50 BLESSINGS

So my friend, Alex (over at Rant, Repose, and Ruminate) and I have been e-mailing back and forth for the past few months ........ it has been a huge blessing in my life. It is amazing to have a someone to sit down and talk with - through e-mail or in person (we've also been meeting here and there for, what I like to call, "Jesus talks.") When you sit down with Alex, it's like Jesus is sitting down right next to you. She is pretty amazing. :) She is striving after Jesus with all that she is, reading His word, meditating on His word, striving to love Him with all she's got! She is so full of Jesus that when she talks to you, it's like Jesus is talking to you. At least ... that's what it feels like to me. That's why I call our chats "Jesus talks." :) ........ Alright. That was a side note. I am the "side note Queen!" :D ....... Back to where I was headed --- in her last e-mail to me, she encouraged me to make a list of 50 blessings. She mentioned to me how she's been trying to dwell on God's blessings in her life ... and she encouraged me to do the same - by making a list of them! :) Of course, that is a marvelous idea ... so that's what I set off to do! And needless to say ... I'm finished, and I'm gonna post 'em here! :) ......... and my "enter" button isn't working again. Man, that drives me crazy ... so this list is all gonna run together. Blah. But God is still good! Even when blog posts that have no spaces drive me crazy! These are in no specific order ... just wrote 'em down as I thought about 'em. :) .......... 50 BLESSINGS ---- #1: Starbucks friend dates with Ben #2: Jesus talks with Alex #3: Laughing with James #4: Higher Ground #5: Football with the Cooks/Adamsons gang (for those who don't know them - they are my favorite family in the whole world - they go to Calvary with me!) #6: Handshakes from my "big brother," Adam (a part of the Cooks/Adamsons gang) #7: Bosom Buddy Hugs (Emily is my #1 favorite hugger!) #8: Los Rancheros dates with Tiff and Hannah #9: Hanging out with Jared and Maggie WADE (Wow, that's still crazy and fun to me!) #10: Movie nights with Justine #11: E-mails from Judy (they are empowering and always brighten my week!) #12: Blogging :) #13: Getting picked on by Jason (another big brother figure in my life - from the Cooks/Adamsons gang) #14: Uncle Mike's big, belly laughs (yep ... another member of the Cooks/Adamsons gang) #15: Sweet tea ... it's one of those comfort drinks :) #16: My Malibu - my parents are amazingly generous! #17: Tutoring in the IUPUI Writing Center #18: Family Fun Nights at Calvary #19: Calvary Chapel and Grace Fellowship (my TWO church families!) #20: SoZo (my youth group) #21: Kids!!! #22: My dad's gas card - he is paying for half of my gas this semester! Wow! #23: Sunsets #24: Campfires #25: String cheese .... yep, it's the simple things in life. ;) #26: "Yo Mike's" from my brother, Wes #27: Watching my mom's perseverance #28: My dad's godly and upstanding example #29: My crocs ... comfiest shoes in the world! #30: Having God's word in my hand everyday and wherever I go! #31: Freedom to read and pray and express my love for Jesus everywhere I go - freedom! Freedom!!! #32: Getting a rub on the arm from Shelley #33: Hearing Pastor Mike call me Junior #34: Questions from Kim Svoma - I love talkin' to that lady! :) #35: Rachael Miller's laugh - love it!!! #36: I'm saved by GRACE - NOT by what I do/say/think --- praise the Lord!!!!!!!!! #37: I have TONS of godly friends! #38: My college-age small group at Calvary #39: Christina Adams "looks" - read my post called "One of my greatest joys" to find out what I'm talking about :) #40: Music!!! #41: My house - not only do I have one, but it's the best house in the world! ##42: The foundation I have from being homeschooled until 7th grade and then going to a really great public middle school/high school #43: Phone calls from my buudy, Ben, just to see how I'm doing :) #44: People posting on my blog #45: Photography #46: The sky - it does such cool things! #47: Mountains #48: Taping encouraging notes to my desk - it's covered!!! #49: Interacting with people on campus #50: "Hi's" from complete strangers ............... How is God blessing you today? You don't have to post it on your blog ... but make a list of blessings! It is a blessing in and of itself! :) ....... Have a great day, all!