November 28th-30th

November 28th-
Yesterday was Thanksgiving. Praise God for a special day with my family. For Melanie's almost mother in law who cooked for us. For this city that is now home for Melanie, and in some small part me. Because I will be here visiting my girl and her wonderful husband. My heart was full to the brim and it was a wonderful day to just pause and be thankful for everything both great and small!


November 29th-
I have my Christmas shopping done! I am thankful for having the finances to buy gifts for those I love. And I am thankful for saving money on those gifts. Especially, since Gifts is my love language. So to me a gift actually means a lot more then just the gift. It means the planning and the emotions of making someone else happy, and I am thankful for the cycle of spending and saving money. Though, I know I need to continue to be better at saving.

November 30th-
And so ends a month of being thankful on purpose. It was good! It has been a month full of great and simple things. And I discovered this little song just in time for a few long drives I have in my future.

November 26th & 27th

November 26th-
I love my family more than words can express. And today I am thankful for their love and support and care. I have an extensive family and they have taught me more about life than almost anyone else. We stick tight through all sorts of good and all sorts of drama. 

November 27th- It is the simple things that I am thankful for today. Today was a free day. No obligations. A perfect day to hang out in jeggings and an old sweater. A great day for texting and Food Network Thanksgiving Live. I didn't have to apply my mind to one crisis or problem this day. I'm thankful for this lazy day!

November 25th

* Just a few more days of thankful posts for this November 2013. It has, as always been a good season and a worthwhile effort!

November 25th-
I am thankful for second chances and great conversation. There is a longer story here and I am not going into it right now. But, I can say that I am blessed  with good people in my life. And last night I caught up with a friend and it was easy and natural and fun and I am thankful on many levels for that time:)

November 22nd-24th

November 22nd-
Today I am thankful for the laughter and energy of children. I am thankful for their smiles and grins and joy that is not contained. We had a storybook parade and as I marched down the halls 7 times, the pure energy was through the roof, and it made me just so happy. I know I was grinning from ear to ear. 

November 23rd-
There is a city that owns a piece of my heart. I had both triumph and tragedy in this place. I would not be the Sabrina today, if I had not had the 7 years in Tallahassee. Today marks my 3rd year coming back to town right before Thanksgiving. I am SOOOO thankful for this city. I am thankful that I still have loving people here who take such good care of me. It refreshes my soul and reminds me of all that really matters!

November 24th-
I was completely enthralled with The Hunger Games 2 (Catching Fire is the official name....I think).
It kept my attention, and was the perfect blend of amazing movie. I am thankful for my movie nut friend Julie who went with me to see it. I am thankful for my favorite movie chain AMC, and beyond delicious nachos. It is all fun things, and it is good to be thankful for those things too:)

November 21st

November 21st-
I have talked before about how my job is changing my character. And of course that is no small feat. I am happy that a better Sabrina continues to be discovered daily. Of course, it is easy to switch back to my self-centered ways, and catch an attitude with people. But I am striving to work on that! I hung up the phone on a teacher today in frustration, so I know how much work is left to be done. But less of me and more of others is the mantra. And I am not going to give up.

As a part of this whole change, I come to my thanks for today. At work I get to feed the hungry. Both literally and figuratively. Last year there was a particular student who stressed me out to the extreme and I found myself avoiding him. Obviously not my brightest moment. Well, this child has been having a much better year, but today was troublesome. And so I had to go get him. And a little part of me on the inside wanted to fall back to the old reactions and negative thoughts. But I didn't. And so we sat and talked and I let myself purposefully keep the past in the past. And even though it was 10:30 and I had just dipped into my applesauce breakfast, when he looked at me and said that he had been late to school and that he was hungry. I don't know, it just got me right in the gut. So I ended up giving him a hodgepodge breakfast.

Then later on, just as I warmed up the homemade soup my mom had made, my principal came into my office just to breathe for a moment. It was a WILD day everyone. On the brink of being too much! Anyway, she had forgotten her lunch and I could just see that she needed a pick-me up. Because being a principal at a struggling Title 1 school is one of the hardest things I have ever seen done. And we chatted for a minute and she mentioned that she was hungry. Twice in one day, hungry people ended up right in my office. And I could have given her popcorn or an orange. But again, right in my gut I knew that she needed my soup. And I remembered my UGA College Minister Adam saying one day that you give the best that you have to others. Giving others junk and things that have been completely worn out, is actually not really helping at all. Though we might feel that it is. You give like you were the one in need. And of course this idea is completely Biblical, but Adam just said it in a way that always stuck with me. Anyway, I gave her my soup.... and her smile was my reward. I just was reminded that no matter what, I am thankful that I have been equipped to feed others. I am thankful that lately I have not ignored the need that literally is right in front of me.

