An Incomplete List of Gratitude

An incomplete list of the things I am thankful for, in no particular order

1. God, who is my Provider
2. My mother, who has given me more than anyone else and is the wisest woman I know.
3. My family, and the roots we have across the country.
4. My sister, who’s far more talented and skilled than I will ever be. I’m lucky to have her.
5. Friends who are willing to travel with me
6. Friends who love to stay in one place
7. Friends who I can always call
8. Friends who are lifelong pen pals
9. Friends who have turned into family
10. The friends I’ll someday meet
11. Horses, and how they’ve changed my life
12. Teachers, mentors, leaders, and advisors
13. Deer Valley Ranch
14. The barns that have built me
15. Monet (what a lovable elephant-horse)
16. Hot coffee (black, please and thank you)
17. My Bible
18. Laughter = carbonated Holy Spirit
19. Watching the snow fall from behind a picture window, with a crackling fireplace nearby
20. Pickup trucks and oilskin coats that make braving the weather possible
21. Solid-built old houses
22. Frozen ponds
23. Mountain views
24. Dirt roads
25. Fiery little fuzzy red ponies
26. College, rounds one and two
27. Books
28. Education
29. Decorated bookshelves
30. Warm woolen socks
31. Hirt House Hour (and hours and hours)
32. Interstate highways and full tanks of gas
33. Brick buildings
34. Public libraries
35. Leather
36. FaceTime technology
37. Christmas gifts
38. Worship music
39. Blueberry muffins
40. No less than 4 pillows on beds
41. Cowboy boots
42. National Geographic magazines
43. Live music
44. A well-decorated wedding
45. The feeling of satisfaction that comes after building something
46. Barns full of sweet hay
47. Aviator sunglasses
48. The Power of Camp
49. Australian beaches
50. Train rides
51. Aux cords in cars
52. The miracle of flight
53. Journals that capture my life’s story
54. Summer drives with the windows down
55. Colorful parrots
56. US Military
57. Koala bear hugs
58. Winter drives all bundled up
59. Nalgene water bottles
60. Ferry rides
61. Spotify playlists – the soundtrack of my life
62. CCCA and CCI
63. The places I’ve called home, and all the places that will become my home
64. Teams who wash fish dishes together, stick together
65. Dreams, schemes, and “puppet mastery”
66. The comfort of knowing a piece of land like the back of your hand
67. Downhill skiing
68. Driving a wagon
69. Levi’s jeans
70. Chess boards
71. Red wine
72. Artists and their work
73. My favorite bands
74. NASA and their telescopes
75. Matches and dry firewood
76. Coffee mugs with character
77. Sharp Ticonderoga pencils
78. Microsoft Word
79. Photo albums & scrapbooks
80. Spur of the moment decisions
81. Photography
82. North Carolina waterfalls
83. Lists

Photo Credit: Jonathan Shea