thankfulness, from a resistant heart.

i haven't thought much about being thankful lately, to be honest.  to be honest, i've thought much about what i'm not thankful for and what kind of sucks about life right now.  but i really love reading all of the posts about thankfulness lately and the awareness that the season brings.  in the past, i've been such an advocate for being thankful, but lately haven't practiced what i've preached.  so i'm going to.  despite having any desire to sit down and think about what i'm thankful for. despite feeling cold and dry.  i know.  you might be thinking, "woooow, downer!  really, alexi?  all you've been given and it's hard for you to take time to jot down a measly list?"  i'd be thinking that too.  but i always want to be honest with you even if it makes me look reeeaaallll lame.  plus i think being thankful when your heart's been sorta not is a really good thing for waking up to the LORD's goodness.  sometimes i think thankfulness is a practice more for us than for God, because it points us back to Him and what He's doing in our lives and what He's given.  anyway.  God, thank You...

for beautiful foods.  like those little spinach puffs dad made last night (lol, ariel, thinking of you because you're probably thinking about the emperor's new groove right now;)) and fancy cheeses and eggs and coffee and cereal and popcorn.  for the gift of food.  so many don't have the access i do to good food.

for warmth when i'm cold. (which is allll the time)... blankets, socks, sweatshirts, fireplace, a heated home.

for alyssa.  remembering things about me and asking about me.

for my relationship with aunt wendy.

for having a car.  that's huge.  i can get anywhere i want without having to think much about it.

for bare-bones kind of prayers.

for mom's unwavering ability to recognize absolutely everything as a gift from God.  for her humility and thankfulness and constant prayers.

for my really good dad & mom.  i can't believe i got them as parents sometimes.

for just knowing that eau claire is there, and some of my favorite humans in the world are living and loving really well over there.

​for paige and sidney.  two of the very best people i know and they're my sisters!  what?!

for my pastor dave saying "tenderness happened to zacchaeus" this morning in church, about zacchaeus' encounter with Jesus in the Bible.

​for marissa juedes.  for her gentleness and the way she listens.

for the guy who was just singin a little tune in this starbucks who i could have sworn was isaac!  
 
for cory and all the things he's taught me about God and about honesty and authenticity.

for Jesus' life.

for being loved when i feel weakest, most unlovable, with nothing to offer.

^^ and a picture of minneapolis last monday night, when i went to see a performance at orchestra hall and snapped this pic at the top of a parking ramp.  just cuz i like pictures with posts. ^^