Big Ten.

It's Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving because it means friends, family, and gratitude. It would be incredible if I could stop every day to savor the things I'm grateful for, but honestly, Thanksgiving would lose some of it's appeal if that happened. I do gratitude lists here and there, but Thanksgiving allows for a deeper look at things that rock despite what the surface looks like. So here's some gratitude in no particular order.

1. Jesus. Oh yes, I went there first. I'm so grateful for what my life looks like today because of what Jesus did for us so long ago. That I don't have to run around earning grace. That it falls freely and covers us all because He made the ultimate sacrifice. It's not about liturgy, rote prayer, or rules. It's about love.

2. My family. I absolutely love and adore my family. I'm sprawled diagonally on the couch right now (THE best spot on the couch) missing them so deeply. My body threw a curve ball, and I can't fly to meet them. I am so grateful to be a part of a family that means so much to me that I miss them this much.

3. Girlfriends. I have been incredibly blessed with amazing women in my life. Women who laugh and cry with me and pick up the pieces when I feel shattered. Women who visit me in the hospital because they know what loneliness does to my soul. Women who speak truth to me because they care about me and not my feelings.

4. Modern Medicine. I'm so grateful that as technology has advanced so has medicine. I'm grateful strains of things that used to kill people have been eradicated, and hope remains for cures for the terrible things that can afflict our bodies.

5. Technology. This is pretty broad and vague, but I'm grateful to be able to connect with people in new and brilliant ways that were unheard of 10 years ago (Facebook, Twitter, Text Messaging, etc.). I refuse, however, to let modern technology replace the exchange that happens in a face-to-face conversation with a friend.

6. Wealth. I am so blessed, and I take it for grated all the time. I wish for more money and more possessions, forgetting there are children and families fighting for pennies. I'm grateful for organizations like Compassion and Food For The Hungry that allow us to share the goods and bless the poor.

7. Church. I love Heartland Community Church and what it means to be a part of the bigger church. LOVE LOVE LOVE it.

8. Freedom. The depth of our freedom as US citizens escapes me a lot -- until I hear about someone who died doing something I do every day, or saying something I say every day. I'm grateful for the liberties I have to speak my mind, to worship as I want, and to earn a living. We are so blessed and so rich.

9. Transportation. This could be a technology one, but I'm counting it as something separate. I'm grateful for planes, trains, and automobiles, for the opportunity to see God's creation without having to walk or row thousands of miles.

10. My 5 Senses. I'm so thankful that I have eyes that see, ears that hear, a really strong sniffer, fingers that feel, and a mouth that tastes. I can walk, talk, laugh, sing, listen to music... the list is endless, and I'm so grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

To hold you over...

I'm linking to a contest for a bunch of cool stuff from a really funny guy.

I will update this thing with a REAL post by the end of the week. I promise.

Let's Box...

Healthcare Reform. I'm going there. I usually keep my thoughts and opinions to myself regarding hot issues because 1. I like to win, and 2. I suck a debating and therefore usually don't win. I won't be quiet on this issue. I will never tell you how to think or believe, but I will tell you what I do.

I have Crohn's disease. I've linked to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, which funds and supports research for Crohn's and Colitis, as well as provide educational information about the diseases. I won't waste time here to explain something that is explained better elsewhere. I will, however, take the time to talk about what living with Crohn's means. It means that at 27 years old, I have over $10,000 in medical debt, and I have ALWAYS had insurance. It means I pay an arm and a leg to KEEP this insurance. It also means that I pay around $400/month for prescriptions, and my body makes it really hard to work enough to keep on top of any of this. My parents financially support me. Without them, I have no idea where I would be. So, yes, when you ask if/why I live at home, it's because shit needs to change, and God blessed me with an incredible family.

I was in the hospital twice this past month. Two back-to-back 3-4 day stays. During each stay a "financial counselor" marched her ass up to my room to ask me if I could put money down for my stay. She encouraged me to call family and FRIENDS to get this money. She forgot to look past the fact that I was 1. sick enough to require hospitalization and 2. completely unable to give her a penny.

So, when you say things don't need to change, I will beg to differ. And if you have not experienced chronic illness in a loved one or yourself, I will ask you to first, shut up and get educated, and second, you might be the first friend I call to pay that $10,000 bill -- after all, it will get worse if things don't change.

