Ultimate Thankful Thursday: 2007 Edition

This Thanksgiving, I have so much to be grateful to God for. Here's the short list...

1. conviction from the Holy Spirit
2. people who are honest and humble enough to share their mistakes so I can learn from them
3. vitamins
4. my new camera lens
5. people who have started doing Thankful Thursday because of me
6. Shauna, who inspired me to start doing Thankful Thursday
7. Operation Christmas Child
8. pizza
9. ink pens
10. striped designs
11. photographs
12. the scents of pumpkin, vanilla, cinnamon, apples, leaves
13. journals
14. calendars
15. friends from church willing to watch our dog
16. friends from church willing to babysit Elijah
17. comments on my blog
18. hot showers
19. electricity
20. a clothesline
21. a husband who complements me so well in so many ways
22. new worship music at church last Sunday (updated hymns and Sovereign Grace songs!)
23. no longer being under His wrath
24. protecting me from countless unknown troubles
25. a complication-free labor and delivery of Elijah
26. choosing such a kind way to expose my sin, test me and refine me
27. the joy of seeing girls I've invested in walking with and delighting in the Lord
28. the joy of supporting dear friends working in missions overseas
29. not having to fear bad news because He is sovereign and good
30. the hope of a future without sickness or pain
31. choosing me to be His child
32. the ability to nurse Elijah (and the grace to persevere when it was so hard at first)
33. the healthy babies born to so many of my real-life and blogland friends
34. the Scriptures He has written on my heart
35. my parents
36. my in-laws
37. the grace to get up early and meet with Him
38. the ways He sustains me when I am so weak
39. the promise that He will never abandon me
40. making a way for me to approach His throne of grace
41. being my Rock of refuge
42. loving me while I was still dead in sin
43. loving me too much to leave me wallowing in it
44. being patient with me as I stumble and fall
45. late-evening walks with my guys
46. the privilege of being a stay-at-home mom
47. the grace to be a stay-at-home mom
48. the ability to go home for holidays
49. the anticipation of traditional family foods
50. the opportunity to establish new traditions as a family of three
51. cars to drive
52. delivering me from overwhelming despair
53. Elijah's smiles and laughs and babbling
54. a husband who loves me even when I am ugly and unlovable
55. forgiving all my sins
56. healing all my diseases
57. redeeming my life from the pit
58. crowning me with love and compassion
59. not treating me as my sins deserve
60. remembering that I am dust
61. a husband who is such a wonderful dad
62. using His daughters to comfort and reassure me and point me to Himself
63. using me to encourage others
64. the ability to sing
65. written records, in Scripture and in my own handwriting, of His faithfulness
66. the way Elijah sleeps so well
67. our computer
68. His power and might
69. answered prayers
70. humbling me
71. taking me through the fire and comforting me so that I can turn and comfort others
72. my midwife
73. the beautiful women I've "met" through blogging
74. Compassion International
75. literacy
76. my education
77. delivering me from feminism
78. causing me to enjoy cooking
79. Steve's job
80. health insurance
81. gently leading those that have young
82. giving strength to the weary
83. a high priest who can sympathize with my weaknesses
84. apple cider
85. promising to complete what He started in me
86. His unchanging nature
87. diapers
88. creative outlets
89. everyday gospel lessons
90. the unending depths of wisdom and promises to plumb in His Word
91. hope
92. the older women who have invested in my life
93. comfy sweatpants
94. freedom
95. soap
96. massages
97. furniture
98. designing it so that the way I can honor and glorify Him is to continue to call on His name and ask for more grace and help and blessings
99. the inheritance that awaits me: to see clearly and savor completely His beauty and glory forever
100. the cross, which bought all this for me and ten thousand blessings besides