What are You thankful for?

So my chicken (yes ooo it's not turkey, but it's still poultry lol) is roasting in the oven as I watch television and prepare to get some more studying done today. Unlike the past couple of years, i'm separated from my dear friends who've come to be family to me in the States... mostly because I forgot to buy a ticket on time :( 

I was going through a mental list of things I'm thankful for this year, and of course, there are too many to count... So i'll list a few that struck me:

- I'm thankful for friends that are like my family.

- I'm thankful for family that are also my friends, although seriously, I have the best family in the world (hands down :p)

- I'm thankful for mistakes that have shown me how strong I am

- I'm thankful for God pushing me through my mistakes and giving me a clean slate despite myself

- I'm thankful for my wonderful cohort in my graduate program, like seriously, I have the best classmates ever :)

- I'm thankful for the solace of solitude and company, two indispensable friends that have taught me that my time is most precious and must be guarded with care

- I'm thankful for food, yes I've said it, food. You may take it for granted, but for me, every morsel counts! (no, i'm not starving, but food just rocks my socks, I seriously need to watch my weight now lol)

So what are You thankful for this year? And how are you spending your turkey day this year?

 P.S. A big thank you to everyone who wished me a happy birthday from my last post :) My birthday went really well, twas mad fun!

A Quote from Teddy Roosevelt

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

~ Theodore Roosevelt quotes (American 26th US President (1901-09), 1858-1919) Source

RE: Acts of Faith: Being Thankful

It's funny - tomorrow is my birthday. I looked through my blogposts and found what I wrote on that day last year... Funny how time flies and how many things change within a short span of time. Looking back, it seems the past year was a full pledged ride high on dopamine and adrenaline leading to a crash so explosive... but, not so explosive His touch couldn't rescue from. Errr correction - there is NOTHING, His touch can't rescue from. So, I'm putting a re-post up of what I wrote last year. As I read through, I thought the context would be changed now, or that I could change who is who in my mind - but you know what? Nah, it's the same, old same with new people added to different categories. Mountain high and valley low and all, I'm still thankful. People in and people out of my life - I'm still thankful. I'm here and I'm whole and I'm blessed and I wouldn't have it any other way, not the past or the present. God has been too good for me to back down and life is too precious and short for me to look down. 


Enjoy! And feel free to join me as I parry on my day :D 
I'll send you virtual cake!

Despite broken promises and hushed good byes and forgotten kisses.

Despite long wanted hugs, and far-away cuddles and swollen pride.

Despite stifled laughter, suppressed smiles and washed away shouts…

I’m still thankful.

There are stronger promises still. Pushed back good byes, and fresh kisses.

There are lingering hugs, present cuddles and blazed humility present.

There is roaring laughter, glowing smiles and echoed shouts…

Here and Now in the present.

I’m thankful.

There is more on the way – greater than I’ve ever fathomed.

[For a split second today, I looked back like Lot’s wife to count my losses and moan about the past].

[I had to slap myself out of it – how dare I ignore the precious gift of the present ?]

And so I’m thankful.

Thankful that she is here.

Thankful that he is here.

Thankful that you are here.

Thankful that they are here.

Thankful at YOU.

And I’m even more thankful that she was here…

That he was here…

That they were here…

That we were there.

I don’t know what you have in store yet – but I know I’m safe because you’ve already crafted my path from my inception to demise.

So thank you.