How could I ask for more?

As I write this, I am sitting in my bed in Marietta...my family and i just finished decorating the Christmas tree and watching Grey's Anatomy, and we are all stuffed from a fabulous Thanksgiving day meal (complete with turkey, dressing, several casseroles and pumpkin pie). It was a fine holiday indeed, and I feel incredibly blessed to have spent the day with my wonderful parents and grandparents here at home.

I suppose this might go down in the books as "the most predictable blog post ever," but I feel that I have no choice but to take some time this evening, while I still have an hour and a half left of Thanksgiving day, and share with you the things that I am thankful for this year...

I am thankful for the people in my life. I have a wonderful family. I have two amazing parents who love each other, who love me, and most importantly, love the Lord, parents who would - and have - do anything for me. I have six living grandparents (I'll explain the math later), two of whom I got to spend my 23rd Thanksgiving with today. I have the most incredible friends in the entire world...friends who encourage and love and sharpen me more and more every day, who make me laugh, and who are there for me when I cry. I am have a small group of 10 amazing girls that I spend time with every Wednesday...girls who, on paper, I am supposed to be "leading," but in reality, stretch and inspire me more than I ever hope to give in return. I have a sweet, giving, funny roommate. I have a kind and brilliant boss. I am surrounded every day by people who are better, smarter, kinder, funnier, and wiser than me, and I truly believe that I am a better person for it.
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy." Phil 1:3-4

I am thankful for the blessings in my life. I am thankful that I have never gone hungry, as evidenced by that last 10 lbs that I am always trying to shed. I am thankful that I know where my rent check is coming from. I am thankful that, as I brace myself for the cold, snowy winter of New York, that I have a warm (albeit, often fiery hot) apartment. I am thankful that I have a job and, even moreso, that I am lucky enough to love it. I am thankful that I have been given the opportunity to live in New York City...that I was afforded the open doors and blessings to make that dream a reality. I am thankful that I live in America, and I am thankful for the men and women who give their lives every day to ensure that I am free. I am thankful for Starbucks, my iPod, Christmas, Grey's Anatomy, and Google. I am thankful for laughter, and I am thankful for memories.
"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." Ps 100:4

I am thankful for my faith. I am thankful that my faith does not depend on me, but on One who is always faithful. I am thankful for the unconditional love of God...a love that loved me first and that loves me when I am very unlovable. I am thankful for grace, grace that is truly amazing, grace that actually holds the power to save a wretch like me. I am thankful for life...abundant life, life that is so rich and so beautiful and so freeing. I am thankful for joy and peace, two fruits of the Spirit that lives inside of me that make it possible to endure even the hardest of times. I am thankful that I serve something - someone - who is so much greater than me, and I am thankful that His love for me gives this little life that I live on earth a glorious purpose that will last forever.
"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." I Cor 15:57


I hope everyone has/had a happy Thanksgiving holiday. God bless!


"So many things I thought would bring me happiness
Some dreams that are realities today
Such an irony the things that mean the most to me
Are the memories that I've made along the way

So if there's anything I've learned from this journey I am on
Simple truths will keep you going, simple love will keep you strong
'Cause there are questions without answers, flames that never die
Heartaches we go through are often blessings in disguise
So thank you, Lord
How could I ask for more?"

Cindy Morgan

Roots and wings

I'm New York.
I ride public transportation and love the cross-town bus. I eat Sunday brunch. I live in a shoe box-sized apartment where my monthly rent could feed a village and my furniture was bought on Craig's List. I read New York magazine and do the crossword puzzle every week. Central Park is my playground. I have Mallomars in my cabinet. I love Broadway, the Met, the MoMa, and the Metropolitan Opera. I watch the Marathon. I rarely eat dinner before 8:30pm. I shop at Bloomingdale's. I pass the Chrysler Building every day. The New York Times is my hometown paper, Good Morning America is my local news, and Gawker is my very own community gossip website. I love the West Village and hate Times Square. I stand in really long chopped salad lines for lunch. I get my iPod fixed at an Apple store that resembles the Louvre. I love Billy Joel. I have at least 12 different takeout menus in my kitchen drawer. And yes, my kitchen only has one drawer.
I'm New York.

But I'm Georgia.
I drink sweet tea. I say yes ma'am, no ma'am, please and thank you. I love SEC football. I listen to country music. The word "y'all" is a part of my daily vocabulary. I refer to all soft drinks as Coke and cringe if a waitress says, "we have Diet Pepsi instead of Diet Coke, that's okay right?" I'm still awed by snow. I love magnolia trees. I grew up Baptist...and I'm a Republican. I can navigate the winding Peachtree Roads of Atlanta...all 87,302 of them. I cheer for the Dawgs, the Braves and the Falcons, no matter how well (or poorly) they may do. My cell phone number will forever begin with (404). I could eat Chick-fil-A every day of the week; in fact, in college, I think I did. I love "The Vent" in the AJC. I've lived OTP and ITP and can appreciate both. I grew up going to the Stone Mountain laser show and am still a big fan. I know the answer to the question "Whaddya have, whaddya have?" And I think Waffle House is amazing.
I'm Georgia.

So I suppose I'm both...I'm New York, and I'm Georgia.
I say thank you to my bus driver. I order sweet tea and hushpuppies at Brother Jimmy's. I go to Rascal Flatts concerts at Madison Square Garden and Pat Green at Irving Plaza. I am a registered Republican voter in the state of New York. I watch the Georgia football games at the Village Pourhouse every Saturday. I have precious New York friends...95% of whom are from the South as well. I frequent the Chick-fil-A in the NYU dining hall. I feel at home when I fly into LaGuardia, and I feel at home when I fly into Hartsfield. My cell phone number may begin with (404), but my work line kicks off with (212). And I appreciate the banana pudding at Magnolia Bakery.

I'm New York.
I'm Georgia.

I'm both. And I'm blessed.


"I'm happy in New York, Jake. But then I come down here, and this fits, too."
"Since when does it have to be one or the other? You can have roots and wings..."
Sweet Home Alabama