"Dear 27, Here is my Thankful List."

Why do we get so amped up about that one day of the year that marks us a year older?  A birthday can have so much significance to some and less to others.  I usually look at my birthday as a day that I become a year older, wiser, and of course I do something special....I remember when I turned 25. I flew to Atlanta and my friends greeted me with a pink and green birthday cake baked and designed by them.  I was so happy with my little homemade cake because my friends took time out of their schedules/lives especially for me.  When I turned 26, I had a party at my house.  My family and  friends came over with food and games and we partied the night away.....It meant so much to me just to be around people who love me unconditionally

All of these moments have love, happiness, family, and friends written all over it.  I am so thankful that I have the people in my life that want to spend my "born date" with me.  There are people in this world today that will probably never celebrate a day like this as I have.  I realize how fortunate I am.  

This upcoming birthday, Lord willing marks my "27th" year of life (November 14th).  All I can say is WOW! I was a premature baby weighing only 2lbs at birth and here I stand today healthy,ALIVE and blessed.  When I think about my birthday now, its kind of bittersweet for me..I am thankful for life and yet sadden because my younger cousin was killed 2 days before my birthday in 2006 and 4 days before his own.  Its hard to celebrate a birthday knowing that he didn't get to live past 16 and here I am at 27.....I won't question God why but I always think about, "what if I didn't live to see__(insert age here____".

This brings me to why I wanted to post.  All week I've been thinking about things that I am thankful for.  We all have things we complain about but do we really stop to look at all the blessings around us? Have you used a birthday as an excuse to set out parties and buy lavish gifts or have you simply stopped to look at what God has given you before that birthday?  I wrote down "27" things that I am thankful for in honor of my approaching "27th" year of life..I am not saying we shouldn't celebrate our birthday etc but we should be more thankful and take time to really look around at our lives.  

Here is my list (although there is more, I wrote "27" things I am thankful for....(well you should know why by now)

1. Mom and Dad. Without them I wouldn't exist
2. Family. We have our good and bad days but I love the comfort of being with them and support.
3. Friends. I have a few true friends. Our bonds are unbreakable. They say what I need to hear and not what I want to hear....
4. Fred Meijer (LOL)...Meijer was my 1st Job.  I learned work ethic and how to provide for myself at the age of 14.
5. My Grandfather (RIP) He instilled a lot of my Christian values and beliefs at an early age.  I have a greater respect for why he would pick us all up for Sunday school on that church bus..LOL I miss him.
6. High school experiences.  Now that I'm older, I appreciate it more. Being an adult is not fun at times.
7. Having a place to live.
8. Food Supply without having to go to soup kitchens or meal sites.
9. Clothes. I have more than I can ask for and some people don't have any. I am thankful.
10. A running car. Although its a luxury to have my own, i'm thankful it gets me where I have to be time and time again.
11. Attending Western Michigan and graduating. I've met some of my closest friends that I'll always cherish AND a Bachelors.
12. My job. Its not exactly where I wanted to be when i first started but its where God wanted me to be.
13. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. This sisterhood has taught me so many valuable lessons.  Its a lifetime sisterhood and I'm glad I've met some of the most wonderful women and mentors.
14. My Church and Pastor. It keeps me spiritually grounded.
15. My Good Health
16. Education.  People had to fight for education and it was available to me without the fight.
17. My youth group (Ivylettes). I am able to listen to them, tell them things I know and learn.
18. Having finances available to me.
19. Going to South Africa.  It was a life changing experience.
20. Traveling. I am able to travel freely and there are others who don't have that opportunity.
21. Graduating with my Master's degree this year.  I thought I wouldn't make it.
22. A right mind.  There are so many people in the world today that have lost their minds literally.
23. Past mistakes.  It has only taught me what to do or not to in the future.
24. Past hurt.  It made me forgive and learn.
25. LOVE.  I have it all around me.
26. Another Day.  He has granted me day after day to try again.
27. GRACE. If it had not been for his grace, I don't know where I would be.

This is my list and I plan to continue to add to it. I hope that this sparked your thoughts to think of things that you  are thankful for. We sometimes forget how blessed we truly are...EVEN on our birthday!!  Cheers to another year of being stronger, wiser, better, and THANKFUL....Much Love to you ALL!!

Happy Birthday to ME!! AND Preston too!! lol

BROWN SKIN. BIG DREAMS.