Thankful Thursday #245!

"My grace is sufficient for you,
for My power is perfected in weakness."
~2 Corinthians 12:10

Today, I am grateful to God for...

1.  A fun Tuesday with the fam at Kyndal Faith's last CHA home game for this season... thankful that Mom had the strength and energy to be there in person, thankful Kyndal played well, thankful we got some great pics, and thankful Jace's friends were extra-kind to check on Mom! ❤  (More pics from that and other recent events coming tomorrow!)

2.  Podcasts where seeing the title brings me joy before I even start listening, most definitely including these two... I love that The Curiosity Shop brings out my more academic side - normalizing intelligent conversations, evidence-based research, thoughtful/nuanced language, male/female friendships, and strengthening my professor/author/speaker dreams.  This time, Brene and Adam are talking with Angela Duckworth about her fantastic new Situated book that I'm in the process of finishing - so great!  Also love Annie and Eddie, always, and can't wait to listen to that one and learn more about her wedding details next!!

3.  Jaceman's love of basketball... and hearing him say, "Since I can't play football right now, I might as well focus on the sport where I can play all season!"  YESSSSS to that growth mindset and personal agency and leadership identity!!  Also VERY thankful for the doors God has opened through his great Discovery teacher this year - yay for Rach taking the initiative to talk with her, and yay for that teacher taking the initiative to make Jace's 8th grade year far more manageable!!

4.  Kyndal Faith's love of volleyball, and what her competence, recognition, and meaningful contribution in that sport have done for her leadership identity and sense of agency in all areas of life... (this is my main focus as I'm prepping for dissertation topics lately, so I'm kinda seeing it everywhere, and it's exciting!)

5.  Having an in-person meeting that gave me a reason to be fully dressed professionally for the first time in a while.  Also thankful for God's timing in hearing back from the OCC and MCC just minutes after I'd talked with Chet about feeling a little stressed that I hadn't heard from either of them. lol  Praying for continued guidance and that God would open the right doors and close the wrong ones!

6.  Annie F. Downs being on a full season of Candace Cameron Bure's podcast discussing the themes from her new book - loving it so far - their talk about rebuilding after something has been destroyed was powerful!

7.  I'm thankful to be in a rich, fertile season where my energy is actively being renewed and God is planting so many good seeds in my heart.  I am absolutely seeking Him more intentionally, and He is absolutely showing up!  Almost everything that I hear and read lately (Scripture, emails, music, audiobooks, podcasts, conversations with friends/family/mentors) has felt meaningful and alive, inspiring action and courage and Kingdom hope for brighter days ahead.  More on that soon enough, I'm sure, but I want to acknowledge that I'm thankful for God's almost-tangible presence in the aftermath of a pretty challenging season.  "I don't want to forget how I feel right now.  On the mountaintop, I can see so clear what it's all about.  So stay by my side when the sun goes down... Jireh, I am enough because You are enough." ❤

"The Lord will establish you... the world will see that you are a people claimed by the Lord" - yes, please!  IF YOU OBEY HIM AND WALK IN HIS WAYS.  And on a related note, I really appreciated this insight from John Eldredge's latest podcast:  "A strong sense of identity is not pride.  It's not biblical humility to avoid talking about yourself with esteem or dignity.  We are meant to be maturing and growing in a really rooted sense of identity.  Look at how Paul opens his letters:  'Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Jesus Christ...'"

Also grateful for you, friends - thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a delightful weekend ahead!!

❤ ❤ ❤