh but now...we can listen to just about any sermon from any Sunday from any church from the convenience of our iPhone.

I love listening to sermons. I never really downloaded podcast sermons until about two years ago. I remember flying home from college in November a few years ago and listening to a sermon that I'd downloaded while I was waiting to board the plane.

I love that I get to hear pastors from all over. There are many churches that I'd love to attend someday, and the convenience of podcast sermons almost makes that possible! It means that a sermon about any topic or passage of scripture is readily available at our fingertips.

I just think that's pretty awesome and it's definitely something that I'm thankful for!

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30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 14

Today I am thankful for orphan care.

If you've read my blog for any length of time, you already know that I am quite passionate about adoption and orphan care.

In fact, the month of November is Orphan Care Awareness month.

Last night, Jason and I were invited to attend a banquet for Lifeline Children's Services. Throughout the evening I was constantly reminded why orphan care and adoption is so important.

So today, and everyday, let us be thankful for adoptive families, foster families, orphan care volunteers and workers, and ministries such as Lifeline and Alabama Baptist Children's Homes who provide hope to the fatherless.

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30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 13

Today I am thankful for coffee.

I really love coffee.

I am thankful for coffee because not only does it taste good, it also wakes me up in the morning (and afternoon). I am thankful for its many flavors. I am thankful for its many shops. I am thankful that it brings people together.

If you're a coffee drinker, think about how many times coffee has been there for special things. It's always there for holiday - right after we've digested our food enough for dessert. It's there for get-togethers. It's there for a lot of first dates. It's there waiting for you every morning.

I just really love coffee. And today, I'm thankful for it.

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30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 12

Today I am thankful for opportunities.

I think this goes without a lot of explaining, but I am just so blessed by the opportunities that I've been presented with in my life thus far. I am thankful for past opportunities that have worked out and also those that have not. I'm thankful for future opportunities and I look forward to finding out what those may be.

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30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 11

Today I am thankful for time.

I was reminded yesterday of how limited our time is. Whether that's time with family, time with friends, time to relax, or even time to live - it's limited.

Yesterday, November 11th, I had the unique opportunity to spend 4.5 hours in the car with my sister Carlee and Jason. Since I've been working, I haven't had the opportunity to travel with my family. I've missed the days of road trips - I've missed the music, the singalongs, the conversations, and the time together. Yesterday I was reminded that the chapter of my life where we take road trips as a family isn't over, it just looks different. To me, driving back to Birmingham from Destin with one of my sisters and my husband was a true blessing. I'm thankful for that time.

I'm also thankful for the time that the Lord allows us to be a shining light for Him in this world. Our days are numbered, and I was reminded of that yesterday through a couple of phone calls that Jason and I received. My prayer is that I use my time on this Earth in a way that is meaningful and that glorifies my Savior.

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30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 10

Today I am thankful for generations.

This past Saturday, November 10th, my parents hosted my grandma's 90th birthday party. Cousins, aunts, and uncles came from all over to join in the festivities. For the majority of the night, there were four generations of "Raimey's" in one room. Pretty cool, huh?

The highlight of the night was probably when my cousin Jeremy and I used our iPads to FaceTime our two cousins that could not make the event.

Now, you have to think - my grandma was born in 1922. In 1922, insulin was discovered, the first Reader's Digest was published, and the tomb of King Tut was discovered. The next year talking movies were invented and the first Time Magazine was published. When my grandma was 10-years-old, air conditioning was invented. The year my grandma turned 20-years-old, Anne Frank went into hiding and the t-shirt was introduced. The year she and my grandfather got married (1945) was the year the FDR passed away, the Germans surrendered, the UN was founded, and best of all, the slinky toy hit the retail shelves.

As you can see, my grandparents have seen many many things in their lifetime. I remember showing them my first iPod that I got for Christmas my senior year of high school. They couldn't believe that "all that music" could fit into a "tiny box machine". I don't think my grandparents could have ever imagined being able to talk to a person face-to-face (who lives across the country) through a tablet in real time. To them, that's the unimaginable.

But - here we are at my grandma's birthday party in 2012 holding up a "machine" with a "video player" of two of my cousins. I think that at first they thought we were showing them a prerecorded video. Then, my grandma waved and my cousin waved back. She got really close to the screen, pointed at my cousin and said, "She can TALK!"She also pointed out that my cousin Chloe's "friend" (husband) was with her. Man, I love my grandma a lot. She's seriously so cute.

And, technology is incredible.

 

But today I am thankful for the life, legacy, and wisdom of each generation that filled my parent's house on Saturday night. It's amazing what we can learn from each other when we all gather together. It's incredible the stories, testimonies, encouragement, and love that generations of family can share.

