And Now... the Moment We've All Been Waiting For...

Yep, that's right!  It's time for the big announcement:  I have a full time job again!  With this wonderful news comes some other excitement, so prepare yourselves.

Three and a half weeks ago, I went to Ankeny for a few days.  I told most of the people I ran into that I was there visiting my sister at Faith, which was true, but I was also there for another reason: to interview for a full time job at Greenberg's Jewelers at Jordan Creek.  To cut the story short, I've been doing a WHOLE LOT of waiting since then, but I finally received a phone call this past Friday wherein they offered me the job! Of course, I took it, and I begin on Saturday, November 19.

For the time being, I will be staying with a dear couple from Ankeny, with whom I attended church while I was a student at Faith.  I'm soooo incredibly thankful for their kind hospitality in allowing me to live in their basement!  I can only attribute the working of these details to our incredibly awesome God!

So, in order to kill two birds with one stone so to speak, Thankfulness Day 6 is this: I'm thankful for a sovereign God, Who knows the plans He has for me (Jeremiah 29:11)!  God is so good to me, and I'm glad that, in His perfect time, everything has come together.  I'm also thankful for once again being employed full time at a job I love!

Thanks to all who have been praying.  You have no idea how much I truly needed it!  As most of you know, patience is not a strength of mine, but this experience has definitely taught me that patience and trusting God go hand in hand.

Oh, and another thing: have I ever mentioned that I just LOVE Sundays? :)

Day 5: My Best Friend

How many people can honestly say that their absolute best friend in the whole entire world just happens to be their little sister?  I'd guess that there aren't too many of us out there, but today I'm thankful that I'm 100% one of these kinds of people.

My best friend is my younger sister Laura.  We're 2 years and 10 months apart (almost to the day!). She wasn't my best friend until her first year of high school, which just happened to be my last.  We spent so much time together that year, and ever since, she has been my best friend.  She's away at college now, but at least she gets to come home for random weekends. Today I am thankful that THIS is one of those random weekends.  :)

Day 4: Music

Anyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE music.  Contemporary, Old School, Christian, Secular, Instrumental/Orchestral, Broadway: there's all kinds of great stuff! So today, I'm thankful for music.  I'm thankful for my ability to not only hear great music, but also for the ability to sing it and play it as well!  

What am I currently listening to? Well, to be honest, YES, I am one of those people.  I'm already adding Christmas music to my ipod.  Here are my top five songs/albums of the week:

1. Thankful

Album: Noel

Artist: Josh Groban

I love this song!  It's my favorite secular Thanksgiving song ever recorded.  Seriously.  Thanks, Josh Groban, for stepping up and actually including Thanksgiving on your Holiday CD!

2. Cold December Night

Album: Christmas

Artist: Michael Bublé

Michael Bublé + Christmas = Does it GET any better?!  This guy is one of my all-time favorite artists EVER! If you like his other stuff, let me tell you this: his Christmas CD will NOT disappoint!  This song is a fresh new Christmas love wish!  

3. One Thing God Can't Do

Album: Just Stand

Artist: Legacy 5

"There's just one thing God can't do, and that's stop loving you."  Wow.  Talk about some awesomely powerful lyrics!  This song has spoken to me in many various ways over the last year.  I heard it for the first time last January at my very first L5 concert, and I've gotta say... it stuck!  No matter how sinful and unfaithful I may be, God is always faithful and will never stop loving me. Thanks for the powerful reminder, L5!!!

4. The Singer [Let There Be Light]

Album: One Wintry Night

Artist: David Phelps

As always, David Phelps delivers an awesome God-centered song!  This one focuses on Christ's coming to earth as a child to bring the light of hope to a lost and dying world.  "And the Singer sings on, still writes the song of the redeemed!"  What great lyrics to focus us on the true meaning of Christmas!

5. Around the World

Album: 16 Most Requested Songs

Artist: Buddy Greco

Again, no surprise, but I'm a huge HUGE fan of the new ABC show Pan Am!  This marvelously catchy tune, which is a remake of the old Frank Sinatra song, was featured on the TV Premier trailer.  Can't get it out of my head!

Well, there you have it.  The top five songs of my ipod for the time being that make me thankful for all kinds of music!

So... what are YOU thankful for today?  :)

Thankful Thoughts

Thanks to my friend Jess over at An Aroma of My Savior, I've decided to {try} to post every day of November about something for which I am thankful.  So, in order to catch up, here are days 1, 2, &3!  PS- Thanks for the inspiration, Jess!

Day 1: Family

I have the most amazing family!  This past weekend, we had a small get together at my aunt and uncle's house to celebrate another aunt's birthday.  Most of the cousins and family were there, and I was just reminded of how blessed I am to have such an amazing family!  Also, in the chaos that is my life, I'm thankful specifically for my parents.  They are the anchor that keeps me from drifting into dangerous and treacherous waters.

Day 2: Church

People who aren't part of a church family have no idea what a blessing they're missing!  I'm so thankful for my church family!  They support me, pray for me, and love me no matter what.  I'm thankful for their presence in my life and for their genuine concern.  Missing church makes me sad because it means I won't get to see my honorary aunts, uncles, grandparents, siblings, and nieces/nephews for at least another few days!  I couldn't ask for a more amazing church family than the one I have at First Baptist Church in Farmington!

Day 3: Cold, Rainy Days

This won't make sense to most people, but I'm honestly thankful for rainy, cold days like we had today!  I love how these kind of days in November make me want to cuddle up with a fluffy blanket and a good movie/tv show/ book.  Coffee somehow tastes even better on cold, windy days too!  There's just something about days like today that make the holidays seem that much closer!

Stay tuned for the rest of my Thankful Thoughts, and feel free to try it yourself!

Wild, Crazy Fun!

It's been awhile since I posted for the Photo Challenge, so for today- since I have nothing new to report on my crazy life- here's a photo of 

People with whom I do wild & crazy things!

These girls are wonderful! They make me laugh so hard!  We recently went out for a "girls night," and Oh. My. Word!  We had WAAAAYY too much fun!

In other news, I should know by the end of the week what's going on in my crazy, wonderful life!  Thanks for praying & stay tuned!