List of Thanks

Thank you, Lord, my rock, my redeemer.  Thank you.  

To my family:

I will never take for granted how ridiculously happy I feel when Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up streams on Spotify and my mother yells "THIS IS MY JAM, THIS, THIS IS MY JAM".

I will always cherish the moments my dad discovers a new health idea, and I say this genuinely while he, at this very moment, pleads me to try his new "clay juice", and my rejection prompts him to explain that "volcanic ashes are INDEED good for you". Side note: If my dad ever offers you volcanic ashes - dinosaur manure - it means he really cares. 

I embrace Russell's awkward hugs, as I examine his body up and down, only seeing him wearing flannel on flannel on flannel.  And in the distance, I hear Evan bashing on the drums, because he's convinced the louder he beats the bass the better of a drummer he is, and the more times he hits the crash, the more sophisticated he thinks his drum pattern is.  And this noise turns into wonderful music, because his passion for music is really worth a listen.

To my dysfunctional, chaotic, and insane family: I didn't choose you all, but for some reason God placed each and every one of you in my life since Day 1, and that has been the greatest blessing.  It's the typical family conversations that can only be described as multiple beings talking at once with maximum volume, it's the extended amount of time spent debating which movie to watch, a movie I'd probably end up falling asleep through.  You guys are so dysfunctional, and that's why I love you so much. 

To my old friends:

It's quite a lovely feeling to know there are people out there who accept my inner crazy and will go maximum lengths to care for me.   I will never seize to forget how Joann happily traveled 6 hours to eat hot pockets with me, as we talked hour after hour about love and life and God.  And how thankful I am to have Katie, for not only listening to me as I sobbed through a computer screen, but in turn, crying with me through it all. 

Elaina and Christina make it seem like nothing has changed from all the time we were separated, and their ability to spew love, kindness, and compassion makes me want to be a better person.   And the time I get to spend with Emily is something I don't think I can live without.  I swear she is my long lost twin.

To all my other lovely friends from home, thank you for reminding me that some things never change, and that in itself is a beautiful thing.

To my new friends:

Starting new is never easy, which makes me more than thankful for the ones who have carried me through these past few months of college.  I will never grow weary of Mikayla's entertaining dance moves, and I can't express how thankful and lucky I feel to have been randomly placed with this fantastic human being, and the time we spend convincing each other to never settle for less than we deserve.  I cherish Kristen, my family and comfort, for her acceptance and love, and the deep talks that only tend to happen late into the night.

And to the many others, while we were strangers not too long ago, I find myself questioning how I have lived without you all in my life before.  Dear friends, you are the reason I am allowed to experience chuckle fests, sappy real talk, late night movies, jamming till our fingers are numb and full of calluses.  You remind me why life is so worth living, and I can't thank you enough for that.


Lastly and most importantly, to my God:

By your endless sea of grace, I've been given this life I really don't deserve to have.  It's your amazing grace that saved a wretch like me. It's your Word that gets me up every morning, and lays me down to sleep each night. Through you I realize everything happens for a reason - people come and go, time keeps moving, but God you never change.  And as I reflect on my life and all my experiences, you were always there.  You have never abandoned me, and not for a moment will you forsake me.   

And for Christ - the only one who makes me whole, the one true love and the sacrifice that paid it all for me - you make me brave.  And because you live, I can face the day. Thank you for overcoming the grave, thank you for being the perfect, spotless lamb.  May I live everyday to be more and more like you.

Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to feel everything from hysterical laughter to hysterical tears, for reminding me what it means to be human. Thank you for engraving in my heart the concept that nothing is coincidental in your kingdom. You're my rock, my salvation. Your love is unfailing and everlasting, and for that, may you be praised forever and ever.  

 I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and may be found in Him. Philippians 3:8

Thank you.  

For the praise of His glory,

XOXO Gracie