November 6: I'm thankful for my friend, Katey Johnson! I needed the recharging of spending time with friends and the reminder that I'm really not alone. :)

November 5: I slept the whole night without my back brace. First time in over 7 weeks. I'm thankful for healing and for the absence of hard plastic digging into my ribs while I sleep!

November 4: I'm thankful for the simple joys in life...like cleaning off a table of "to do later piles" and rearranging a few things in my classroom. Ahhhh, it feels new and fresh again!

Today I'm thankful for songs that play in your head long after the music has stopped.


And after the storm,
I run and run as the rains come
And I look up, I look up,
on my knees and out of luck,
I look up.

Night has always pushed up day
You must know life to see decay
But I won't rot, I won't rot
Not this mind and not this heart,
I won't rot.

And I took you by the hand
And we stood tall,
And remembered our own land,
What we lived for.

And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.

A month of thanks

I've made it through surgery and for the most part my pain is gone. But, even with that happy news I sometimes find myself in a funk. Months of pain have taken a bigger toll on me than I realized and I now find myself in need of looking for the really great things in my life and focusing on them. November seems like a great month to focus on things to be thankful for. So...that's exactly what I plan to do this month.

November 1: Today is my dad's birthday. Today I'm thankful for a dad who loves unconditionally and supports me in his unique ways. :) I'm thankful for the silliness that he has taught me. I'm thankful for memories of trick-or-treating with him every year and for his eagerness to participate in all my big ideas and adventures as a kid. I'm thankful for his passion for gardening. I tease him about it, but the backyard is amazing and the food is always great...even if all that is in their fridge are jars of pickles and salsa. :)

November 2: Today I'm thankful for snow. It is difficult to get around in, but it makes everything so beautiful. The world is quieted with those first few snowfalls and I'm reminded of God's grace and presence. I'll always be a snow bunny. :) (Can I start listening to Christmas music yet??)

The title of my blog is "Splendid Unknown" but the truth is, sometimes the "Unknown" is far from splendid! Sometimes it's downright frustrating and terrifying.

Where will I be in X years?
What is in the plans for me?
Will I ever feel "caught up?"
How will I afford this class?
The list goes on and on...

I'm working on not letting it be that way though. I want it to always be splendid, I want to always be able to put my trust, my faith, my everything into God. I'm working on that too though.

"Covenant" isn't a new concept to me, but the way in which we have been talking about it at church lately is challenging me to pay more attention to it. It is incredible, actually, almost unbelievable, how much God wants us to be in covenant with him, how much he wants to provide for us, how much is ours if we simply accept it.

If we simply accept it.

If only I could make it be that simple. In theory it is easy to turn your life over to God. To stop living for yourself and trust that He has it all worked out. But, in reality, it is beyond difficult for me to let go of things. I trust God, but I don't always show that in my thoughts and actions. I think a lot of change begins with small steps. It begins when you start to change your thinking...sometimes you just have to start saying or doing things and then you eventually start to believe them and accept them.

My current step: pay attention. Notice when God provides for you so that you can turn more over to him.

The moments when I realize that God just answered a prayer I didn't even know I had, or that I didn't actually pray are some of my most treasured gifts. He knows who I am at my core, he knows my needs, my wants, my desires, and he provides for them.

Some are simple; some are not. Here are some recent ones I am thankful for:

1. I forgot my coupon and was really frustrated. When I got to the store someone had placed the exact coupon I forgot on the shelf next to what I was getting. It was silly and simple, but exactly what I needed at that moment.

2. I almost didn't go to brunch on Sunday because it wasn't really in my budget, but I really wanted to spend time with friends. Anna and I sat with a new couple from our church and got to know them as we shared the meal. I was so thankful for the time we spent together building a new relationship and was happy I decided to forget my budget and invest in others. At the end of the meal the couple bought my lunch before I could say a word.

3. I've been feeling as if there is "no time" to accomplish all I need to this week. After school I received the gift of time: a snow day tomorrow!

4. I have been dealing with a situation at work that has been taking a toll on me. After recent communications I decided that I wasn't going to let it affect me, and that I knew who I was and what I believed in. I turned it over to God. The next day I got an email from a parent that was filled with exactly what I needed to help me move past any self-doubts. After yet another communication that had the potential to break me down, my students (without knowing anything was wrong) showered me with pictures and hugs. They reminded me that I was exactly where I was supposed to be. I don't believe that was an accident.

So yes, the unknown can be frustrating and terrifying, but it can also be beautiful and exciting. I'm working on always viewing it with the confidence that God is with me and that He will always provide for me if I simply put my trust in him.


"Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant." --2 Samuel 7:28