Day 28

All my life I have wanted to find a guy who just completely "gets" me.  I know, I know... I'm sure that is the same for many girls out there who grew up dreaming of Prince Charming, and I am no different.  I bought into the lie for awhile that I needed that perfect guy to validate me and to make me feel loved.  I've dated around a little bit, and while each of these encounters had some good experiences, they all completely fell dramatically far below my dream.

I had prayed more about this area of my life than any other, and yet it seemed as if God was ignoring my plea.  I can't count the number of times that people said "Just stop looking for that person and you'll meet him!"  If it's been awhile since you have been single, let me remind you that it is one of the most annoying piece's of advice you can give a single girl.  If it were that easy, don't you think I would have done that already?!  Honestly, I was always appreciative of that helpful tip, but I just didn't know how to stop looking.

Finally after the last dating travesty, I had my fill.  I was tired of the emotional warfare that was taking place inside my heart.  I remember thinking that if this is what relationships were truly like, then I didn't want any part of one.  I deserved better, or I deserved nothing.  I was not one of those girls who would be a doormat for some guy.  I was tired of compromising what I truly wanted, and yes, I made a list of all those qualities to keep me from compromising.  After a heartfelt time of talking with God and listening, I presented him the list of my requests and asked that he would either a) bless me with a Godly man or b) make me completely content  in Him, that I wouldn't feel like I was missing out if God chose for me to be solely His forever.  And finally, I became content with God.  Not content in an "I'm settling so I'd better get used to this way", but in a completely confident manner that my God was going to take care of me regardless.  

Shortly thereafter, I "met" Alex.  I had signed up for a free-communication weekend on eHarmony (mainly because I was bored one day and thought "Hey, why not?").  I wasn't expecting anything would come of it, and I knew that I would be perfectly happy if nothing did.  And suddenly, some guy (a very cute guy with a fantastic smile) messaged me, and we quickly progressed through eHarmony's process of getting to know someone (which is a lengthy endeavor that really does help match you appropriately!), and he seemed just pretty darn swell!  The rest, they say, is history.

That all being said, today I am TRULY thankful for Alex Grayson.  He is such a wonderful, Godly man that the Lord has blessed me with.  Remember that list that I had made?  He not only meets each and every criteria on it, but he goes way beyond the bare essentials.  For example, I wanted someone who would worship God with me through music.  Well, not only can he sing, but he can play like 1,654 different instruments AND has the patience to teach me (which is quite a feat, I assure you).  And that's only one example!  

He is my perfect compliment.  When I am having a crazy emotional female breakdown that he doesn't even understand, he doesn't get mad or irritated that I am a complete wreck.  He talks me through it, supports me, and makes me laugh.  When I take on a crazy challenge that even I doubt myself in (like running a mini-marathon) he encourages me and is my own personal cheerleader!  When I have a question or want to discuss something in the bible or about God, he always provides me with fresh insight and a challenge to dig deeper into the Word and keep learning.  Plus, he totally looked at ALL of my Facebook pictures when we were first getting to know each other, saw what a weirdo I am, and STILL liked me.  Now that's saying something!

In the past few weeks, I've been reminded of some of those times when I was interested in someone or dating someone and all of the drama that went along with it.  The confusion, the disappointment, the heart shattering feelings are just fading memories now.  I can honestly say that I know I won't be experiencing those again, and what a great feeling that is!

Thank you, Lord, for hand picking this wonderful, funny, loving, spectacular, hunky, Godly man for me!  And thank you for allowing me to experience all those disappointing relationships so that I can truly appreciate the one you have graced me with.

Day 26

I am thankful for my dad!  He is a caring, considerate, helpful person who would do about anything for anyone.  We didn't talk for quite a few years, and though I regret that it went as long as it did, I think it helped to make our relationship stronger today, and for that I am truly thankful!

One of the things that I love most about my dad (which I mentioned in another post) is how he knows how to do EVERYTHING.  There seriously isn't anything he doesn't know how to fix, and that just impresses me beyond explanation.  It also baffles me.  Just HOW does he know how to fix SO MUCH?! I am thankful that when I have a problem, he can provide a solution.  He has helped me out of quite a few tough situations where I had no clue what to do.  I am thankful for his knowledge, experience, and willingness to help!

Also, I love when my dad laughs.  They are for real, genuine laughs that are contagious and he gets a giant smile when he laughs, and his cheeks get rosy, and I realize where I get it from. :)

Day 24

I'm backtracking, because I want to have enough days and I botched my first attempt.  There are just too many people/things that I am thankful for!

