Thankful #8: Hearts, Hell, and Poems

There are many times I don't feel like being thankful, but then the Holy Spirit reminds me of David,
 who was thankful even at the worst of times:

"Oh that men would praise the Lord
For all His goodness towards them.
For He has broken the gates of hell
and cut iron bars in two." --Psalm 107

I am thankful for victory, even when I am weak and can only manage to keep my heart beating. Even that is a gift from God. Thank You, Lord, for my beating heart.

"Have you ever wondered, what protects our hearts? Just a cage of rib bones, and other various parts."
--Ingrid Michaelson

Teach me how to love like You.

Heart Song

Everything I see
Reminds me of a song I know
The rhythm starts like this
A-thump a-thump a glow
My heart is beating fast
In time with yours in mine
You are my melody
You are my surest line.

Comets

Oh, give me wings of fire
That I might soar towards your scorched moon
And rest upon the constellation
That shines for me and you.
Your heart is my universe
The planets song I sing
We may be stuck between the firmament
But we’ll get out someday
On a flying comet’s tail
Oh, you take me away
With every glance you look at me
And I feel as if
I have landed home.


<3

Thankful #7 Real Shooting Stars

I was out in the country this week. As soon as I stepped outside, I was stunned by all of the incredible twinkling lights up above. I even saw a streak of light shooting across the sky. Makes me want to live out there, just so I can gaze upwards every night. All I can see mostly are "airplanes in the night sky like shooting stars."
Day 4 of creation was a good day indeed.

"There will be stars." --Sara Teasdale

Sara Teasdale is my favorite poet. Her words are simple yet beautiful.
They may be simple words, but she arranges them in complex poetic ways.
Just like stars in the sky.

"I will make this world of my devising, out of a dream in my lonely mind
I shall find the crystal of peace--above me. Stars I shall find."

I was thinking of that line "world of my devising." God has blessed us mere mortals
with the ability to create worlds of our own. We can come up with ideas that seem original to us, and may be original to mankind, but ultimately, all ideas are from Him.

Thank you, Lord, for giving us ideas. And for shooting stars.

Thankful #6: Be Our Guest to Eat Parfaits

2 things to be thankful for today:

I have found a new love! Parfaits!!!!

Actually, I've always loved eating parfaits, but I just discovered the joys of making them.

Today my parfait of choice, (and don't gag, I love making up wonderfully strange concoctions) is a lemon jello, kiwi, blueberry, and vanilla icecream parfait topped with hazelnut butter.

For those of you who have never had hazelnut butter, it is a lot like peanut butter, only made of hazelnuts and not quite as thick. =)

Secondly, I am thankful for the Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast. I've been wanting to watch the Disney movie very much lately, but since I don't own it on DVD I haven't been able to watch it. What I do own, however, is the Broadway musical soundtrack, which is fantastic! It has even more great songs than the movie! I encourage any musical lover to check it out if they haven't yet.

If I was the Beast, I would've made Belle a parfait to fall in love with me.

One with hazelnut butter.

Thankful #5 Cocococococcconut!!!!

I can not express how much I am thankful for simple, yet incredibly delicious or beatiful things:

Thank You Lord for coconut!
Cheese
Pickles
Dark Chocolate

For music by amazing musicians like Ingrid Michaelson, Dido, and Regina Spektor.

Your stars are glorious, Father!

I had to do this quick post to show my appreciation for coconut.
It was the best thing in this entire day.

Thankful #4: Sunscreen poetry

I am thankful for words and sunburns.

Starting in reverse order, I am greatful for sunburns because it means I was doing something super fun in the sun. I work indoors, so breathing in the fresh air and relaxing at the beach was definitely worth my red and aching arms. Besides, I was just stupid. Actually listen to your mother for once and WEAR SUNSCREEN.

And firstly, well, it's actually secondly now, but whatever, I am thankful for words. For the ability to write down words, like poetry. Words are a source of great comfort.

"In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God. And the Word was God." I was talking to a friend on Sunday, and she pointed out just how beautiful and poetic the introduction in John was. It makes it easier to memorize. The ability to speak good words stems from The Word. Here is my favorite poem. Thank you for the gift of beautiful words, Lord Jesus:

"They came to tell your faults to me
They named them over, one by one
I laughed aloud when they were done
I knew them all so well before.
Oh, they were blind,
Too blind to see
Your faults had made me
Love you more." --Faults by Sara Teasdale

God is good.

Thankful #3: The Joys of Bubblewrap

Today I am thankful for silliness, games, and bubblewrap.

Before you start giving me a weird look, let me explain:

I wasn't feeling so wonderful this morning. I had a ton of stuff to do at work and was trying to get through it all, when an amazing friend of mine gathered together a huge pile of bubblewrap we had leftover and took my offer of jumping on it with me. There I was looking ridiculous, popping bubbles, but having great flashbacks to my days as a silly child. I encourage everyone to be silly when they are feeling down. Afterall, aren't we all children of God?

So thank You, Lord,

for ginormous bubblewrap,

the ability to lose

(yet still have fun)

playing Settlers of Catan,

and for the gift of silliness.

"Gus, don't be this crevice

in my arm."--Psych

(Picture on the left is my silly desktop. I'm betting on Shawn.)

Thankful #2: What do choirs, hot dogs, and families have in common?

I am especially thankful for a couple things tonight, but they all have things in common.

1. I am thankful for growing up in a family who loves sports. I've had so many good times going to games with them.

2. I am thankful for $1 hot dogs. Whoooooooooo! How many can we eat without breaking our budget? (For the record, my tongue was blue from the cotton candy, not the hot dogs.)

3. I am thankful for choir buddies. You know who you are. You'll probably never forget the sound of my loud and raucous voice in your ear. Seriously though, I miss you, Mrs. Australia.

Did I mention the RCC choir kicked some serious National Anthem butt tonight???

"I think I broke my thumb!" "Swwwwiiiinnnnngggg, batter, batter, batter!" --FB'sDayOff

=) Rock on, and remember, it's good to be thankful!