Welp, happy rainy Monday, y'all.
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30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 9

Today I am thankful for laughter.

People always say that laughter is contagious. But today, someone described laughter to me as powerful. I've never heard laughter described that way before - but it is so accurate.

So today, on this beautiful Friday afternoon, I'm thankful for laughter and praying for it's power.

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30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 8

Today I am thankful for Compassion International.

To be clear, I'm actually thankful for all organizations like Compassion International. I sponsor a child, Beatrice, through Compassion, and I try to keep up-to-date on all the amazing work they're doing across the globe.

For the last two years, Jason and I have forgone "big" Christmas gifts for each other and we have donated money to Compassion and World Vision instead. It just hurts my heart to think about families and children all over the world who have so little while I have so much.

I have to have this kid.

So, on this beautiful Thursday (well, it's actually Friday but I'm catching up), I am thankful for the ministries out there who provide to children and families who are in need. I am also thankful that these organizations meet their physical needs while also nourishing their spiritual needs.

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30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 7

Today I am thankful for music.

I am thankful that a really great song can completely alter my attitude and lift my spirits. I am thankful that music gives me hope. I am thankful music can express things that I want to say in a much more creative and eloquent way than I would ever be able to.

My current inspiration.

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30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 6

Today I am thankful for freedom.

First, I'm thankful that through Christ, I am free.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. - 2 Corinthians 3:17

Second, I am thankful for freedom in this nation. On this day, Election Day, I am thankful that I was able to go to Homewood Library and place my vote without fear for my life. I'm thankful that each Sunday I am able to walk into church in broad daylight and let me intention to worship be known to everyone around.

I know that there is a debate going on in this country (okay okay, there are many debates going on in this country, but I'm just talking about one) regarding if our first amendment - freedom of religion. But here's my take on this whole debacle...

God promises His people that they will endure suffering and persecution.

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." - John 15:18-19

In fact, in the bible Paul even says that to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21)!

So, I'm not saying that persecution of the church is okay or right, but let us not complain about it - let us show God's love through it!

There are many other reasons that I am thankful for freedom, but instead of going on and on and rambling about what those things are, I want to encourage each of you to respect others' freedom. Respect others' votes, beliefs, and opinions. If you're an American, we have a duty to be united - we are the United States of America...so let us respect each other. If you are a believer, we have a duty to love one another - we are the body of Christ.

If you want to read more about my thoughts on today's election, please click here. 

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30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 5

Today I am thankful for worship.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
    to sing praises to your name, O Most High; 

to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
    and your faithfulness by night,

to the music of the lute and the harp,
    to the melody of the lyre.

For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
    at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

 How great are your works, O Lord!
    Your thoughts are very deep! 

{Psalm 92:1-5}

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
    let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
    let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

For the Lord is a great God,
    and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth;
    the heights of the mountains are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
    let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

For he is our God,
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    and the sheep of his hand.

{Psalm 95:1-7}

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Serve the Lord with gladness!
    Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, he is God!
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

{Psalm 100}

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 4

Today I am thankful for beauty.

I am thankful for the beauty of nature. I am thankful for the beauty of sunsets. I am thankful for the beauty of the ocean. I am thankful for the beauty of autumn leaves, winter snow, spring flowers, and summer rain. I a thankful for the beauty of new life.

I am thankful for the beauty of redemption. I am thankful for the beauty of kindness. I am thankful for the beauty of helpfulness. I am thankful for the beauty of love.

I am thankful for the beauty of marriage. I am thankful for the beauty of family. I am thankful for the beauty of friendship. I am thankful for the beauty of adoption. I am thankful for the beauty of life.

I am thankful for beauty that resides in our beings. I am thankful for the beauty of worship. I am thankful that God cleanses us to make us beautiful. I am thankful for the beauty of the gospel. I am thankful for the beauty of forgiveness. I am thankful for the beauty of salvation.

Most of all, I am thankful that apart from the Lord, we are not beautiful - but in Him, we are pure, spotless, and beautiful.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."

- Ecclesiastes 3:11

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30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 3

Today I am thankful for my grandparents.

My grandma turns 90 today. I am thankful that she has lived a long and beautiful life.

I am so blessed to have grown up within close proximity to all of my grandparents. My dad's parents and my mom's parents always lived about 10 minutes away from each other. That means that at every big event, birthday party, holiday, and recital, I had four additional people surrounding me with love.

My dad's mom, Grandma Sansom, passed away when I was six. She was the grandmother of twenty-one and her legacy lives on within each of them, as well as within five children.

My dad's dad, Papa, dedicated his life to the church and to serving the community. Between his five children, twenty-one grandchildren, and twenty-something great-grandchildren, he's always on the go. We have all learned so much about dedicating our life to ministry through him.

