I'm a bit late to the game since I can't seem to find time to blog much these days, so I will post all 30 days of gratitude here today. I do still keep up with a daily gratitude journal and have encouraged quite a few friends to do the same. Thanks to Ann Voscamp's inspiration in her book, One Thousand Gifts, I got to a thousand on my list many years ago and haven't been able to stop since.
1. The warm, crackling fire beside me, heating my home in preparation for a cold front coming in tonight.
2. Friends that feel like family, that time and distance can never separate. (Picture to be taken tomorrow when I meet with a longtime, far-away friend for our annual brunch.)
3. A job where I can speak in Spanish every day and celebrate bilingualism with my students.
4. Coworkers from around the world, each bringing a unique culture and dialect to the table.
5. Travel opportunities over the coming year to experience new countries and cultures that I have not yet experienced.
6. Friends to meet with over coffee and talk about God's work in our lives.
7. A classroom funded and built by my village (donations from my Amazon wishlist), reminding me daily of friends and family who support me as a teacher.
8. Looking across the sanctuary at church on Sunday mornings and seeing other bilingual coworkers soaking in the Word and praising God alongside me.
9. A new learning experience this year, that has challenged me, stretched me, and helped me grow as an educator.
10. Being able to be part of a still new initiative to bring a dual language education opportunity to students in Columbus, IN.
11. My husband's opportunity to live by and work with his brother, after nearly 20 years of living far apart from each other.
12. A chance to build a closer relationship with my husband's side of the family and watching my son build those relationships, as well.
13. Getting certified as a Biblical counselor this year, as well as getting licensed as a Spanish teacher in Indiana.
14. Public school students who voluntarily bring their Bibles to school and write their Bible reading on their reading logs.
15. A 6th grade teammate who's been super supportive and welcoming to me as a new teacher on board in a grade level I've never taught before.
16. A friend who encouraged me to join her in the Bible Recap New Testament, which has helped me see Jesus' love more intimately than I've seen it before when reading the gospels.
17. Newcomer students who have joined my classroom, adding new depth to our Spanish discussions and purpose for my English speakers learning Spanish.
18. More time with David here, giving him a chance to make our new location feel like home to him rather than just a place to visit Mom and Dad.
19. Reconnection with my friends from Colombia, seeing how God connects us and weaves our stories together in ways we could never fathom.
20. Long walks on a country road where I meet and get to know all my neighbors.
21. Fresh new trails cut in my woods that David and I can hike together.
22. A new writing spot/prayer bench set up in my woods, overlooking a beautiful landscape.
23. Experiencing God's creation in a new way through the distinct changing of seasons that happens here in Indiana.
24. Finding new writer friends in Columbus, in my own church, after leaving all my writer friends behind in Texas.
25. Facetime that keeps me connected to the family I moved away from, even though I personally hate Faeetime. Lol. It does make it feel like they're not so far away.
26. Family to spend Thanksgiving with today, and a husband who got up early to smoke the turkey.
27. Students who enjoy writing and are turning into great writers in Spanish.
28. A few days off from school to rest and reset.
29. My sweet kitties
30. My church family, filling the familial role just as God designed it to.
