Well, today I just wanna be thankful.

I want to be thankful for the people in my life, the sunshine outside, and the lessons I learn through scraping my knees.

I want to be thankful for the road ahead, for the road behind me.

I want to be thankful for all the blessings that went unnoticed, and all the blessings that rocked my world.

I want to be thankful for all the words from friends when I was down, and all those crazy things we do when we're up.

I want to be thankful for that amazing family I have that sends rays of sun into gloomy days and encourages me just when I need it.

I want to be thankful for the memories I have with those special people that I don't get to be with anymore and the joy that one day I will be standing next to them in my Father's House.

I want to be thankful for all those tears I've cried that watered the seeds that were planted and grew into the joys of today.

I want to be thankful for friends that I know I can count on even if I haven't seen them in years, and those whom I see every day.

I want to be thankful for the prayers that are prayed for me daily that I don't know about, and the fact that my Jesus hears them.

I want to be thankful for Mr. Ely and who he is in my life today, who he may be in my future, and the fact that he puts up with me and still wants to hold my hand and does everything he can to make me smile.

I want to be thankful for my job that is my haven and the fact that I know where my passion is.

I want to be thankful for music and the role it has in my soul, the way it soothes and excites me, the way it reaches into my heart, pulls out the lyrics and sings them back to me.

I want to be thankful for my struggles and my daily fight to surrender them to the One who conquers all.

I want to be thankful that I have a huge bruise on my rear because every time I sit down it reminds me of the laughter that followed the fall.

I want to be thankful that no matter what happens in my life, I am NEVER alone.

I want to be thankful that my heart, no matter how twisted and contorted it may be, it is the very life of me. No matter how much it brings me pain, it is the very thing that put me where I am today, this beautiful place full of connections with those I love.

I want to be thankful for distance, for it makes me more thankful for the closeness.

I want to be thankful for silence in my life so that I can hear the wind blow.

I want to be thankful that I do have over 1000 friends on facebook, not that I am close with all of them, but beacuse I know that there are those and many more that have been some part of my life.

I want to be thankful for you, people in my life, that I love dearly.

Sometimes it takes days that you wanna go and hide to make you appreciate that the sun won't go away. Today is one of those days. It's been a rough day, a rough week.... but throughout the jagged edges of the week and day, there have been points in my days that have made me realize that I am truly blessed, loved, and cared for. Those points had a funny way of showing up at times that I would have rearranged, but He knew what He was doing and that's why I'm not in control. The tears I've cried this week were never in vain, simply misunderstood by most. Those who surprised me when they came to the rescue could not ever understand the boost they gave me.

So needless to say, I am excited for tomorrow for it brings His mercies anew and because it is an automatic 'refresh' button for life. In the mean time, I will be thankful for what today was and what it has taught me. (( see above ))

High School Darby does not = Current Darby... yay!

Life changes, people change....

you learn more about yourself each day you're on this earth... you learn what you want from yourself, from friends; you learn what you don't want and what you can't compromise on; you learn what dreams can become reality and the what dreams you will keep dreaming about; you learn about family and love, the upsides and downsides of both; you'll learn about your heart, how it mends and flutters anew....

Today sitting here at my dearly beloved front desk of my dear hotel, I'm thinking back on all the things I've hoped for, all the ways I've changed throughout my life, the love lossed and gained, the bruises and blisters from walking down the path I've chosen and all the detours I've taken along the way. There are things that I cannot believe I dreamt of and things I never though I would want to dream about that I dream of today. Some things that I swore would be me forever and now are no part of me.

It's really interesting to do look back on my life from where I am standing today, to see my life and the road (ever winding as it may be) behind me. It's especially interesting to see where I've come from and who I am today. There is so much in my life that someone who knew me 6 years ago would be surprised about, so much about who I am that the Darby from high school wouldn't recognize. This is not to be said that I am not the same Darby in my core, but it is to say that life changes people, and I am one of those people that was changed for the better (especially considering circumstances).