26 and 26 things i'm thankful for

I am 26 today! I'm sure that my parents feel this way more than I can imagine, but my how time flies! What fills my heart is that I am entering my 26th year acutely aware of unmerited blessing in my life. Gifts from the loving Father and Savior who chose to be my Beloved and to make me his beloved; I will spend my life thankful for the privilege!

Here are 26 things I am thankful for:
1. A redeemed family that fills the walls of this simple house with love, laughter, and memories.
2. Parents who are leaving a legacy of love, forgiveness, repentance, and pursuit of the most high God.
3. The privilege of brothers! I am forever thankful for you guys Ryan, Michael, and Jon. You all have brought great joy and comfort to my life.
4. Brothers of a different kind. My brothers in Christ have blessed me and faithfully shown me what godly men look like, not what perfect men look like, but what men whose hearts belong to the Lord look like.
5. Sisters in Christ. I am privileged to have women in my life who pursue the Lord and pursue me in friendship. They challenge me, and uplift me, and I am better because of them.
6. Family that loves and delights in me and goes out of their way to be sure I know it.
7. Situations in my life that are opportunities to see the glory of God as He works to redeem messes I have made and ones that I experience because of this broken world.
8a. A sister-in-law that pursues me in friendship rather than competition. Dana you are a treasure.
8b. My three nieces: Anna, Naomi, and Abby.
9. Dreams.
10. Trust.
11. Hope.
12. Goodness.
13. Faith.
14. People. In all of our brokenness, though we don't deserve such a glorious place in creation, people are what the Lord chose to bestow his image on and it is through people that I see the Lord.
15. Music, sound, expression. The Lord did not have to make us beings of such rich expression but I am so thankful that he did.
16. Trials. They are the playground of an all-powerful God who promises to use all things for the good of those who love him! (Remind me of this if ever I seem to be forgetting:)
17. The unknown. Nothing has brought me closer to the Lord then the season of unknown that I am coming out of, where each day is an opportunity to find contentment in the consistency of his presence and his character.
18. My Grandma, who covers me in prayer and loves nothing better then to spend time with those she loves.
19. Shiloh, my dog.
20. My new room. :)
21. God as my provider. Who could do this better than the author and owner of the heavens and the Earth? (Again, if ever I seem to be forgetting this a reminder is welcome).
22. The gift of the Holy Spirit.
23. Stillness.
24. The breath-taking nature that surrounds us with evidence of a good, loving, and merciful God!
25. Silliness.
26. The above ones are not necessarily in order but this one is purposefully 26th because it has taken all of my 26 years to discover new depths of the grace of God and the gift of Jesus Christ. I pray that each additional year I am granted is marked by further understanding of His depths!

Thanks be to the God and Father of all things! Thanks be to the the Savior Jesus Christ who came and died that we might live and have life to the fullest! Thanks be to Him for every day that we are offered the opportunity to live for him!