Being Thankful

Yesterday during morning devotion, my mother inquired us to think of things we were thankful for. I realized that I had a lot of things to be thankful for. After we all shared our thoughts, I felt more appreciative of what the Heavenly Father has given me. Here is my list:

WHAT I AM THANKFUL FOR:                                                  

1. Having a personal relationship w/ God2. Jesus died on the cross for me
3. My family
4. My friends
5. My pets
6. Having a home
7. The ability to get an education
8. Having dreams and goals
9. Food
10. Clothes
11. Traveling
12. My name
13. My mentors
14. Having my own room                                                                
15. This blog
16. Nail Polish                           
17. Dual Enrollment
18. Books
19. Freedom of Speech
20. Fresh Drinking Water

There are more things I can add to this list, but these are the top 20. The more I write down the more grateful I feel. I am so blessed to have these things. My mother told us (me and my siblings) that if we are sad think of the things we are thankful for and remember to praise God for them. Also I am trying to give more thanks to the Lord because I want to stay humble.

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

*I challenge you to write down all the things you are thankful for and the praise God!*

-Gracelyn Lives

#HelpGraceGet2Greece please check out my website: http://gracelyn47.wix.com/greeceitalytrip  or donate to my school website: https://personal.eftours.com/secure/make-donation.aspx?poid=DBE569FD&utm_medium=web&utm_source=paxsecure&utm_campaign=fundraising

 Also, please donate so I can go to Greece and Italy this month. My goal is to get 10 people to donate $10 by June 14th! Will you please donate?

Saying Good Bye To My 2nd Best Friend...

   For the last couple of months I have reconnected with one of my closest friends since preschool. It was an awesome experience. Honestly, I have never met someone beside my sister who has so much in common with me. We have the same music interest, fashion sense, we think mostly the same way, and we even laugh at the same things. She was probably the realest friend I had besides my sister. In no time we became inseparable! 
   Even though we lived in two different states we seem to always be FaceTiming, texting and even calling each other. We would talk for hours about endless conversations about boys and other topics. In fact, we were in each others lives so much that if our parents, siblings, or friends saw us on our phones they would guess we were talking to each other. In less than one month, she was the first person I would talk to if I had big news, or if I was just bored. Before, I always thought the term “best friend” was so unrealistic for me. I had a lot of associates, acquaintances, and colleagues, but I never really had a best friend (beside my sister). 
  Honestly, I didn’t think there was a person out there who was so similar to me. But it is actually very ironic because this girl’s mother was also one of my mother’s best friends during her college days. But that’s whole another story laugh out loud! Anyway,   she told me her parents said we can no longer be friends. I don't understand why, but that's ok. I look forward in making more real friends like her in the future. Even though we are saying goodbye I still see the blessing that came out of it!! 

I learned 3 valuable lessons after this situation and I want to share them with you.

1. Everyone needs to have a true friends in their life, even if it's their siblings
2. The person you LEAST expect to have something in common with might end up as your closest friend, so don't be so quick to judge.
3. Even when a relationship ends, you are thankful for the experience of having a real friend with no regrets!

*I challenge you to tell your real friends you appreciate them* 

P.S. To God - "God, I'm thankful for everything - You are GOOD!"

-Gracelyn Lives

#HelpGraceGet2Greece please check out my website: http://gracelyn47.wix.com/greeceitalytrip  or donate to my school website: https://personal.eftours.com/secure/make-donation.aspx?poid=DBE569FD&utm_medium=web&utm_source=paxsecure&utm_campaign=fundraising

Also, please donate so I can go to Greece and Italy this summer. My goal is to get 50 people to donate $50 by February 26th (my bday)! Will you please donate?