ah, the cliche thanksgiving post

hopefully this isnt tooo cheesy.

so as i sit here in my cozy living room, football on the tv, the smell of turkey and stuffing filling the house, i think to myself, how TRULY blessed i am. i have WONDERFUL, caring, supportive, forgiving, loving parents that have never let me down. I have the BEST best friends anyone could ask for. I go to an incredible school where God is always present, I'm healthy as a horse, I'm doing extremely well in school, i live in a country where I can worship my Lord and Savior as I please, my roomate is an angel, my entire family is a hysterical, loving, beautiful bunch- i really could not ask for anything more.

I was extremely reminded of this on Tuesday night. I drove in from Abilene and was extremely exhausted. I really hate driving, it makes me very grumpy and i was just anxious to be home. But once i finally did get home, i called up my wonderful sweet friend sarah ann. Now, I havent seen this beautiful girl since I left in august. Thats a long

time! So she came and picked me up and we went out on a traditional coffee date, just like old times. And thats exactly what it was-- just like old times. We played Klein Choir christmas cd's and drove around town. It was WONDERFUL! and then we called up James. And he was home, so we drove by his house. And for a couple hours I just sat outside with the two greatest people I know, talking and catching up. Just like old times. It was one of the best nights ever. I am SO blessed by those two- they listen to me and support me through everything and I'm SO SO thankful for them.

So on this thanksgiving day, I have alot to be thankful for.. I'm so blessed, and I recognize that. But I do have one small pet peeve with thanksgiving. On this day, people talk about what they're thankful for. But just this day. Shouldn't we be thankful everyday? God has blessed us so all so much- on a daily basis. Shouldn't we be thankful everyday? Of course, today is a wonderful day to enjoy family, eat great food, and watch the cowboys play, so don't think that I'm dissing thanksgiving. I LOVE thanksgiving.. but I do think we should be thankful everyday. So thats what I'm gonna try and do from now on. To be thankful everyday, because I truly have SO much to be thankful for.

For the Beauty of the Earth

First blog. This is a big deal.

I'm currently listening to the song "For the Beauty of the Earth" played by John Schmidt. John Schmidt is an incredibly talented pianist. I absolutely love listening to his music, because it's so peaceful, calming, and simply beautiful. And my wonderful best friend introduced me to John, so it always reminds me of him when I hear any of his songs. But I digress..

"For the Beauty of the Earth" is a hymm that speaks volumes to me. I had actually never heard it before until John Schmidt, but it's one of my favorites now. And it is the inspiration for the title of this blog.

For the Beauty of the Earth

For the beauty of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

over and around us lies

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour

of the day and of the night,

hill and vale, and tree and flower,

sun and moon and stars of light,

Lord of all to thee we raise

this our grateful hymn of praise

For the joy of human love,

brother, sister, parent, child,

friends on earth, and friends above,

for all gentle thoughts and mild

Lord of all to thee we raise,

this our grateful hymn of praise.

For each perfect gift of thine,

to our race to freely given,

Graces human and divine,

flowers or earth and buds of heaven,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

this our grateful hymn of praise.

For thy Church which evermore

lifteth holy hands above,

offering up on every shore

her pure sacrifice of love,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

this our grateful hymn of praise.

How beautiful is that? I think it's really just about finding beauty in everything- because everything has God's fingerprints on it. He made the earth, the skies, the hills and valleys, each tree and flower, and each one of us. And he made it all beautiful. He made us beautiful! So that's my new outlook on life. Finding the beauty in everything, because He has made it all.