Thankful Thursdays Top Ten [#22]

Thankful This Week For...

...all of you that make up ME

[Ten women from 2010]

[oh and I shuffled the "order" so these really are random]

1-Naomi Shedd

I met her in middle school youth group [she was a leader] and haven't seen much of her since then, but she's recently come back into my life and I believe she'll be a vital part of my mentoring in 2011. [Or so I hope this blog post buys me a ticket.] There are just some people you meet and they have a lasting impression on you. Once in youth we anointed each others head with oil...just one greasy finger print...not Naomi...she looked at me and said, "Pour the whole jar on my head." She's wildly desperate for Him. [And she's wild.]

2-Elizabeth Rowell

She's prayerfully intense wrapped in hospitality [and sugar]. She bakes delicious calories. My new years resolution is to stay away from her. She and her husband are our small group leaders. We met just about a year ago, but she catalyzed and counseled Charles & I through an intense time in our marriage. Her prayers were felt in dark hour and if ever I felt alone, I knew I wasn't. She's Proverbs 31, straight up.

3-April Davidson

There was a time this year she fought for me so hard, she prayed herself [accidentally] right into the mens public restroom. "Going to bat for you"...has been replaced by "going to the men's restroom for you." She's that amazing pillar of faithfulness that has stuck with me through it all and although our lives are often opposite [and out of state] we find a common ground, or room, the CanApril room. Okay, so only she'll get this, but that's okay.

4-My mom

She's that friend you wish you had. You know the one you can call for anything, depend on for everything and talk to about all things. She's not jealous, competitive, or condemning towards me. She lifts me up. She loves me. Oh and she watches my kids when I need a break. Ha. She lets my family be who we are and she loves us just so. We don't always agree, but I'm so thankful for her help, especially this year.

5-Amy Heifner

In the spirit, she's famous, I'm sure of it, okay maybe even in Atlanta I feel like she's "Who's Who Among Godly Women" [if that exist, but she doesn't care, she's not like that]. She's got class, grace, and a presence about her I want to absorb from across our lunch dates at Houston's. She's hilarious, sharp and confident in her Savior. God strategically placed her in my life at the beginning of college and she's mentored me ever since. Sometimes more than others, but she's always there to bring me up higher, break me out, and this year...wake me up.

6-Sarah Martin

How could I not love the person whose life so similarly mirrors mine? Her last three kids are literally weeks apart from mine. Our daily conversations about diapers, destructions, and discipling have been a daily life saver for me. She's hilarious, prayerful, kind, and a down to earth woman. She's honest, grounded, and wise. This year I called and she answered. She was a real friend when I needed one. I've learned it's not so much what we have in common, but Who we have in common that makes me love her so.

7-Beth Moore

I'm not going to lie, I thought maybe I was too un-Baptist to participate in her studies, and maybe for a few pages every once in a while...I am. Yet, her studies this year [Revelation, Proverbs & Breaking Free] got me back into the Word. God has used her studies to grow my roots down deep once again. I'm also thankful that she loves me so much. I know you think I'm crazy, but she does. She doesn't know me, but I feel it through the screen on my TV and her words on the page. I also wouldn't mind if I met her this year...just sayin'.

8-Margaret Parham

Margaret has been my homebirth midwife for my last three children. I can not begin to express to you the relationship that has grown between us over the years. She's become very dear to my heart and I greatly respect her and the work she does. I am so thankful she gives of herself to offer me the blessed opportunity to birth at home [like earlier this March] with a Christian professional watching over me. She's hard on me about diet and exercise, but I've got three great births to thank her for. She promised me at least room for 5 more births in my file so you'll be hearing more about her...maybe 2012?

9-Luci Galloway

Luci is my pioneer woman. I feel like God has set her out before me to pave the way...to lead, guide and promise me I can make it where God has called me. She actually is the one who introduced me to Margaret. I'm hoping for her luck with number four [GIRL!] as she started off with three boys as well. She leads our local homeschool co-op and reaches out to me often even though I'm always traveling. And whether she's enjoyed it or not, she's been my go-to person over the years for all things organic and homeopathic. She's taking a liking to me [I think?] and I'm humbled...excited...and hopeful for more time with her in 2011.

10-Ann Voskamp

I don't know Ann personally, but her blog [Luci introduced me to, because she's good like that...always telling me about great blogs] has greatly ministered to me over the last several months. She's been inspirational as a disciple, wife, mother, educator, and writer. I admire her heart, respect her work, and am constantly awestruck by her writings. She paints images with words and weaves together heaven and earth in a practical-tangiable way for me . Somehow across that screen, she's daily causing me to rise up and never become settled with myself, my life or my God.

[and since 2011 is around the corner this list will include 11 instead of 10]

11-You

The women readers who humored me by reading my ramblings these past few months. Y'all have encouraged me, laughed with me [at me!] taught me, and inspired me. I'm thankful for your time. I'm committed to honoring it's value in 2011.

[If you aren't on the list, don't fret, if you know me, 

you shaped me for the better, and I'm thankful for you.]

***

Every week I invite my friends in blogworld to join me in being thankful. 

[1] write a blog post with 10 things you're thankful for this week

[2] mention this blog post [hyperlink my blog and/or grab my button]

[3] use McLinky below by clicking on "Click here to enter"

You don't have to do it on Thursdays. You can do it any day of the week. Call it whatever you want. Be creative...use words, pictures, poems, etc. Come back throughout the week and read other's lists and make new friends.
Ask others to join too. 

Thanks for participating and being patient as "we" grow.