50 things to be thankful for

I woke up this morning with a terrible headache and allergies. If you can call how I spent my hours last night sleep, I only got 5 hours of it. But today is the day to be thankful, and so, no matter how terrible I may feel right now, I know I am very very blessed beyond what I deserve. And, in order to put things into perspective, my sister and I made a list of our top 50 things to be thankful for:

1. A magnificently loving Savior who loves us regardless of all our flaws
2. A mom who loves us and takes care of us when we are sick no matter what our age
3. A father who would give his life for us in the blink of an eye
4. Family and all the many ways they are always there for us
5. Friends who fill our lives with joy
6. Laughing til it hurts
7. Peanut butter sandwiches
8. Chicken noodle soup
9. Coffee and Starbucks









10. Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
11. Puppies to snuggle with
12. Stuffed animals to cuddle with
13. Disney movies
14. Rainbows to remind us of God's goodness
15. Majestic mountains
16. Texas sunsets
17. Reading when its rainy
18. Homemade hot cocoa
19. Cuban grandfathers :)
20. Melodious music
21. Grandma's homestyle cooking
22. Braum's peanut butter ice cream with hard chocolate coating (Rachael) Braum's cappuccino chunky chocolate frozen yogurt with hard chocolate coating (Natalie)
23. The Grand Canyon
24. Uncle Ronnie's bluebonnet paintings







25. Honeycrisp Apples
26. Culture
27. Concerts
28. Sisters







29. Memories of torrential rain in Mexico
30. Cooking with family and/or friends
31. Christmas cookies
32. Christmas carols
33. Hot apple cider
34. Snickerdoodles and chocolate chip cookies
35. Mexico mission trips







36. Apples to Apples with family and friends
37. Uncle Larry's lasagna
38. Giada's cookbooks
39. Homemade bread
40. Hot donuts on an early Sunday morning
41. Stars at night in Arizona
42. Birthday parties







43. Whitney's Mom's cheescakes
44. Pumpkin pie
45. Jiff peanut butter on a spoon
46. Roommates who make the world go round :)
47. Fortress of Doubletude nights with Whitney (Rachael) Photo shoots with Mandie (Natalie)







48. On the Border Dates
49. Sparky's hugs and back rubs that make everything better
50. Smitten Kitchen cooking blog

And so much more . . .

Have a blessed and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!

Love always,
the Hedge girls

In His hands

Hello all,

I figured it was about time I post an update about my life. School is school is school, not bad and more than halfway through the semester. One thing is for sure: life is flying by!! This past month has had its many ups and downs. My sister has yet again been sick, but this time for weeks (poor thing). On top of it all I was not doing so hot myself, considering the onset of October brought on a nasty cold which took me over four weeks to recover from completely. Still, God is good and life could be much worse so no complaints.

I am finally beginning to feel a sense of direction for life after graduation. I have suddenly but very thoughtfully decided to change my career focus back to occupational therapy. This was my profession of choice when I began college in 2008, but I had an entire year of feeling unsure about that major and exploring other options for grad school. I like the idea of a fairly flexible but secure job where I can help people as well as not have to spend so much time working to bring in a decent income. This would give me more free time to volunteer and one day be there for my family (in the future of course) with a good income (which I can use to reach out to and support others more). I feel much more peaceful and in the Lord's will with my decision to again pursue OT.

Along with this decision came the realization that I would not be able to apply for grad school until next October. This will give me a year off from school!! What a perfect opportunity to spend a year working and serving others and traveling. I have already begun speaking with Mandie, and we are now planning on a trip to serve somewhere out of the country after she graduates in December before I go to grad school. We have not yet come up with any sort of plans for our departure (dates, location, costs, etc.), but are praying and asking the Lord to open the doors and lead us to where He intends for us to go. I ask that you please pray for God to guide and direct our hearts and make the path which we are to take evident to us both.

As far as what I will do until Mandie graduates from her program and our trip is planned, I still do not know for sure. Many days it is hard to be patient for the Lord's guidance, but I trust He will show me where I am to go. He has never failed me before. I have popcorned various ideas: going to live with my grandparents for a few months, moving back home to work and help my mom with the clinic, or staying in Denton and continuing my work with CIS and maybe volunteering more with the International Student Fellowship. But in the end, it is up to Him.

Final thoughts for this post: I am currently going through Step studies, and I am becoming an avid believer that everyone should go through Steps if they have the opportunity. It is not easy, as the study addresses many difficult and taboo topics in the Christian community. It forces you to really look at your heart and sins and failures directly through the eyes of Scripture. While I do not struggle with any obviously visible sins, this study has challenged me because it deals not only with external actions but also internal thoughts, beliefs, and feelings. In Samuel 16:7 it says "The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." This is why I think this study is for everyone, from the most obvious of sinners to the most outwardly righteous.

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Isaiah 64:6

God bless!!