Today I am thankful for my brother.  We didn't always get along growing up, but as we have gotten older and stopped torturing each other, I've gotten to see what a decent, caring, hardworking guy he has become.  I love seeing how he is taking after my dad in that he-knows-how-to-fix-anything kind of way.  He is a a handy, knowledgable, Mr. Fix It type, and I am just super impressed with him!

I also love that although we don't live near each other, we get to bond while shooting people on call of duty, and it's just pretty cool.  And we had a heck of a lot of fun as kids, whether it was on our family snowmobile trips where we'd run between the hot tub and indoor pool and jump in, whether it was playing kick the can at grandma and grandpas, whether it was trying to knock each other off the jet skis, or whether it was him racking himself on a piece of playground equipment and blaming me for pulling him down (I have never heard someone scream so loudly in my LIFE!).  We had some good times.

I wish we could hang out more and get to know each other more as the people we are today, because I am excited about the person he is becoming!  I am thankful for who he is turning in to, and thankful for all the memories that I have from growing up with him.

Day 25

Okay, so I missed about 13 days blogging about thankfulness.  However, I specifically remember multiple things on each day that I am thankful for, and that's really the whole purpose of this little exercise.

That being said, today I am thankful for my mom.  She has selflessly given so much for me to have a happy life, and she puts everyone before herself.  You would be hard pressed to find many people with a heart as big as hers, and you could see part of that by counting the number of kids throughout the years that she has allowed to live under her roof when they didn't have many other options.

My mom still wants to take care of me when I get sick, and she has already brought me lunch today (a lucky chance that she had to stop by anyway).  When I was young and sick, I would stay home from school and we would watch The Price Is Right and she would fix me a turkey sandwich on a croissant. I am so thankful to have a mommy that took such good care of me, and still does.

I don't tell her often enough, and I always assume she knows, but I am so thankful that God has given her to me as a mother.  I know that He definitely didn't make a mistake where this is concerned (not that my God makes mistakes...that he does NOT do!).  I hope as I continue to grow older, that I will have a heart as big as hers, that I will always put others before myself, and I will be just as wonderful of a mother that she has been to me.

Day 12

Today I went to work, fully expecting there to be a freshman basketball game.  When I got there, I discovered it had been cancelled.  I am thankful for unexpected 'early' nights off from work!  Yeah!

Day 11

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to attend a banquet for the organization Hope 2 Liberia.  Hope 2 Liberia's vision is to provide safe and living water for the nation of Liberia, resulting in better health, available education and stronger leaders; all culminating in a renewed sense of hope.

I am thankful for the heart behind this organization.  Knowing a lot of the individuals involved with this ministry personally, I know that there is such a love for the country of Liberia and her people.  Having been there personally, I have seen the devastation and the need.  I have also seen the hope that Hope 2 has given through both safe and living water.  I am thankful for that hope, and for each and every heart affected by it.

Day 10

Yes, I am behind on my days, but i remember what I was thankful for each day, so I will play a little catch-up!

Saturday I went to help my dear old roommate, Kristen, at her new house.  She just became a first time homeowner (yayyy!!!) and she is SUPER excited!  The house is adorable, and once she gets the "old lady look out of it, it will be even more so!  She is remodeling every room in the house, most with a fresh coat of pain and new carpet.  A few other rooms will get some more detailed face-lifts.  I am excited to see it when it gets done!

All that being said, I am super thankful for Kristen.  She has been one of the best friends I could have ever asked for.  We lived together for 3 years and I can only remember one "fight" we got into, and it was me just being a grump.  

Kristen has helped guide me as a friend should.  So many times I would go to her for advice (though more times I was looking for approval and justification) and rather than go along with it, she would respond "Well, what do YOU think?"  I cannot express how absolutely FRUSTRATING that response was, but also how absolutely CRUCIAL it was for me in a time where I wanted to make bad decisions.  She knew exactly how to stir up my conscience and make me realize what truly was best for me.  Without that, I think I would have learned some lessons a lot harder (and I learned some pretty hard lessons the way it was!).

Living with Kristen was also hilarious 99% of the time (1% was when we were actually sleeping).  Whether we were playing videogames until 2am, making midnight trips to the VP for the best hot chocolate around, or stealthy creeping through our house with a baseball bat and butcher knife looking for intruders, there was never a dull moment.  I truly miss my friend and all of the fun times that we had, and I am so thankful that God blessed me with a random roommate that happened to become a best friend.