My Thankful Day 24 & 25: Jake & Bobbie Kaufman

This time of recognizing people in my life that I'm thankful for has truly been a blessing to me, and I hope it's been a blessing to you!

The next two people I'm thankful for are: Jake & Bobbie Kaufman

Jake, thank you for being such an awesome professor and mentor during those 4 years. Thank you for pushing me to grow and seeing potential in me. You challenged me, and although at times I felt like I was getting no where, I can look back and see major improvements over my time at Central. I appreciate having the opportunity to grow in musical skills, leadership, and creativity. Thank you for your investment in my life not only as a musician/student, but as a person. I enjoyed all of the conversations and coffee consumption that happened.

Bobbie, I remember you being my first admissions counselor and helping me get my application in as a junior. I was later excited to find out you were my RD! I really enjoyed having you as an RD that first year. It was a crazy year, and a lot of fun things happened. I also enjoyed getting to know you & your family over the next few years as I got to spend time with you and the girls and have some good conversation. Thank you for all of the advice and guidance as I became a mother and wanted to give a go at the cloth diapering fiasco (it's been great by the way!) One piece of advice you gave me, that I remind myself of often, is to not try to do everything but to start with one thing. We were talking about trying DIY/natural things at home, but it applies to so many things in my life!

Thank you both for being a part of my life!

My Thankful Day 22 & 23: The Rowden Family

For the past couple days… I will share my thanks for the Rowden family (particularly Carly, John, Abby & Victoria)!

This family is pretty great! They are each passionate about serving Christ and it's beautiful. I appreciate the way you all have fun, love and serve.

Carly, I really enjoy just talking with you. I've learned a lot from you already about life, DIY home-making, recipes, etc… it's exciting to have someone to gain a little wisdom from and see in action doing super awesome, crazy, inventive stuff. I'm encouraged by your story and the way you live out your life. Thank you for investing in me and supporting me in my journey.

John, you're also fun to talk to! I appreciate the way you approach subjects with humility as well as humor. I'm thankful for your investment into Joshua. I know he's really enjoyed getting to know you and learning from you.

Abby & Victoria. You both are super awesome friends. I enjoy your goofiness and the fun you have with Jeremiah. Thanks for the times you've watched him during church and helped take care of him. It's definitely appreciated!

Thanks for being a great family we can get to know and participate with =)

My Thankful Day 20 & 21: Derek & Liz Shore

I started this Saturday… so here it is!
Last night (Friday) we had the privilege of sharing dinner with our pastor, Derek Shore & his beautiful wife, Liz. Although Joshua already expressed our thankfulness for them at dinner, I wanted to share some of my own thoughts =)

Derek, thank you for your commitment to the gospel of Christ. The Kingdom of God is at hand and that changes everything. Thank you for encouraging Joshua & I, as we have sought to participate with & serve this local body. It's awesome to see the way you care for and serve others. If you're not able to help someone directly you often know of someone who can and will help direct the need so it gets met. I appreciate your honesty, passion and good humor.

Liz, you've been such a blessing to us! We appreciate the ways you've taken care of us like your own children, even buying us pajamas for the year we spent Christmas with your family (and for allowing us to even participate in family events!) It's such a blessing to have a Wichita family and begin to make this our home. We know that you and your family are there for us. You have such a beautiful heart for others, I love how much fun you have and how loving you are. You especially have a way with children.

I love you both and your awesome family! Thank you for including me and mine into yours =)

Confession: wanting to love, but still have fear

This is simply my confession. I'm not asking for pity, or answers, or even reproof, just hear me out if you care to.

It's easy for me to say the things I believe should be true, but then I wrestle with the reality of the follow-through. Obviously most recent, the issue of Syrian Refugees. I believe they matter, I believe that danger or no danger, they need help and we should be extending the arms of Christ to them. I believe that not allowing them safe refuge is turning away those we should be loving. 

