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My Thankful Heart

It’s Thanksgiving this week and I can’t help but find myself pondering all that I have to be thankful for. I’ve had my share of grumbly moments these past few weeks, as I’ve been recovering from my foot surgery. I am not the most patient person…and I’ve found myself frustrated at the slow pace of my healing bones. (Seriously, I KNOW I am ridiculous.) I’ve had to hang up my running shoes for a while and I’ve shocked myself that I might.just.actually.miss.running! Well, maybe not the actual running…but the feeling I have knowing I CAN run…that I’ve accomplished all these milestones in my running journey. There is a certain feeling that comes over me as I’m crossing the finish line of a race, or browsing through the race photos later, or putting on one of my race shirts, or looking at my precious medal (I still can’t believe I completed a half marathon!). It is an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment and pride…and I admit - I miss that. As the weeks are slowly ticking by, I am looking forward to January and getting back in to my running routine. Right now though, I’ve been a little out of sorts.

And then last night as we were saying our good byes to another great weekend…cuddled up together discussing how much fun we’d had…I realized just how blessed I am. Ok, so my foot is sore and I have to take it easy for a while. I’ll survive. I’ll miss not running in a Christmas-themed race in December. There is always next year. In the mean time, there are worse things than spending a drizzly Sunday evening than curled up on the couch with my best friend, some good chex mix, and a blanket. Right?? And how about that best friend? How amazing is my relationship with my husband? I know I take it for granted sometimes…but I KNOW how blessed I am to have Matt for a husband. To have met at such a young age and know that we were truly meant for each other, to have weathered all the storms that have come our way together…we are blessed indeed. It’s going to sound cheesy to say it…but I’m going to say it anyway. Last night as Matt held me close, I found myself smiling…actually smiling…content in this strange knowledge that those arms wrapped around me were made for just that. Hugging me. It was as though God gave me this gift…a man who would love me through thick and thin…who would make me laugh until I cried…who would know my true heart always…who would be there at the end of the day to hold me close and whisper good night. He was meant for me…and I was consumed with gratitude.

We had just had a great time this weekend with friends; eating yummy desserts, watching a favorite show, and discussing our Hawaii plans with Blake and Amy; watching the ISU football game and making homemade pizza with our new friend Emily and one of her daughters; going out for a spaghetti lunch and heading to the ISU/Creighton basketball game with Emily and her husband Brian and both their daughters. It was a full weekend and we had such a great time. I drifted off to sleep, content – knowing that even if today was another drizzly, gloomy day…it was also a day closer to spending Thanksgiving with my family…and oh yeah, a day that the Lord has made. I will do my best to be glad in it! And be glad for all the amazing blessings God has poured out on us!! Friends, family, each other…so, so thankful!!

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