My mom's parents, Grandma and Grandpa, have lived to see so many incredible things. Grandpa was born in 1921 in Lansing, MI. His life was affect by the great depression and he was forced to drive his father to work each week at the age of thirteen. He knows so much about hard work and perseverance, and I admire him so much for those lessons. My grandmother was born in 1922 in Monroe, LA. She is one of ten children and grew up on a farm. She is number seven in the line of children, and she tells hilarious stories about what life was life back then with such a large family. She has taught me so much about the value of family. Her dad passed away when she was a teenager, and she has given me so much wisdom when it comes to understanding that every day is precious with the people we love.

So, on this third day of November, I would like to wish my grandmother a very happy birthday. I am so thankful for her, and for all four of my amazing grandparents.

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30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 2

Today I am thankful for Jason.

You had to know it was coming. Yes, I am thankful for my husband.

Whatever you may or many not know about my story, I will tell you that it's a story of redemption - especially when it comes to dating.

Before Jason and I officially even started dating he made me a promise - he promised he'd be different. I knew when he said that, he meant it. Jason doesn't say things he doesn't mean.

God knew I needed him and he's been a blessing to me each and every day.

I'm thankful for our friendship. I'm thankful for the way he takes care of me. I'm thankful for the way he leads. I'm thankful for the way he loves the Lord. I'm thankful how hard he works. I'm thankful for how he makes me laugh. I'm thankful for how he makes me the best version of myself. I'm thankful for his sense of humor. I'm thankful for his serious side too. I'm thankful for how he makes me see things in a new way. I'm thankful for how he loves me. I'm thankful that he chose me.

Most of all, I'm thankful that God chose Jason to show me what redemption looks like each and every day.

Hope that was sappy enough for you.
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30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 1

A little preface here:

I am going to attempt to blog about what I'm thankful for each day of this month. I'm not really great about blogging everyday, and some days I have way too much to write about. I'm going to try to write each day, even if it's just a few sentences, though. I may blog twice a day sometimes if I have something else I was planning on sharing. Anyway, this is my attempt at showing how thankful I am for things to the interwebs.

So...here it goes - Day #1

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Today I am thankful for my childhood. 

Along with the theme of #throwbackthursday, I believe it is appropriate to express my gratitude for how I was raised.

My parents and I have always had a really special connection, although I'm sure that's true for most people. I am a complete mix of my parents - in the way I look and in my personality. I've always loved that about myself because I feel like I've always been able to relate to both of my parents equally.

My parents and I when I was 3-years-old.

As a child, they showered me with so much love - and most importantly the love of Christ. My mom quit working to stay home with me when I was two, and that was a decision that has bound us for a lifetime. She was always there at every party, first day of school, holiday, field trip, everything. She volunteered in my classroom every year in elementary school. She truly invested her entire life into mine. That's impacted me more and more the older I get. This is probably because the older I get, the closer to having a family I get (not anytime soon people), therefore the more I appreciate all of her self-sacrificing love and dedication to raising me. Over the years, our mother/daughter bond has turned into a really beautiful friendship. I don't know where I'd be or who I'd be without my mom - she's molded me into the woman/wife/sister/daughter/friend/employee I am today.

My dad was always the provider and he's such a hard worker. I have really fond memories of "Take Your Daughter to Work" days where I'd sit at a little kid table in my dad's office and color for hours and hours. I have memories of walking neighborhoods to campaign with him. I have memories of him coming home at night and all of us jumping on him immediately because we were so excited to see him. I also have really great memories of fun vacations and trips that we were able to take as a family due to his hard work. My dad and I also had a really special friendship that has evolved over the years. Our interests in politics, football, and Samford have created kind of a quirky friendship that I truly adore. He is everything I looked for the man I would marry - and thankfully I have found someone with the same kind of character that my dad possesses.

My parents and I at my college graduation.

I can't talk about my childhood without my sisters being part of it too! Even though I'm five and six years older than my sisters, we've always been super close. From running around in our PJs dancing (more like jumping) around to Carman and 4Him on Sunday mornings, to phone calls, tears, and laughter that we share more recently in our geographical distance, my sisters have always been my best friends.  We've had our arguments and our freak outs, but our love for each other has always heavily outweighed any sibling disagreement that we've had. Something that I've learned over the years, especially being five hours from my hometown, is that sibling friendships don't just happen - they take a lot of intentional work. I hope and pray that as we grow older, and maybe even farther apart geographically, we grow closer together in our friendship and in our love for one another.

My sisters and I two Christmas's ago.

My sisters and I at Carlee's high school graduation last June.

So there we have it, day one!
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