Gratitude.

What does this word even mean exactly? Well, I'll tell you: the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful.

I have had a week full of ups and downs. My spring break was not at all what I had hoped or expected--but if I take the time to step outside of myself I believe I can find things to be grateful for. Thus, begins my gratitude list.

Gratitude List

• Peppers pizza with old friends.
• Watching The Bachelor Finale with my boyfriend and his hysterical parents.
• Listening to old school rap music with my brother (while driving four hours to our uncle's funeral) and bobbing our heads to the beat.
• Four full days without a planner. I am not grateful that I was too sick to even open it, but it really made me rest and for that I am grateful.
• My dad's gentle way of listening and building me up.
• My mom's gift of listening and emphathizing with me.
• Outback Steakhouse (ended up eating there twice this week-and I don't regret a single calorie).
• Thin Mint Cookie Ice Cream.
• Watching Dateline NBC with my mom.
• A much needed date with my parents: my favorite restaurant and a great movie:)
• Having the time to read through two different magazines this week.
• Dan Allender's new book Sabbath -- it is wonderful.
• Checking things off my to-do list.
• My friendships. I have been given a gift.
• Becoming aware of my weaknesses, being willing to accept them, and then choosing to change them.
• Diet Peach Snapple and Trail Mix.
• LP's advice.
• The flowers that have already started to bloom.
• Weather that invites me to roll the windows down and blast good music.
• Sweet Potato Chips.
• A good manicure.
• Laughing with my dad at the glasses store.
• Discovering that I shared a cabin for three summers with someone who is now an up and coming fashion model. I realized who she was on The City --how wild is that.
• Knowing that time at the yellow cottage is just around the corner.
• Finding just the perfect birthday gift for LP's 21st.
• My long hair that can now do just about anything I want it to. Well, almost.
• God's plan that stays the same even in the midst of my confusion, frustration, disappointment, and hurt.

Night. Sweet dreams.