However, when I really begin to think about this question, "Would I be willing to house a family of refugees?" I stop and realize that it gets a little more messy. (I realize that isn't exactly the protocol that involves allowing them into the country, It's simply a question that came to mind and I had to think about.) I'd like to say 'absolutely'. But to be honest, there is fear, and there are concerns. As others have made comparisons, when it comes to helping the homeless or those in need, I've always believed in discernment. There have been times we have felt it right to give rides to people (yes even with Jeremiah in the car), and there was once the potential of having someone stay with us (hasn't happened yet though). Again, I've always believed in discernment for those things…

On the other hand, Christ did say that we were to expect persecution and trials. I don't believe that means to go looking for persecution or to walk directly into death for no reason, but to love in spite of persecution. To love despite the possibility of danger or death, because we trust in a God who casts out fear and we know that He is greater. 

I know a story of a woman who allowed a man to stay in her basement, and he ended up killing her. As terrifying as that is, I don't believe she was foolish. She was living the love of Christ and extending her arms in grace. I don't believe serving Christ means we won't be taken advantage of or that he will fully protect us from every harm, but it does mean that someone might actually SEE his love.

All of that said… I'm learning and growing too. I don't believe the answer is 'NO SYRIAN REFUGEES.' I don't know if the answer is 'Yes, I will house them,' or not. (I realize no one has asked me to do this). I'm simply sharing some of the thoughts in my head and wanting to say that I don't have it all together and I'm not quite as bold as I'd like to pretend I am. But my heart is simply beating with this belief that we have to extend our arms in love and believe that perfect love cast out fear… that's the armor I want to bear, and no I'm not really there yet. We will see where this journey leads me.

My Thankful Day 18 & 19: Ryan and Allison Mackey

Yesterday I spent all day preparing things for Joshua's birthday… but today I'd like to continue with the amazing couple that mentored Josh & I in our relationship and spiritual lives: Ryan & Allison Mackey

Ryan Mackey, DJ, Father, Master, friend =)

Thank you for absolutely everything you've done in my life. It all began when I was part of Rose Among Thorns and you were the band 'manager' so to speak. I was a little intimidated by the awesome beard and low voice at first, but as I got to know you I found how kind-hearted you were. Through those years you also became a spiritual mentor, an awesome teacher, a 'boss' whom I apprenticed under to learn about growing in faith, good music, great coffee, and awesome beards, and a mentor through Joshua & I's relationship. 

Having you and Allison to look up to was probably one of the best things for our relationship. From the get go we feel like we had good communication and realistic expectations; we learned a lot of that from you two. 

Like I've said, you were very influential to us spiritually. One of my favorite classes was Spiritual Formation over interterm. I have grown in ways I never expected to in my faith throughout college, my eyes have been opened to so much richness in the church life that I didn't see before. I could talk to you about almost anything. Thank you for being there to listen and advise, and to sometimes say 'I don't know'. 

Allison Mackey, the lovely wife, the coordinator, the brains behind the operations ;) 

I'm especially thankful for you because you and Ryan are such a beautiful team. Obviously I wouldn't have had the opportunity to get to know you if not for Ryan, but the more you and I have talked, the more I have learned and grown. 

I appreciate your boldness and confidence. You aren't the most talkative person until you're passionate about something, and when you speak it's meaningful. Thank you for your words of affirmation and wisdom. 

I also have to say thank you for sharing your family with us. Those times we spent out at your mother's house, your aunts, and getting to know various family members and friends were also very influential. Your mother especially really spoke to our hearts. We always left her home feeling refreshed and loved. 

Thank you both for loving us and walking with us on this journey. I can't possibly express how much you mean to us. 

My Thankful Days…. 14, 15, 16, 17: Chad Geiger, Tim Greenawalt, Talena Greenawalt, Jamie Sparks

WOW I got way off track. I don't even know what happened… Sorry everyone! I'm catching up right now though!

#14: Chad Geiger, high school friend, gymnastics bud, yearbook pals & super awesome dancer

Thanks for being a great friend and example! I remember getting to know you freshman year in yearbook class. I was just beginning to become serious in my faith, & it was encouraging to know another person very strong in their faith. I enjoyed talking about music with you, and just being crazy and goofy with you.

