Thankful Thursday: July (part 1)

(For an explanation of Thankful Thursday, go here.)

942) Watching Grandpa pet Penny - he nearly rubs her raw in one spot. :-)
943) Hugs from Grandpa.
944) Sweet conversation with Linda Day in the hot tub at the hotel. I know some incredible, insightful, honest, wise people.
945) Celebrating Em as she prepares for her last week as a Lundberg!
946) Hugs from Warren! So good to see him again.
947) BEAUTIFUL North Shore hiking!! How have I never been up here?!?!?
948) Catching up with Guy and Cassie. I really enjoy that couple.
949) Picnic lunch on Palisade Head.
950) Meaningful conversations around a beautiful campfire on the shore of Lake Superior. What a blessing.
951) Malbec-soaked roasted marshmallows. Brilliant. :-)
952) A drink of water after hours of waterless hiking on a hot day. Do I thirst for the Word like that???
953) Julie's reaction to jumping into Lake Superior. SO funny.
954) Kayaking with Penny on Lake Superior. So fun.
955) Good conversation with Megan on the ride into Duluth - so much honesty and vulnerability. I love listening to people open up.
956) Skirts.
957) More meaningful campfire conversations.
958) Friends who pray together.
959) Friends who care deeply about helping me think through different situations - who offer wise advice, give good feedback, offer encouragement and share their own stories.
960) Long, strong bedtime hugs from Kyle and Warren.
961) More great car conversation with Megan. What a blessing to get to know her better this weekend.
962) Time to chat with Chinwe - thankful for her honesty.
963) An opportunity to have a very difficult conversation with a friend. Trusting my words are in the Lord's hands.
964) Time alone after a weekend full of people.
965) My own bed.
966) Lindsay RUNNING across the lawn at DQ to greet me. :-D
967) A long, strong hug from Lindsay Lou. So good to have her in my arms again!
968) Asking for wisdom in a situation and feeling like maybe I'm just starting to get a little bit.
969) Sitting at DQ with Rach, Linds and Chinwe, forgetting for just a while that anything has changed (or will change).
970) Watching Emily get married - so happy for her.
971) Personally attending a laid-back bride - so easy/fun/enjoyable!
972) Watching Guy work - seeing how much he enjoys what he does.
973) The chance to catch up with all kinds of camp people - thankful for the many ways that place has enriched my life.
974) Hearing Em say how fun the day was for her.
975) Seeing Em look stunningly beautiful.
976) The powerful waterfalls in Temperance River!
977) Coho Cafe - great find in Tofte!
978) Running into two people I know while wandering around the North Shore. Always fun.
979) Physically driving away from all of the noise & busyness of life. So looking forward to a week in the BWCA!
980) Four lovely ladies to spend the week with.
981) Falling asleep in my hammock while listening to the croaking frogs and soulful loons join the leaves in their gentle windsong.
982) The gentle, repetitive sound of lapping canoe paddles.
983) The accomplished, tired feeling of having finished a difficult portage.
984) The first glimpse of water through the trees as you round the last bend of a long portage.
985) The grace and majesty of birds of prey.
986) Putting warm, dry socks on cold, wet feet.
987) Finding a BEAUTIFUL campsite. So glad we get to stay here two nights!!
988) Waking up and watching the sun slowly brighten the sky as I lay in my hammock.
989) Another day in the Boundary Waters with four beautiful women!
990) Sitting on a rock watching the sun set while listening to Jill read Scripture.
991) Lazy days in the wilderness with nothing to do but eat when you get hungry, sleep when you get tired and skinny dip when you get hot.
992) God's beauty and creativity displayed in nature.
993) Afternoon naps. In the hammock. In the Boundary Waters.
994) Back rubs from Linds. Purely delightful.
995) Snuggling with Linds and Jill while watching the sunset.
996) Good talks with Jill in the canoe. I love that girl.
997) Friends who pull extra weight at camp when I'm not feeling well.
998) Seeing an empty campsite after 8 hours of paddling and portaging.
999) Bugspray!
1000) Hugs from Lindsay Lou
1001) Having 1000 things to be thankful for.
1002) Long, hot showers after 6 days in the wilderness.
1003) Meaningful car ride convos about what it means to "be the church," what small group/Bible studies should look like and what the future may hold.
1004) Sitting in a hot tub with the girls, drinking wine after a week of physically demanding work.
1005) My bed.