with thanks
I wouldn’t object to the revolving door of my life getting stuck here in Iowa.
This New Yorker never thought she’d say something like that in her lifetime, but… it’s true. I don’t want to leave. Because I am so not ready to say goodbye to Sara.
Despite the circumstances that brought me here, it has been such a joy to be with her this past week. In the heaviest of moments as much as the punch-drunk late night madness, it was a gift to be with my dear friend.
I know this much is true: I benefited far more than she did. I’m leaving fuller… richer. I’m leaving as a better me than when I came. Good friends have that effect on us, don’t they?
I want to be that kind of friend.
I want to love hard. Forgive quickly. Choose joy. I want to risk big. Grow daily. Drip grace. I want to savor sunshine. Live grateful. Model Christ.
As I leave, I am determined to pay more attention to the fine details of my life… of my days. I will look closely for the blessings that lie in each moment.
And I will thank Him a whole lot more.
I’d love to hear what you are thankful for,
right this very moment.
@Nomadstacey says:
I’m thankful for different stars. I’m thankful for crisp mornings. I’m thankful for hot tea and space heaters. I’m thankful for flashlights. I’m thankful for wise and grace-ful people surrounding me. I’m thankful for the chance to get out of my own bubble. I’m thankful for wonderful roommates. i’m thankful for a warm sun. I’m thankful for the chance to get to know new people. I’m thankful for the chance to play with baby lions and tigers. I’m thankful for people believing in me. I’m thankful for the ways I’ve seen God move- a reminder that His heart is here and He is moving. I’m thankful for quality conversations. I’m thankful for new surroundings. I’m thankful for the support of my friends back home.
I’m thankful for a chance to spend my summer in winter.
@christypolek says:
I am thankful for friends who are wiser than me and share their wisdom in my hardest situations when I don’t know what to do. I am thankful for the night sky and that even though there are a lot of lights around, when I look up I can still see so many stars. I am thankful for air conditioning on these hot days. I am thankful that one of my best friends is moving back closer to me and that I will get to see him a lot more often, and not just on video chat. I am thankful for purple nail polish. I am thankful that my family is back in town and I don’t have to be the mom of the house anymore. I am thankful that God is providing me with the strength to let go of an unhealthy relationship and I’m thankful that it’s happening before I really get hurt, even though I’m a little hurt.
And of course, I’m thankful for you. (Seriously.)
@PrudyChick says:
Purple nail polish rocks.
@XCWATERBOY says:
I’m thankful to be writing this on my parents awesome green couch in the TV/Family room of home, a place I haven’t been for just over a year. I’m thankful it’s summer here. and I’m thankful for TV because I didn’t have it this past year and it’s awesome.
@kedamak says:
I’m thankful for the people in my life right now who are giving me permission to just be where I am at without judgment or expectation for something different. I am grateful for the love of THE Father who loves me in the middle of and through the messyness of life. And most of all today I am thankful for grace; for truly if it had not been for His grace I don’t know where I would be.
Oh and for the record, I do think that you “love hard. Forgive quickly. Choose joy…risk big. Grow daily. Drip grace…savor sunshine. Live grateful. Model Christ.” You are all that and so much more and I am also grateful for you and your friendship. Love you friend!
@atangie says:
I am thankful that Grand Funk Railroad’s “I Just Want to Celebrate” came up on my player… and I smiled.
@bahava says:
I’m thankful for the way God shows up when I am walking in obedience and how opportunities I’ve prayed for fall in my lap in His timing. I’m thankful for being able to run and rollerblade right next to beautiful, still lakes. A church family that knows how to love me well even when they’re still getting to know me. I’m thankful for God’s timing and peace. Surprise presents that make my heart soar. Connections with kids and the grace that God gives when I am at the end of my rope after a long day. Second chances. New beginnings, fresh starts. Lovely friends who know me and let me know them. God pursuing me and saying “I love you” through a little heart found on a path. Sweet moments. Being able to write. Early morning quiet. God working all things out for good.
“I want to love hard”
You are my friend. Because you love from your heart… it inspires me. I’m thankful for your example, and the example of others like you around this little online community because through y’all I am learning how to love better.
“I want to love hard. Forgive quickly. Choose joy. I want to risk big. Grow daily. Drip grace. I want to savor sunshine. Live grateful. Model Christ. … to pay more attention to the fine details of my life… of my days. I will look closely for the blessings that lie in each moment.”
Me, too! :)
I am thankful for you, for heart friends that I am overwhelmed with and so grateful for, for my beautiful daughters and the miracles God has wrought in my family and my marriage. I am thankful, too, for His provision in every area and that He loves us … oh, how He loves us.
Love you!
I’m thankful that I have a Savior who saved me, restored me and loves me unconditionally. I am thankful for my amazing family, especially my baby brother who is my best friend in the whole wide world. I’m thankful for my girlfriends. And I am so very thankful for my job that gives me flex hours so I can sleep in on random days like today :)
That the break-up happened (and believe me, that’s not something I really thought I’d ever say! ;-) )
Love!
deb
I’m thankful for good friends, for challenging work, for overflowing grace, for a warm bed, for delicious meals, for upcoming adventures, for you!
I’m thankful for a God who continues to invite me closer to His heart AND that it has nothing to do with deserving it, and everything to do with His love for me. I’m thankful for friends who helped me celebrate my birthday last week. I’m thankful for those same friends and others across the world who have been on their knees with me, petitioning the Father on my behalf for an opportunity to follow my dreams, and wept with me over the opposition both spiritual and worldly. I’m thankful for weather messing up plans a saturday evening at the lake and watching the weather being the plans for the night (funnel clouds, hail, lightning, downpours).
