The photo above is a snap shot from our 2019 Friendsgiving. We hope to host Friendsgiving again some day!

I’m typing this post as we travel up the highway to visit family and Darrell just asked (not knowing what I’m typing about) “What would you think if you woke up and realized everything that had happened in 2020 was just a dream? A long, crazy dream?” Wow. I’m really not sure. That’s a lot to unpack. We agreed we’d be extremely confused, haha. But seriously, I’m pretty sure a lot of us had a year that seems surreal in many ways. It is easy to get caught up in what would’ve / could’ve / should’ve been and I’d be lying if I said I haven’t struggled with those thoughts this year.

It’s Thanksgiving Eve so to say, and I am meditating on the blessings God has given us this year. So many of those blessings came in not so pretty packages. There have been many disappointments, unmet expectations, heartache and challenges over the course of 2020. Through all of it though, I’ve felt God’s presence more than ever before. Isn’t that interesting?

I’m thankful for family who loves us and supports us through the ups and the downs, who come alongside us and comfort us. We’ve needed that a lot this year.

I’m thankful for the changes that strengthened the bonds of friendship.

I’m thankful for the tough decisions we faced as a couple and how it has solidified our first few months of marriage in ways not necessarily possible had we experienced an easier path.

I’m thankful for the disappointments that opened our eyes to what truly matters in life. For the things that didn’t happen and how that provided such clarity for the life we want.

It’s crazy to say / type this but I’m thankful NYC didn’t work out. Yes, it hurts my heart that we didn’t get to live out that dream to the fullest but I cannot imagine not having met the amazing people we’ve met in our short time in the Carolinas so far, the incredible opportunities this area has brought us, the shorter distance from family and friends, and the sense of peace we have living here.

I don’t type all of this to tie a bow on a crummy year and make it all sound / look better, but to share how I’m continually working to shift my mindset from that of discontentment to gratitude. To sit back and not acknowledge every major and minor way God has taken something awful and made it beautiful (this year alone), to not glorify His name for each step in which He so graciously held my hand and walked with me would be so gravely dismissive of His goodness.

We’ve changed course, waited on answers, not gotten the answers we wanted and had to start over, waited some more and said time and time again, “Lord, I don’t know what you have in store for us but here we go, lead us, be our provision, protect us.” And He’s come through every step of the way, friend. What a testimony of God’s love 2020 has been and continues to be!

I’m thankful for 2020 and the ways it has challenged my faith. I don’t know about you but I believe I am better off having gone through this crazy year.

May I share a song that makes me want to sing so loud and praise His name? Check out Thank You by Maverick City Music.

Have any of your disappointments or unmet expectations for 2020 proven to be blessings in disguise?