We had a lot of fun hanging out! I love your sense of humor and energy, it's contagious!

#15: Tim Greenawalt, pastor, guitar teacher, 2nd dad

Thank you for always being there for me and being someone I could trust. I really appreciated learning to play guitar from you. You encouraged me and gave me opportunities to grow by allowing me to play on the worship team and to share songs I've written.

I learned a lot watching you love and serve others. You have the quiet demeanor of a servant heart, and I often saw you serving in humility. Thank you for that.

#16: Talena Greenawalt, children's director, musical karaoke box, 2nd mom

Thanks for being a fun and real woman in my life. You can make anyone laugh, but you also have a serious and direct approach to things. Thank you for being someone who will tell people when they are wrong and need to straighten their act up (which you did for me many times). You also encouraged me and saw potential in me, so you held higher expectations of me. Again, thank you!

I appreciate your ability to love and serve in children's ministry through your creativity. You always wrote really awesome Christmas plays and I think our VBS's were always the best in implementation and decoration. =)

#17: Jamie Sparks, RD, mentor and wonderful friend

Thank you for pouring into my life in so many ways! I had such a great time having you as an RD, so many dorm memories! I greatly enjoyed our deep and real conversations over the years. It was always helpful to have someone listen as well as speak truth and life into me. I have greatly appreciated our friendship! The laughs, the tears, the honesty, the good food and movies.

You are such a beautiful, loving woman of God. You have a huge heart for others. You're also a woman who has shown me what it's like to be honest and direct with others in the most loving way. Thank you for being an influential part of my life!

My Thankful Day 13: Nathan Hodgson

To my best guy friend through high school, Nathan.

Man time has flown! I'm so thankful for the friendship we've had! Granted, you're now super far away in New York (not that I didn't first move to Kansas…). However, I will always be thankful for the fun we had! We could talk literally for hours about everything! It was fun the way we could often read each other's minds and had our own sort of language that the others didn't always get… lol

I don't even remember what we would actually DO. I think we mostly drank coffee, ate food, and talked and talked and talked, and then played some music here and there, and randomly shopped everywhere.

I've always appreciated your absolutely amazing talent, and your willingness to make me sound better than I was by tolerating and singing with me. Plus you introduced me to some amazing musical artists!

I miss you! Thanks for being an awesome friend!

My Thankful Day 12: Rachel Smithers

Sorry I keep getting behind on these…. thankfully I've yet to get SUPER behind. So here are two coming your way…

For day 12, I'd like to say I'm thankful for my friend Rachel Smithers.

Age differences… what?! Shouldn't you be done & graduated already? =) Well, despite the age difference, you have always been a super close friend! I could never decide if you actually seemed younger than me or not... in some ways I could tell, in other ways I couldn't… and for both of those ways I am grateful! It was so fun having a friend I could be a total goofball with (like the time we danced on pillars as cars drove by), but also stay up late having super serious and deep conversations.

I'm thankful for the beautiful woman of God you've become! It's so neat to see you deepening your relationship with God and going deeper. I love seeing you go through college and making memories that will seriously change your life! Don't take any of that for granted because you WILL miss it afterwards! I'm appreciate your passion, your joy, and your determination to be awesome even in the little things (because honestly, those are the things that matter the most).

Thanks for being a super awesome friend in Christ! Miss you!

My Thankful Day 12: Alicia Wolfe (Smith)

To my hometown sister of 10+ years (when did it all begin again?)…

Alicia, you've been such a great friend. There are so many memories! Through all the ups and downs of life, and living a couple states away... I'm so thankful to still call you my sister in Christ.  I appreciate that you are still there for me and we can still always pick back up when we get together.

When I was going through my crazy stage in middle school, although I was annoyed at the time, you kept me in check. You told me when I was making stupid decisions and even watched me make them anyways. Thank you for sticking by me anyways.

You were always the 'mother hen', and truly you have a beautiful gift with children that I have always been jealous of. I remember all the game nights, parties, youth group and road trips! We had such a blast =)

I miss you dearly and cannot wait to see you again!

