Thankful

Before I resume my blog blitz on the aforementioned activities of the past few months, I feel it is necessary to stop on this day and tell you all (or most) the things for which I am thankful. Although it is not Thanksgiving in Brazil, it is Thanksgiving in my heart. So here are just a few things that make my heart cheerful today.

• the turkey breast sandwich I ordered from Subway today and the little laugh I had with me and myself over my private nod to the holiday
• the blessing of having friends who feel like family who, all on their own, offered to put together a Thanksgiving meal and invite me out for a Thanksgiving celebration because they knew today I might be missing home
• having a roommate who makes this big apartment feel less lonely (also a future blog topic)
• having a big, beautiful apartment in which I have enough room to host friends for Thanksgiving tonight and a wedding shower tomorrow
• the fact that rice is included in every Brazilian meal, including our Thanksgiving meal tonight :)
• the testimony I heard in one of my classes today of a woman who is so obviously filled with the Holy Spirit. I found out she spent 35 years of her life as a "priestess" in one of Brazil's most prominent pagan religions
• the music at my gym that motivates me to work out with a little more vigor and laugh at how stupid and uncreative the lyrics are
• the fact that I have motivation to work out daily at the gym...I mean seriously...who ever would have guessed THAT day would come?
• a washing machine that makes me not to have to hand-wash my clothes
• fans
• my two big, beautiful jasmine trees. One is about to flower and I just can't wait!
• the daytime doorman who works at my building. I have never seen a person so eager to take out the trash (Sorry, Dad. Carlinos has you beat, but not by much!)
• my new purple-handled flatware. It was on sale, totally clashes with my home decor, but it makes me laugh nonetheless!
• the fact that I will eat turkey tonight
• the fact that I will actually put to use 5 pipecleaners I received at a conference in October at the wedding shower tomorrow
• the Skype webcam chat I am about to have with my parents and extended family in Arkansas. It will be my grandpa's first time to Skype. Should be fun!
  

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!