It is a week for being thankful, for counting blessings and simply focusing on all the gifts  we have right in front of our faces. It is a time to dream too, of all of the vast possibilities and then to get out there and turn them into reality. Why do we let the naysayers and negativity get in our way? After all, if God is for us, what else matters?

Some things I’m thankful for:

shooting stars launched across the early morning sky, a visit from Alex, a phone call with Jared, riding on a beautiful Sunday morning with Elaine and Alex, a Snapchat from Teresa, unexpected tacos for lunch from an English teacher on my team, whispered “I love you’s” in the dark, a hundred year old barn and the hard work to make it a warm shelter for four horses this winter,

deer, elk and antelope that are not only a pleasure to see but put yummy meat on the table, the sense of country and belief in freedom that brings men and women to serve in our military, for believers all over the world who strive to bring the love of Christ to others in very real ways, for those who have faith even in the midst of great adversity, for that pheasant rooster who keeps popping up in the pasture-only to be lost again in the tall grasses and tumbleweeds,

for the strength of the Word of God and the grace in those words, and for a week of giving thanks, both here and in my deepest heart.