My Thankful Day 11: Sara Massie

My last college roommate, my maid of honor, my dear friend…

Sara,
I have truly been blessed by our friendship! In the past I had desired to know someone that I could sit and chat with the way we did. I always looked forward to our weekly Well date (and I definitely miss it!)

Thank you for being a beautiful, servant-hearted, woman of God. Through our friendship, not only was I shaped into a hopefully better friend, but I also learned a ton! Honestly, you introduced me to the world of oils, natural child-birth, carriers, bagels (cause I'm pretty sure I didn't like them until we found our bagel at The Well), tea (I used to never drink tea unless it was sweet tea), and so many other things! Thank you for broadening my horizons!

Thanks for always looking out for my best interest as well. You've always encouraged me to be the best I can be and challenged me if you thought I might be heading the wrong direction. You've been a beautiful sister in Christ! Thank you for your friendship!

My Thankful Day 10: Rachel Wells

To my 2nd college roommate, my boomie for life, fellow stay-at-home-mother…

I'm so incredibly thankful for our friendship! It's been too much fun living 10 minutes away from you! Granted… not quite as fun as living in the same room was, but considering our current circumstance (you know, husbands, kids, etc…) it'll have to do.

Thank you for being bold. I've always admired your straightforward honesty and your confidence. I realize you probably don't always feel very confident in yourself, but overall you know what you think and aren't afraid to speak your mind. It's refreshing to know that I won't get bull from you.

Thank you for sharing your family with mine. We have been blessed to spend time with you all and learn from your mistakes, I mean, wisdom… (I'm totally kidding!) Seriously, I think I would have had a little more difficulty without a great friend, fellow mom, who is literally walking the same path to encourage me.

Also… thanks for introducing me to Friends, Gilmore Girls and Parks & Rec… and for enjoying Christmas songs, Elf, and screaming 'SANTA!' with me. You are pretty awesome =)

My Thankful Days 7,8,9…. (Memaw & Grandpa Thomason, Kami, and Cody)

The weekend was kind of a whirlwind, thus I got a little behind. Nevertheless, the amount of gratitude I have for the following people is just as strong!

Memaw & Grandpa Thomason

Memaw, I'm very thankful for you in my life. You have taught me many things by simply being a bold woman who isn't afraid to be herself and say what you think. You've always seemed confident in yourself and I admire that.

Thank you for all of your loving support! Growing up I remember doing swimming lessons with you and having a ton of fun with that!

I am also thankful for the time I had with Grandpa Thomason. Although I wish I could of had more time, I remember him teaching me little songs on the piano and making me laugh. I also can remember you two having cinnamon gum and breath spray from Amway. Everytime I smell that cinnamon gum it reminds me of that.

Thanks for being a wonderful grandmother!

Kami

Oh the joys of having a sister… I remember growing up with you and fighting ALL the time. It makes me sad, but I'm glad we've mostly stopped that ;) Since then I've been thankful to become friends with you.

I enjoy having fun with you, making jokes and doing silly things. I can't believe we are both mother's with our own little guys now! I'm thankful that you are enjoying Marcus and becoming a loving mom.

Thanks for being my weird sister!

Cody

Oh brother… lol I am thankful for you. You've always been a little goofy goober and it's weird to see you being a big goofy goober. But I'm thankful you are growing up and becoming a strong, respectful young man.

I remember playing crazy games all the time. Remember when I put streamers across the stairway and made you climb through them? I'm glad you still sing some of my silly songs.

Thanks for being my crazy big little brother!

My Thankful Day 6: Grandma Susie & Grandpa Cliff

Today I'd like to say I'm thankful for my Grandma Susie & Grandpa Cliff

I'm thankful for you both! I remember going to your house when I was little and having fun with sleepovers. I remember Friday and the ducks and hiding under the couch because of a bad storm. I remember you taking me to church and singing Sunday School songs with me.

Thank you for loving me and supporting me in so many ways. I appreciate your giving heart, and the sacrifices you make for others. You both always have interesting stories to tell and I appreciate you sharing them and I enjoy hearing them!

I love you both! 

