19 Reasons to be Thankful in 2019

Thanksgiving is almost upon us, and I’m extra excited because this year I get a whole week off school! (Yes, teachers like the breaks just as much as the students do!)

Getting of school isn’t the only reason I enjoy Thanksgiving though; I love the fall decor and weather, and it’s nice to get together with family and share a meal. Not to mention that Thanksgiving is a really good time of year to reflect on all of the blessings I take for granted on a daily basis.

Here’s the thing...It doesn’t come naturally to me to be a super thankful and positive person. I have a tendency to over analyze things or be a little cynical if I’m not careful. Thankfully (pun intended), God has been working on my heart and I am becoming more and more aware of His grace in my life each day!

This is why I want to take some time to reflect on this year and create a list of 19 things I’m thankful for in 2019:

1. Adoption-Adoption starts from brokenness and loss, but it is such a beautiful picture of the gospel. God adopted us out of our broken situation and calls us sons and daughters! This year adoption has been a big focus for us because we adopted our daughter, Brielle! Which brings me to number 2...

2. Our daughter- It still feels weird to say I have a daughter, but I do! I’m so thankful for Brielle. Although parenting is exhausting and tries my patience, Brielle makes it worth it. She is funny, energetic, empathetic, and outgoing...I love seeing her personality emerge more and more each day!

3. Health- This year I have tried to implement some healthier habits, and it has honestly made me more grateful for my health than ever! I feel a lot better and there is something rewarding about making goals and sticking to them.

4. My job- For those of you who don’t know, I teach ESL (English as a Second Language). I love being able to work with small groups of students from all over the world! I really get to know each of them well and I get to teach some of them multiple years in a row since I work at the middle school and high school. On top of that, the school environment I work in is really positive compared to some of my past experiences...I’m so thankful to work there!

5. Nick- My husband Nick is seriously the best. I really don’t deserve the kindness he shows me each and every day, but his love for me is the most tangible reminder of God’s grace in my life. He truly lives out what he believes in the way he treats me and Brielle.

6. Community- Our church has what we call “house churches” which are small groups of people who get together during the week to share a meal, study the Bible, etc. Since neither of us live near our parents or siblings, our house church has truly been our family here. It’s not just a once a week thing where we have a bible study. We watch each other’s kids, bring meals to one another when someone is sick, pick them up from the airport, etc. It’s a beautiful picture of the community Jesus calls to and I’m thankful to be a part of it.

7. Solid Friendships- This kind of goes along with number 6, but I am so thankful that God has given me fun, meaningful, and supportive friendships where I live. A few years ago my heart was aching for that type of connection and friendship, and God has more than answered my prayer!

8. My BFF living so close- About a year and a half ago, my friend Sarah moved to our town and life has been so sweet since that happened! While I already had some close friends here, it has been so nice to have my best friend nearby. We hang out a lot and it’s amazing!

9. Peace in the unknown- Nick and I are currently in a stage of life where there is a lot of uncertainty about the future. Normally, I would go a little crazy not knowing what to expect next, but I have a surprising amount of peace about it. I trust that God has brought us through crazy transitions in the past and he can and will do it again.

10. Family- Our families have been so supportive throughout our adoption journey with Brielle, and have visited a lot to get to know her more. My parents and sister even drove up to her adoption hearing recently! They have truly welcomed Brielle into our family with open arms. Not every adoptive family has this positive of an experience, so we are very thankful for that!

11. Our home- With all of the visitors we’ve had this year, I feel even more grateful for our home! We didn’t have a huge budget to work with when we bought our first home, but thankfully we were able to find a house that had plenty of room to host out of town guests. Nick and I always dreamed of having enough space to extend hospitality to others, and I’m so thankful we have a house that allows us to do that!

12. Musicals!- This one may seem silly, but my friend Sarah and I called 2019 “The Year of Musicals” because there were so many good ones around us! Sarah and I saw Dear Evan Hansen, Miss Saigon, Waitress, and Once on This Island. Nick and I even saw Hamilton which was a bucket list item for me!

13. Things to look forward to- I am a very future-oriented person (sometimes to a fault), so I get a little down when there is nothing too exciting to look forward to within the next 6 months/a year. This year, however, I’ve been planning a trip that Nick and I are taking together in early 2020...I’m a really nerdy over-the-top planner so it’s basically a hobby for me to prepare for a trip :)

14. Feeling Settled- Even though I have no idea what the future holds or where Nick and I will end up long term, I am thankful that I feel so settled with where we are. About 3.5 years ago we moved back to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic and experienced all of the reverse culture shock and adjustment that came along with it. I can’t believe how much has happened in that time, but I’m really happy with where God has us for now. I feel really at home here which is such a nice feeling!

15. Learning Balance- This year I have learned a lot about how to find balance in my life. I tend to be an all or nothing person, which is something I’ve really had to fight against because it frequently holds me back. I have found this balance in how I approach my health, keeping my house clean, my parenting, and more! I’m still learning, but I’m thankful for the change I’ve already experienced.

16. Progress- I’m thankful for the progress that I’ve seen in the past year. I saw a lot of progress in my goals, in how our daughter has adjusted to our family, and even in our dog becoming less hyper and crazy...It’s nice to see how things keep getting better and better.

17. Fresh starts- I have always loved that verse in Lamentations that says God’s mercies are new every morning. It is so great to know that we are not defined by our past choices or mistakes. We have a new start every single day! This year I have taken on that “fresh start” mentality with a few areas of life which has freed me up to move forward instead of rehashing old issues with myself.

18. Laughter- While this year has been great in so many ways, it has also been really difficult as well. After Brielle moved in with us, we faced a pretty challenging couple of months as she came to live in a whole new place, mourned her old foster home, and adjusted to our rules and expectations. On top of that, we were adjusting to being parents to a toddler for the first time...it’s not easy! I’m thankful for the many moments of laughter and happy memories that got us through those first, trying months.

19. Hope- This year and every year I’m thankful for the hope that comes from knowing God. No matter what life circumstances this next year brings, He is in control. I don’t have to fear what comes next...that is something to be thankful for!

2019 has been a year of blessings, challenges, and growth...and I can honestly say I'm thankful for each moment.

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Katie

PS: What are the top 3 things you are thankful for this year? Tell me in the comments!