2 people today came across my path. And since I believe in the saying that you do need to be the change that you want to see in the world. I was thankfully able to help them out and learn a little something more about myself along the way.

November 19th & 20th

19th-
Have you ever been exhausted and then gotten a chance to get 100% well rested. Yep, I did! Whew it completely recharges a girl. I'm thankful for a night of peaceful rest.

20th-
Technology is amazing! And because I am just OK with using it, I am just awed by all of the things that we can share and connect. I'm sitting here connected to the wireless internet. I mean, think about that for a moment. And I'm also streaming Netflix through my TV!!! How thankful am I for the technological advances that have been created in my 28 years of life. Imagine what the future holds.

November 16th-18th

November 16th-
I am thankful for deep down in your gut laughter. When you pair it with hilarious family and friends, then it equals the exact type of fun that I love.

November 17th-
I have been on the road SO much lately. I am thankful for my car that gets me safely from one place to another. It is trustworthy, and has seen me through all kinds of great travels. I have carried friends, and moved multiple times in that car. And after coming off of a car that would break down on me way too often, I am thankful for the reliable car that my mama helped haggle down for me:)

November 18th-
Today I sat at a table with 4 other girls. And because it gets dark so early, it felt even more cozy. And we sat and took quiet time to think of prayer requests and praises, but this time we purposefully focused on more praises than requests. And just like so many other times, our time together was a blessing. I am thankful to the bottom of my spirit for Girl's Prayer Group. It fills a special part of me and always expands my sight outside of myself. It also has helped me through the year, reflect on God's supreme faithfulness. 

November 13th-15th

I'm on the road again. The one month countdown to the wedding is here, and all of a sudden I feel like everything is wedding related. Being the maid of honor is an honor, and it is also tiring, in a  good way. Maybe the better word is selfless.

November 13- The sunsets in the Fall are amazing. First, I have changed so much, that enjoying a sunset and not just skipping right over them, is a new and good thing for me. Today I drove 5 hours and it was beautiful and completely small town and pretty and fun! As I saw the sky darken, I realized how gorgeous the setting sun is, hitting the red, orange, yellow, and green of the leaves. I am thankful for that looong drive by myself to let my mind rest and observe God's beauty again and again.

November 14- I am SO thankful for the statewide Georgia School Counselor's Association conference. This is my 4th year in attendance and it was another grand time. I don't know what is better, the people, or the locations, or the sessions? All I know is that I think clearer, when I am among the amazingly diverse group of men and women who also share my profession. Again, I do think it is wonderful to be a School Counselor in Georgia:) And I am grateful for a GOOD time and excited about next year!!

November 15- I am HOME for the weekend. I can't even express how thankful I am for this house, that has been my home since I was first brought home from the hospital. Or, these parents, who love me and love God more, and believe in being peacemakers. Or the feeling of just being here, with the things that remind me of stability.

November 11th & 12th

November 11th
The wars of past and present, all have some sort of effect on our families. Fathers, sons, daughters, so many that we love, have sacrificed their lives for the United States.
I am thankful today for the brave courage of my cousin Julian Woods. His memories are full of his grin, and that tall and lanky walk. I smile when I think about what I would tell him about my life. I smile, because he would be proud of his little cousin.
It is tragic for those left behind when loss comes to our families. But, for me, I know my cousin died as a hero. Trying to save a life, and as the Bible says in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this; than to lay down one's life for his friends." I could not express it any better.

November 12th
I sat across from my bosses today. And I was laughing SO hard my stomach was hurting, and I probably snorted at least once. And it came to me yet again, that I work for some amazing people. I would not do some of this work, without these two as my support and sounding board. And it was kind of bittersweet, because I don't see my future staying in this place and working with them.

I am grateful and humbled that my bosses trust me so much. They have given me limitless chances and opportunities to grow and shine as a school counselor. They have always been there for me. And they have in fact spoiled me I am quite sure. I can be silly and serious with them. One challenges me in my faith, and the other challenges me to chill out and be less rigid. I love our "team" and I am better for knowing them both.

November 10th

Today I am thankful for anticipation. And that is definitly an odd thing to be thankful for.
Currently, I am opening myself up to brand new possibilities and experiences. And it feels pretty good. I am going for the gusto, and living each day in a more vibrant way.

Today there was a call and text that I was waiting for, and it seemed like I got every other person to call or text me. Yet, the anticipation is kinda fun. It makes me a little giddy, like I am 18 again.