My Thankful Day 5: Autumn

I realize this is a day late… but only because yesterday Jeremiah needed some extra comfort and mommy time.

Dear Autumn Grace,
Here you are at the top of my list and you've yet to fully enter this crazy world! For you, I am beyond thankful! At no point were we ever 'ready' for a child, however after we were first given Jeremiah, we realized nothing can fully prepare you for such a wonderful blessing. God has given us what we need as we needed it (emotionally, financially, mentally) and it's been beautiful! You will be no different. We are excited to be blessed by your beautiful little self!

I'm thankful for the opportunity to be your mother. I'm thankful God has blessed me with this pregnancy. I'm thankful for the gentle reminder to love others more than myself.

I love you already and can't wait to hold you in our arms!

My Thankful Day 4: Jeremiah

This kid has totally changed my life.

Jeremiah,
Today I had planned to write about how I'm thankful for you. Well, over the past 2 hours you've been driving me absolutely crazy... Then I remembered I still needed to write this & my heart shifted. As much as you may frustrate me, I am still incredibly grateful for you on my life.

You are a blessing! At times I'm sure you might think you're only an inconvenience to me; sometimes I treat you that way. However you are most definitely not! Such thoughts are the fault of my own selfishness, because the truth is you are helping me grow in so many ways! I hope to be a great mother & teach you many things, but in so many ways you are teaching me. Thank you.

Thank you for your hugs & kisses, your sweet smiles, your peek-a-boos, and giggles. Thank you for being curious & finding joy in nature. Thank you for reminding me that life is messy and doesn't fit in a neat box.

I love you baby boy!

My Thankful Day 3: Joshua

This guy… he sure is great. =)

Joshua, thank you for being a loving husband. You not only work hard at your job, but you work hard at being a great father to Jeremiah, and a servant to me. I appreciate all of the times you wash dishes, take out the trash/compost, clean the litter box, and cook when I don't feel like it. 

We have a lot of fun doing things together. I enjoy doing projects with you around the house, playing games, and just doing life with you by my side. It's fun to watch you interact with others, you definitely have a gift for loving, serving and connecting with people. 

It means a lot when you listen to the things I say and you encourage/affirm me. Also, thank you for serving with me. I am so glad that we can be a team! 

I love you!

My Thankful Day 2: Dad

Of course for my second day of thanks, how could I choose anyone else but my dad?

Dad, I'm super thankful for all you've done for me. I've watched you work hard to support our family, and I always knew you loved and cared for us. I was always thankful for the little gifts and surprises you would bring us when you came back home from out of town.

Thank you for not only being a super fun dad, but a loving husband to mom. You taught me what a real man looks like and I'm thankful to have found a husband that loves and respects me the way you love and respect mom.

I'm thankful for your sense of humor, your ability to work on various projects and do them well, your work ethic (and perfectionism), and your playfulness (like dancing to music in the car) 

=) I love you!  

My Thankful Day 1: Mom

This month is a month of Thanksgiving. After reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp (If you haven't read it... read it please!) my view of thanksgiving, or eucharisteo, has been enriched so beautifully. I made it a goal of mine to also list one thousand gifts over the next year and have not been so successful at keeping up with it... however I am often reminded of blessings and gifts from God. I am constantly going back to this thought of giving God thanks for every little beautiful thing in my life and keeping my eyes wide open for every beautiful thing.

So, this month my goal is to choose one thing I'm thankful for each day. What better place to start than the most meaningful of all: the people in my life.

I must first focus on the person who has loved me and known me from day 1, my mom.

So mom, I'm thankful for you! Being a mother myself now, my eyes have been opened to a deeper appreciation of all that you did for me. I now know the joys and fears you must have experienced with me.

I appreciate the love and care you gave in so many ways. I specifically remember times you stayed up all night taking care of me when I was sick, and often times got sick yourself in the process. I'm thankful for the ways you sacrificially served our family through all the cooking, cleaning, taking us places, and money spent. You've always supported me in my passions and interests.

Thank you for being a great example for me to look up to and follow. I think of you often as I am now raising my own little goober =) I love you!