Forever Thankful

Isn't everything you have and everything you are sheer

gifts from God? . . . You already have all you need.

1 Corinthians 4:7-8 MSG

Haven't written a spiritual health post yet, so here goes...

I have this awesome 365 Inspirational Quotes calendar that only has the month and the day on it so you can reuse it every few years. It is amazing to me how on most days, the quote is right on for what's going on in my life at that time.

Anyways, the above quote got me thinking about what I have and what I am. (Forgive me, this is going to be a lot of "me" and "I"... 'tis my blog though isn't it?)

I have been doing the K-Love 30 Day Challenge. It's the challenge to only listen to Christian music for 30 days and see how it changes your life. I'm about halfway through right now and I'm not sure it's necessarily changed my life but I am surprised at how easy and enjoyable it is to do. Yes, yes, you're probably thinking the same thing my boyfriend said to me when I told him what I was doing, "You realize that's just a marketing technique to get people to listen to their station, right?" Of course I realize that! I have a degree in advertising for goodness sake! But I don't mind that their way of getting higher ratings is putting me in good moods and helping people see the goodness of God in their lives!

What I have absolutely are gifts from God. I sometimes just forget about the "You already have all you need." part.

I have an amazing immediate and extended family. I can't begin to imagine my life without every one of my family members. I am thankful for the little things that each of them have contributed to my life whether it was an attempt at dating advice when I was a teenager, a picture drawn by a 4-year-old, help finding a home to buy, or referrals to acquaintances for job openings. I am so proud of my family members when they accomplish something they have been striving for and I hurt for my family members when they make bad choices or are unhealthy. I pray for all of you.

I have a boyfriend who is my best friend. He makes me laugh with goofy faces and impressions and holds me when I'm sick or upset. I'm in denial about how well he knows me, but he knows that I know him just as well. We bring out the best in each other. Not only do I have him, but I have his family who I love just as much as my own.

I have, what I call, my "church family." These are the people who I have met in the last couple years who have helped me learn so much about my faith, my God and myself. I am eons away from where I was when I graduated college and I am so thankful that God brought these wonderful, faithful people into my life.

I have great jobs where I can use my artistic talents and people skills to put my degree to good use. I am thankful for all the people who have helped me get to these places and hope to learn more about business as my company grows.

I have fun and loyal friends who I know I can count on for anything! These are the kind of people who will tell me the truth when no one else will and I try to give them that same courtesy. I appreciate every bit of advice that has been given to me whether I took it, pitched it, or filed it in my brain for later.

I have so many amazing things and people in my life and that makes me everything I am.

The song, "Already There," by Casting Crowns plays on K-Love often. The lyrics stood out to me the other day:

From where I'm Standing
Lord it's so hard for me to see
Where this is going
And where You're leading me
I wish I knew how
All my fears and all my questions
Are gonna play out
In a world I can't control

And then later....

When I'm lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory
Cause You're already there
You're already there

When I get into the mindset where I forget that I already have all I need, I think I need to remember these lyrics. I can't try to rush my life because God's already got it figured out for me. I just need to remember to trust in Him and everything will work out fine!

Free Fallin'...Never Again

Me before the jump. All smiles and a bag of nerves!
Boyfriend was getting strapped in behind me.

This summer completed something and can now cross it off my bucket list! It was terrifying, exhilarating, stupid and fun all at the same time and I will never (ok most likely never) do it again. I went skydiving with my parents, my brothers, my boyfriend, his sister and 4 other friends. We went to Skydive Midwest in Sturtevant, WI and they were awesome. The first time we tried was my 24th birthday weekend, it was too windy so we showed up 2 weeks later on June 9th early in the morning. We had all flown up, jumped, fallen, and landed safely by 8:15 a.m. What were you doing? I'm glad I did it, but like I said, never again...

My little brother walking to the plane and my mom behind him. You can see me coming down:
I'm the tiny dot above the corner of the building in the center of the photo!

My mom jumping/falling.

I don't have pictures of my jump but since I look so much like my mom,
I imagine this is what I looked like except much more scared and more like this.

Surf's Up

I almost forgot about learning to surf--another bucket list item! We went on a family vacation this year over spring break to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. We went with a large group of families from our local high school and had about 20 people learning how to surf at this tiny beach in PC. It was a little awkward at first because the instructors and helpers for the class hardly spoke English, were all male and we had a good amount of female high schoolers with us. But by the end everyone was becoming friends and swapping Facebook info! I wasn't as skilled as I thought I'd be and I ended up getting in a fight with my board and a wave and losing. I was better off as the photographer anyway! Here are some amusing images from the trip.

Yes, I know it's not "real" surfing but I don't plan on moving to the coast and becoming a beach bunny in my lifetime so this counts! ;)

That's the best I've got! Shortly after this, I lost the fight with my surfboard!

Took Steps for Crohn's and Colitis

I thought I'd give you a quick update to my post from May about the Crohn's and Colitis walk in June. Boyfriend and I walked with family to help raise money for Crohn's and Colitis research. There were maracas, food, friends, family--young and old, dogs galore but mostly just support and love! I raised $155 of the $150 goal I set for myself so THANK YOU to everyone who donated! I appreciate it! I wish I knew the final total that the Milwaukee walk raised but I can't find it listed. We had a great time and I felt good helping a charity that helps our family members.

It was indeed happy, colorful and fun!

As an update to my Color Run post a few months ago, my family got to sign up for the Milwaukee run! I put together a video to summarize our experience :) Enjoy!

Things I Would Like to Do Before I Kick the Bucket

After browsing the blogs Twinkles and Winks and Pursuit of Hippieness, I decided to make my own bucket list! I will post as these happen and I will add to this as I think of more things I want to do! If you can help me accomplish anything on this list please contact me :)

BUCKET LIST

• Become a certified aerobics instructor
• Get a puppy
• Learn to surf
• Go on a Eurotrip
• Go hiking and/or camping in a foreign country
• Go on a silent retreat
• Run a half-marathon
• Run a marathon
• Take a pole dancing class
• Ride in a hot air balloon
• Cook an amazing meal for my family
• Become a mother
• Adopt a child and/or be a foster parent
• Go skydiving
• Go on a brewery tour or 3
• Become a wine connoisseur
• Be on the jumbotron/TV at a Packer game
• Go to a drive-in movie

Take Steps to Be Heard!

UPDATE

My new cousin-in-law was diagnosed with Crohn's this past summer. He and my cousins are my reasons for wanting to get involved and raise awareness. Please support him and everyone else who is fighting this chronic illness! I have a few friends who also have Crohn's and I understand the obstacles that come along with it.

This year on June 24th, I will be walking in the Take Steps for Crohn's & Colitis Walk. Take Steps is CCFA's national evening walk and celebration and the nation's largest event dedicated to finding cures for digestive diseases. It is a casual 2-3 mile stroll to raise money for crucial research, bringing us closer to a future free from Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Over 1.4 million American adults and children are affected by these digestive diseases. While many suffer in silence, Take Steps brings together this community in a fun and energetic atmosphere, encouraging them to make noise and be heard.



A lot of this group will be walking with us!

Your donation will help support local patient programs, as well as important research projects. This cause is very important to me and I appreciate your help as we fight for a cure! In addition to donating, you can join me at the event. There will be food, music and kid's activities. The more money we raise, the closer we will be to making life more manageable for patients who live with these diseases every day.

Please join me or donate to my efforts to support CCFA in finding a cure!

Thank you for your support! :)