A Thankful Heart

It's that time of the year again where we celebrate Thanksgiving with our friends and families.  A time for us to reflect and think about the many blessing we have in our lives, but also the many ways that we are able to bless others.  This might be my favorite holiday, not only because we get to eat a ton of food, but for the simple reason that we are able to celebrate our blessings through words and each others company, rather than buying gifts for each other.  I value family time, and this holiday gives me a chance to slow down and spend time with the people I love.

This year I have spent some time thinking about the things that I am thankful for.  Many of these things on my list are simple things, but nonetheless, important things.

-I am thankful that Bethany hired me almost 10 years ago, providing me with a job I love more and more each day.

-I am thankful for laughter, and the joy it brings my soul on tough days.  I enjoy laughter most when it comes from my students because it's a reminder that we don't need to take life so seriously ALL the time.

-I am thankful for teenagers and the way they re-energize me each day.

-I am thankful for a family who loves and supports me in all that I do.  Along with this, having parents who have showed me how to live responsibly, and how to be independent.

-I am thankful for the Electric Brew because it provides a place of comfort for me when I want to hang out with my friends.

-I am thankful for music and the way that it is able to speak to the core of who I am. 

Finally, I am so thankful for the many relationships I have in my life.  I am blessed more than I deserve with friends who love and care deeply for me.  Whether they are hundreds of miles away or just down the street, my friends are faithful and loyal.  They know my deepest desires and love me unconditionally, even when I don't deserve it.  I am truly blessed.  So I leave you with a verse from 2 Corinthians 9:11, "you will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God."

Blessings to all of you on this Thanksgiving holiday!

Suitcases: Team Day

"You can't run when you are holding suitcases," are lyrics to a Dara McClean song that focuses on the idea of letting go of the things that weigh us down.  The story behind the song creates this image of the suitcases that we carry in our lives.  Suitcases are meant to keep us in one place for a long period of time.  If we hold on to our suitcases, we are unable to fully operate in the things that God has called us to.  This is the focus of our season; to run passionately after the things that God has called us to, and to leave behind the suitcases that weigh us down, and keep us from being who God created us to be. 

Our time together on Saturday allowed us to go a little bit deeper with this theme and think about the suitcases in 3 areas of our life (Basketball, School, & Life).  What suitcases are each of us carrying, and how are we going to leave them behind?  My hope and prayer is that we all can begin to examine our lives and think about the things that keep us from being who God created us to be. May you all be challenged to leave your suitcases behind, and run passionately towards the one who created us.

Below are some pictures from our team day!

Picture Day: Old Bag Factory

New Beginnings - Same Passion

A few years ago, our women's basketball program adopted the philosophy, "Passion & Pursuit."  This philosophy is the foundation of our program and how we want to live our lives, on and off the court.  In Romans 8:37, it says that "We are more than conquerors."  This scripture says to me that there is something beyond winning, beyond reaching our goals.  God calls us to pursue him passionately with all that we are, and when we do, there is a greater reward.  We might not always know what the reward is, but in our pursuit of chasing after God, we know that our lives will be transformed.

As we begin a new season, our focus is still the same; we are passionately pursing the things that God has called us to.  Thankfully, God has given us all the gift and joy of playing the game of basketball.  Our goal this season is to not only win our games, but to enjoy the journey along the way.  My prayer is that we can learn as much from our losses as we do our wins.  That we strive for excellence in the midst of adversity. 

May you all continue to passionately seek the things that God has called you to.