@traceepersiko says:
Possibilities, his grace, new faith, new dreaming, new hope, perspective, and my room to myself this week!
Not enough space to fit how grateful I am for our friendship. Thank you
@AbbyL says:
I’m grateful to be able to celebrate so many engagements, weddings, pregnancies, and births in my friends’ lives lately (even when it isn’t my turn for any of those).
@PrudyChick says:
I am thankful for forgiveness. I am thankful for friends that ask hard questions that are easy for me to get defensive over and I need to realize they need to be asked. I am grateful for internet friends whom I’ve never met that rally behind me like a tug boat, oh I guess that would be in front of me.
I am thankful for God’s promises. I am thankful that earth isn’t my home and that heaven is where I will spend eternity!
Sounds cheesy, maybe, but I am REALLY feeling grateful for this today!!
Amen!!!
@mandythompson says:
I’m so glad you were there. I’m so glad. Thank you for taking the time to make that trip again, Alece!
What am I thankful for? I think there’s a slow sunrise inside me these days. It’s the strangest feeling…. But I’m going on a week of just feeling good. I hope it lasts. Wow I hope it lasts this time.
I’m thankful for my wife, who continually encourages and loves me without end. She’s the jam.
@moweezle says:
FANS! I don’t have Air Conditioning, and its Hotter than @$@! here so I’m soooooo thankful for my fans ;)
I stole one of your quotes for my facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/aliciatirrell?v=info
the blurb underneath my pic.
Oh I credited you :)
man you’re words echo in my heart Alece! Thank you so much!! What a beautiful statement to live by today! “I want to love hard. Forgive quickly. Choose joy. I want to risk big. Grow daily. Drip grace. I want to savor sunshine. Live grateful. Model Christ.”
Thanks again!!
Right this minute? I am thankful that, every day, our home feels more like ours instead of someone else’s. That I’m growing. For true friendships that endure across the years and miles. For the intercessory prayer group that I started going to about 3 weeks ago, and the awesome teaching I’ve been able to sit under there already. For God’s stirrings. For how He’s teaching me. For delicious peaches from Costco that are so juicy, the juice runs down my chin. And lately, I am especially thankful that God is my true Father Whose hand I can hold so tightly and Who sees me, when I am so hurt by my earthly one.
I’m thankful for this internet community. Would you & Sara have ever met in this lifetime without it? Who knows! I truly believe there are no coincidences in life, but a lot of God moments! The way it was supposed to be. Listening & submitting to God’s call. Then we are able to hear our friends in pain & in joy and reach out to them with open arms. No matter what. I am thankful you were able to drop everything & return to IA. Thankful Sara has so many friends. You rock, Alece. Maybe on your next trip to the PNW we can meet halfway or something!
I’m thankful for YOU, Alece!!
You are so brilliantly vibrant and full of Christ’s love, Alece!!! I am so blessed you have come into my life because you HAVE been a model in many ways. Thank you, my friend!
morgs
i’m thankful for the ability to be creative. i’m thankful that there is food in my fridge. i’m thankful for the faithfulness of God, and His mercy that is NEW every morning. not just refreshed, but NEW. i so need it.
@lauraparkerblog says:
In this very moment, I am thankful for:
my private back porch, surrounded by jungle and bubbling fountain and life and beauty.
my kids who are still sleeping this early morning.
a husband that leads and loves.
a friend and her kids coming to our house for my first official “playdate” since we moved three months ago.
the word, which reminded me this morning to pour myself out. more.
You’re such a wonderful friend! I’m catching up on old blog posts and I bet Sarah is so touched to have you in her life. Thank you for sacrificing your time and schedule to meet her need.
As someone who has experienced loss, friends are priceless to have in those moments.
I want to be that friend too.
@CandySteele says:
I’m thankful you were here to watch over Sara. It’s people like her who have allowed us to gracefully relinquish that “armpit of the USA” title.
I’m thankful His mercies are new every morning and that He’s picked me up from every stumble, brushed me off, and sent me onward.
Praying God keeps you safe on your travels.
At this moment, I’m thankful we have a God that doesn’t give up on us.
And Beano.
Especially Beano.
This is stinkin hilarious! No pun intended…LOL!
@iloveblogs44 says:
Girl, I think you ARE that kind of friend! I’ve only told you like 100 times, but I’m SO grateful you were able to love on Sara for all of us.
I’m thankful for the opportunity to touch young lives every day. I take care of pediatric organ transplant patients and this past weekend was able to see some of them who call me their “favorite nurse”. It is great to see these previously sick kids living life and loving it. I’m thankful for these two foster girls who I believe were hand-picked for me. As much as people tell me I am making a difference to them, they are changing me. The 15-year-old is quiet and reserved outside of our home, but in my house there are smiles and laughter and lots of making fun of me. Just thinking about the joy I see on her face while she is in this season has brought tears streaming down my face. Her almost 3-year-old sister makes me laugh all the time and says the silliest things.
Of course there are days when my patients are healed in Heaven and the day will come when these girls will leave my house, but I am thankful for these moments, these special times that have helped me treasure each moment.
Praying for you, Alece. You rock :)
We tend to recognize good qualities in others which we have ourselves… I’d wager that you already are that kind of friend, my friend. And either way, whether/when you are or aren’t, you’re still worth it all, no matter what lies you’ve heard.
And you’re not the only one who’s heard them either… sadly, I’ve heard many of the same.
This is the fight for our lives.
You’re a true fighter, Alece, and an inspiration to us all.