Then of course, I was out walking when the call actually came;) But, I still am thankful for this new part of me. I like her, I hope she stays around for a while!

November 8th & 9th

November 8th-
On Friday I was struck by how much change is possible in a year. I sat and smiled with a 3rd grader, and he was so happy and  emotionally healthy:)
And I know that he is growing up, and has teachers that love him and yet have expectations. And I see last year, and I see now. Thank God that he gives us time to grow and change. That we have time to enter the darkness and then also to adjust and emerge. That we have time to build memories and then get to a point when the memories are all that is left.

And the point was hammered home as I was driving along secluded country roads after work.  I heard a song, and the last time I heard this song was on a gloomy day in May when I cried my heart out over not getting a certain job. And at that point, I could not have imagined yesterday. Because yesterday was a great day at work. And I have changed so much in all the ways that really matter. So I am thankful for time, and want to continue to live and make my days matter!

November 9th-
This morning I am thankful for the hustle and bustle of wedding life. Melanie has 2 celebrations today, planned by friends she has made in Georgia. It is a testament to her sweet spirit. And I am happy and thankful for her Georgia family who love her and support her, and now have created times to celebrate with her:)

November 7th

I am thankful for a free flu shot today. Really though, having health insurance is important to me. I am thankful that I can afford it, and that generally I have good health.

With the seasons changing (Hello gorgeous Fall in Athens!) and the kiddies coughing and the adults hacking up a lung, I was in need of a flu shot. And it ended up being free! Another perk:)

November 6th

I was blessed to be able and teach children's Bible class tonight! The 2nd-5th graders energize my spirit and enliven my mind. I am SO thankful that I was able to teach them tonight:) They make me happy and remind me that I am in Athens for far more than my job. Even though my job is important, it is not everything!

And the funniest thing is that I had to REALLY improvise on the lesson. And it was better than if I had followed the plan!!

November 5th

Some days at work are peaceful. I get to actually do what falls under my job description.
Those days are not ever guaranteed, but today was one of them:)
I am thankful for a very good day at work. And I am thankful for all of the skills that I have and that I am allowed to use and cultivate daily.

I am a better School Counselor than I was last year. Praises!!

Welcome to a Thankful November!

" The most definite change that has occurred during my 20's has been an abundant increase in gratitude for things both big and small."
Sabrina Stewart

Good Morning! I don't even know if it's OK to quote yourself.....but I like it, so I figure it will be just fine.

Last year, I was dedicated, and blogged almost daily about people, places, and things that I was thankful for. And I believe that concentrated focus was good for my soul, and when you find something good for you, well then you probably should keep on doing it. So, on that note, Welcome to a Thankful November!
* I was out of town, loving life, so I am going to play catch up today. I won't be posting the link to the blog on Facebook each day, but come back and visit if you like.*

November 1st- To begin, I start with something simple. I am thankful for this new month. I am thankful for this season of Fall on the calendar. I am thankful for cooler weather and the start to the end of 2013. I am thankful for this set aside time in my life to reflect on gratitude. November always seems to revive me, and I am most thankful for that fact!

November 2nd- Today I am thankful for 2 special friends. At this point in life, with 9 years of friendship under our belts, they are more like my other sisters. We have become the 3 Musketeers, somewhere along the journey, and that makes me smile.

I am thankful for Julie, our adventurous, movie-loving, partner. She is compassionate and strong and ridiculous and I love her.
I am thankful for Cherika (HAPPY 30th Birthday!!!), she is quirky, and hilarious, and kind beyond what is necessary and I love her too.

All of us are in this odd season of life and living, but I would not want to share these times with anyone else. Having a weekend to be with them was my blessing and I am thankful for it and them!

November 3rd- With the time change I was up and ready to move at 5:15 am. After some morning prayers, my friends were up too and we all walked down to the beach. I am thankful for how God created this world and especially the beach. The sky was a flawless blue, after a day of rain. The sand was white and firm beneath my feet, and the waves were the perfect soundtrack to the start of a new day. It made me feel like a new girl:)

I stood there and just took it all in. Clearing my mind and heart of everything except the simple act of being aware and then being thankful. And it was absolutely perfect, because it was simple yet majestic.

November 4th- Today is my daddy's 59th birthday! I am blessed to have him as a father. He is funny and kind and solid and my role model. And I am assured each and every day of his love for me:) Each day I work with kids who are desperate to have their fathers in their lives. And I truly mean that and it breaks my heart. So I share about my daddy and my family, and connect that love to the love of those people who do love my children. But it makes me even more grateful for what I have been given.

I know that age is creeping up on all of us, and so I thank God for being with my daddy and guarding his life in the past, in this day, and into the future.