A Time to Reflect and to Hope

Hello lovelies.

So, here we are, December 21, 2010, four days before Christmas and ten days before the New Year. Ohmygoodness, 2011 starts in ten days. WOW. This year has gone so fast, and I just finished wrapping a present for one of my friends, and it's gotten me thinking of all the things I'm thankful for. Yes, I know this is something we normally think about around Thanksgiving, but it's something that I have been thinking about a lot recently.

So, if you're interested, here goes nothing.
First and foremost, I'm thankful for my family. They are extraordinarily talented at driving me absolutely insane and are even better at reminding me how loved I am. I am so lucky that I have such an amazing family, people who are always there for me, who love me and who teach me how to be better.

Secondly, I'm so thankful for my friends. They truly are the people that make me better, who push me to succeed, and the people who show me what followers of Christ look like. (This means you: SER, JMH, MEB, KDB, MAW, TNL, TS, CT, AH, SSC, JRB, MK, ESB, VRB, HF, RH, MB, and so many more.[I Facebook creeped on a lot of you to get your middle initial. Just saying.])

I'm thankful I live in America. I have the freedom to worship, to study, and to live in peace. *hums the God Bless the USA song while typing*

I'm thankful I have a roof over my head, and food in my stomach, and a bed in which to sleep. After working with some of Greensboro's homeless population a few times with Awaken City church, I know how many are going without this holiday season, and I thank God for what he has blessed me with.

Last, and most certainly not least, I'm thankful for my Creator, my Savior, my Rock, and my God. I would be absolutely nothing without Him, and no matter how many times I screw up (so, so, so many) He takes me back like I deserve it. He is my light and my life, and no matter how many words I use to describe Him, they will never be enough to say all that He deserves.

What's next? I don't know, but I know that I'll be trusting God, and if He allows it, I'll be getting closer to the aforementioned people, and learning more from them. I'll also be "hoppin' and boppin' and do what I do", to quote T. ;) So, here's to a fantastic 2010, and an exciting, Spirit-filled 2011!
God's peace to anyone who reads this,

Kayla

This is my hope, and my strength:
"Yes, I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor ruling spirits, nothing now or in the future, no powers, nothing above us, nothing below us, nor anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39