Happy Height of Hurricane Season Day! (or, 40 Things I am Thankful For)

Yes, that's accurate. I heard it on the radio the other day. September 10th is 'climatologically' the height of hurricane season. I think the weatherman made that word up, but that's what he said. So, let's celebrate! Not to make light of hurricanes or anything, but I needed the distraction.

Can you tell I'm a bit desperate to find something, anything to distract from what today actually celebrates? Well, with Hurricane Ike looking less likely to head straight at us, I don't think it's going to work for me. Today is actually my birthday. My 40th birthday, to be exact. And I am feeling it. I have gained a LOT of grey hair this last year. I wonder if being pregnant at this age had anything to do with it--anyone know? My skin cleared up though--a miracle in itself. But now I'm left quite dry and am seeing some wrinkles starting. Yikes! I'm also feeling the beginnings of arthritis in my knees that the doctor told me about a few years ago. You know, when I totally ate it while playing softball with my church and busted my knee? Fond memories of the beginning of the decline of my youth. (I used to be a pretty good softball player by the way.)

So, as all of this started setting in, I started looking for distractions. For the past 7 years, looking just one day forward to Sept. 11th has been plenty of distraction. That's enough right there to make you thankful for what you've got. Cooper is another big distraction. Other than the times he's asleep, I spend every minute focused on him and his needs. What a blessing he has been. Thinking about him made me realize that I have a LOT to be thankful for. And yesterday morning during my Quiet Time, I felt the LORD asking me, "Oh yea? Like what? Tell me about it." So, here goes (these are not in order of importance!):

1. For my salvation
2. For my Christian heritage--on both sides of my family

3. For grandmothers who each taught Sunday school for over 50 years

4. For grandfathers who made up for what they lacked in education with hard work, wisdom and ingenuity beyond their years

5. For a mommy that always rocked me to sleep and never made me "cry it out"
6. For a daddy that taught me how to be independent, but never really let me be

7. For a childhood spent playing outside with neighborhood friends without a care in the world

8. For parents that made sacrifices so Mom could stay at home

9. For a big brother who made me tough then, and makes me proud now

10. For a 6th grade Sunday school teacher (Donna DeGruyter) who challenged me to "dare to be different" (Romans 12:1-2)

11. For being surrounded by Christian friends during the toughest teen years

12. For high school marching band--fun times!

13. For silly, dizzying, hysterical fits of laughter about absolutely nothing

14. For being so close (geographically) to the expertise of doctors at the Med Center

15. For going far from home to college, yet having family just a couple of blocks away
16. For my best friend/sister, Debbie

17. For the opportunities I've had to travel--esp. to the Grand Canyon, San Francisco, Ireland, Hawaii & Alaska

18. That I was born in America and have the freedom to worship GOD

19. For my 12 years of experience in Bible Study Fellowship

20. For the Word
21. For the rewards and challenges of being a teacher

22. For the Christian colleagues with whom I taught for 17 years

23. For Christian parents of my students who prayed for and supported me daily

24. For Bluebell Dutch Chocolate ice cream

25. For the gift of music and song

26. For a church where I can serve and be served

27. For the opportunity of being in Beth Moore's Sunday school class for 4+ years

28. For my parents' 46 years of marriage

29. For my kitty cat, K.C., who kept me company for 19 long years, holding on until the day after I got engaged

30. For all the lessons learned while being single for 37 years

31. For the house that God provided on my single teacher budget
32. For the LORD bringing Chris Chaddrick into my life

33. For 2 years, 5 months, and 23 days of marital bliss

34. For a healthy pregnancy and baby

35. For the LORD's provision to allow me to stay at home with Cooper

36. For summer vacations

37. For Gran & Pop, Grandma & Pa who are ready and willing to keep Cooper at a moment's notice

38. For this sweet, mischievious face that greets me every morning.

39. For the honor and privilege of being called "Babe", "Auntie Jenna", and someday "Mommy"
40. For the opportunity to look back on all the ways that God has blessed me, and find them too many to measure. Thank you Lord for my 40 years!