giving thanks...

tomorrow is thanksgiving.  i am excited.  almost overnight, the weather here went from sunny in the 80s to rainy in the low 60s, high 50s.  the change gives some outward sense of ending to what has seemed like a never-ending summer.  let me explain, i had summer from may to the end of july.  i got to spend some time in virginia (which was abnormally warm), went home for a week (warm again), and then came here.  when i got here, it was hot!  so tracing that timeline, i've felt like i have been in summer for the past 7 months.  wow, counting up the time makes me realize how time keeps zooming past.  so much has happened.  so much has changed.  it has been hard at times.  other times have been so much fun.  this change in weather has brought some sense of permanency or at least normalcy to my life.  this never-ending summer has made everything seem a little more temporal and inconstant.  summer is for sleeping-in, hanging out, playing tennis all the time, and late-night conversation with great friends.  fall is my favorite season.  fall is going back to school (at least it was, and i get the feeling, probably will be again at some point), people around again, wonderful weather, coffee and donuts in the morning (i miss ike & jane), uga football, athens in its splendor, and home.  fall is my favorite season.  yeah.  fall is home.  fall is where i feel comfortable.  this fall has been slightly different (that was a little touch of sarcasm...).  ok. this fall has been hugely different.  this fall, i am learning a new town, a new language, a new culture, a new routine, and in some ways a new me.  i am learning a new me or more accurately me.  i don't have my old stompin grounds of athens-town.  i don't have my friendly baristas at starbucks or corrie and the gang at ike & jane to greet me in the midst of my morning routine.  i don't have my friends a few minutes away.  i don't have my wonderful parents at home.  but, i am thankful.  i am thankful that i have fall.  i am thankful that i have experienced ike & jane coffee and donuts in the morning, uga football, and athens in its splendor.  i am thankful for my friends wherever they are.  i am thankful for my family.  i am thankful to have the parents that i do.  they are awesome.  i miss them.  i am thankful for that 7 month summer.  i met some real cool people.  i grew.  my Father did a work in me.  he still is at work.  he is my faithful teacher.  he is the one teaching me about me and my utter, desperate need or him.  and i am thankful for him.  i am thankful for where he has brought me and where i am.  i am thankful that he is in control.  i am thankful for joy.  i am thankful for happiness and being content.  i am thankful that he surprises me with his love every. single. day.  i am thankful he has gifted me and enabled me to write.  i am thankful for being able to share this way.  but most. i am thankful for him.