Grateful for outdoor gear

Today I went cross country skiing. It was pretty much awesome. I forgot my camera though... my bad.

On a random note, this is my 200th post...

Grateful for snow

I live in a winter wonderland. And for now, I'm still grateful for it. I just need to remember that I'm grateful for it in April... when it's gross and melty... but until then, it's gorgeous.

Grateful for family

I love my biological family. They are amazing people who I generally enjoy spending time with. But once again as I returned to Haines yesterday, I was reminded that I have so much more family than people that share my last name. The family that I have in Haines is such a blessing. I was welcomed home with open arms and received four dinner invitations for later that day. People here welcome me into their home as one of their own. When I'm in Seattle, I have a set of parents who love me very much and a sibling who is pretty close and one who is a few hours away. But when I am in Haines, I have three sets of parents, siblings next door and down the street, little people who love me almost as much as Owen, Calla, and Josh, and a smattering of grandparents here and there. I am so blessed to live in a town that has so much love to share. As I went to a memorial service for one of those grandparents yesterday, I was reminded of what living a selfless, loving life can really be like and how long that memory will live on. Arlene Jackson will be missed for a long time to come. But Haines still has a lot to offer.

Grateful for Christmas songs

I've realized that as I've gotten older, I've started feeling less "in the Christmas spirit." Which then makes me feel a little guilty because it's the day of our savior's birth and that is something worth celebrating. But this year I've started really listening to the words of some of the Christmas songs that I've heard so many times before, and it's gotten me into the spirit of Christmas. Not the commercial spirit (though I do enjoy buying presents for the whole family with my parents money so there is something under the tree on the 25th), but the spirit of what Christmas really is. And while this viewpoint might not be very popular, it isn't even about my family and how great it is to be giving and loving during this time of year. It's about my Jesus. It's about being thankful. And that really is what the season is all about. But it's not just this season. On the 26th we should be just as thankful and in awe of the gift of Jesus as we are on the 25th.

And just for good measure, here's a couple of my favorite less traditional Christmas songs.
Leaving Heaven
Day After Christmas
Evergreen
While You Were Sleeping

Grateful for... uh... stuff

Grateful heart Friday time! Today, I don't necessarily have anything in particular that I am grateful for. I mean, I'm grateful for all kinds of things, but nothing sticks out today. I'm grateful for all the standard things, like having a place to stay and food to eat, and a fairly good life in general. But I guess that I should focus more on the things in my life that are worth being grateful for. So yeah.

Grateful for Haines... and Seattle...

It has been brought to my attention that my last blog post was a little on the downer side of things. So I am going to reinstate Grateful Heart Fridays starting today so I can be reminded of all the things that I am thankful for...

This week I am particularly grateful for my friends in Haines... the fact that a couple new people showed up in town that I think are ridiculously awesome. And the awesome people that have been there for the past couple years who I can hang out with like I never left.

I am also mega grateful for my time in Seattle. What I looked at with trepidation in the moments before leaving Haines, has become a blessing. Not that it's always easy, but I do believe that there is a good purpose for my time here. So I'm trusting God in that. And I do love the time that I get to spend with the little Maxwells.

Grateful for Friends

There is nothing in particular that I am grateful for, so I'm going to talk about how awesome my friends are... and all the awesome places we go together. I went to Vegas with Beckie and Caitlin


I went to go see some pretty flowers with Jenna


And I get to go drive across the country with Becca soon. I'm pretty stoked. Not so stoked about trying to see a bunch of my friends in the next couple weeks before I take off for the forseeable future...

Grateful for Family

I got to spend a few days with my nephews this week. They pretty much make my heart happy...

Grateful for education

This week I'm grateful for the opportunity to continue my education. I finished up my student teaching last Friday, and I've been working on finishing up all the assignments that go along with that. That also means that I get to start working more hardcore and seriously on my masters thesis, which in a way, I'm grateful for as well. I'm grateful that God gave me this great mind and that I'm actually using it. And I'm super grateful that I get to take off with some good friends and just relax next week. :)

Grateful Heart Friday

Today I'm grateful for the sunshine. It's just so nice that it really feels like spring in the northwest. I'm also particularly grateful that my student teaching is done forever!
And I'm grateful for a niece that will go out on a boat with me :)

I missed one already...

It's grateful heart Saturday...
I'm grateful for friends to watch a Husky win with. And I'm grateful for an uncle who lets me take firewood from his house so I can stay warm. And I'm grateful for a house on a lake and sunny days.

Grateful Heart Friday

We'll see how long this one lasts, but I'm doing some blog-idea stealing... and from now until I either forget or am not near a computer, each Friday, I'll be posting something I'm grateful for...

This week I'm super grateful for my parents. As if living in their second house rent-free isn't awesome enough, they take me out to dinner. I got to go have sushi with my dad this week and have an awesome conversation. And after dinner he gave me $20 because I got suckered into a useless school fundraiser by the baseball team. I'm grateful for my cozy new(ish) mattress that I get to sleep on every night. I'm grateful for my core group girls who challenge me to be a better Christian without really even realizing it. I'm grateful for a half day at school. And, today, I'm particularly grateful for my onesie.