Like I said, I won't for a second tell you who to vote for or what to believe. But kids, shit needs to change because none of this is right. Part 2 will include what it's like to deal with Medicare on a daily basis through my job, but I don't have the energy for that right now.

Mama Cooksey!

I have the World's best Mom. No lie. She's the greatest. She's beautiful for beginners, and she has a giant brain. She's incredibly bright. Now, having said that. Sometimes there seem to be neural connections that just don't get made. It's probably because there's SO MUCH activity going on upstairs that there just isn't enough energy to complete the jump. Mama Cooksey is Wonder Woman. Actually, Wonder Woman doesn't have shit on Mama Cooksey. She is in charge of a medical billing giant (or just her husband's practice), heads the team in charge of all the teenage girls at church, and is the best Mom ever -- all day, every day. It's a lot of work. Today, Mama Cooksey is celebrating another anniversary of her 29th Birthday. Happy 29th Birthday again, and again, and again... and again!

I honor of my wonderful Mom, I'd like to share a few stories of what it's like to be raised by the World's Best Mom. Stories like how we went on a lot of road trips when we were kids. Every Summer, Mama would load herself in the Jeep with her 3 kids (us) for a trek across the U.S. We went to exotic locations such as Washington D.C, Atlanta, San Antonio, San Diego, Phoenix, and Custer, South Dakota. On 98% of these trips Mama Cooksey either got a speeding ticket or... lost. That's right, lost. I don't mean in a "I have no idea where I am" type of lost. It was more of a "Damn, I should have taken that exit and now we have to go 20 miles out of our way" lost. During these "lost" periods, we learned a great life lesson: how to be still. And absolutely quiet.

Recently, Mama Cooksey was in town for Mother's Day (which happened to share a weekend with my brother's college graduation). We learned the importance of being flexible and creative. Mama Cooksey's incredible creative brain naturally and effortlessly invents fun when the Cooksey kids really suck at Badminton. For instance, after a Birdie was hit and successfully soared over the net (there were very few of these) and landed on the ground (there were a lot more of those), Mama Cooksey would lift up her goal post arms and shout "Touch Down!"
The most remarkable thing about Mama Cooksey, aside from her Chuck Norris-esque strength, is her silent laugh. Mama Cooksey loves a good joke, which is good because her three kids are really funny. We know we've said a good one when we get the silent laugh. It involves about 30 seconds of silence, followed by a jovial high-pitched shriek. It's one of the greatest things you will ever witness. Good thing I caught it on video.



Happy Birthday, Mom. I love you SO SO SO much!

She's so HIP!

This is a long overdue tribute to my one and only wombmate, Lindsey. She had done a couple posts about how awesome I am. I have done zero. Honestly, she's not that funny. Haha, just kidding. She's SO funny it's taken me this long to truncate it into a post. She and I have shared a lot of things. Things like clothes, food, already chewed gum, bedrooms, and a completely inappropriate sense of humor (as she has mentioned, but needs mentioning again).

One thing, however, that we don't share is an awesome pose. The look-left-and-put-your-hand-on-your-hip-with-an-extra-touch-of-sass pose. This pose has been invented and perfected by Lindsey. Naomi and Tyra don't have shit on this pose. It's untouchable. In fact, I was hesitant about sharing information about this pose because it is killer. Deadly, in fact. If you imitate it, you will die.

Moving on. I've created a collage of this pose. I had 17 pictures on my computer of her in this pose. No lie. She's serious about looking good. I chose 5 of the best examples of the pose -- in one of them, you get a glimpse of what Lindsey will look like pregnant and sassy. It's scary, go call your Mommy now.


I love you, Baby B!

To Notice

Edit: I originally wrote this a good month or so after reading "The Noticer" the first time. I just read it again, and I have goodness to add. Just get this book, open your mind, and forget that it says "self-help" on the back because it's not a self-help book. It's a book about perspective and the beautiful way our relationships with each other can encourage growth. That is all.

Andy Andrews has a new book out called "The Noticer." It's an incredible book that challenges the reader to offer a perspective change to people in your life. It changed my perspective of my own life. I've been incredibly blessed to have "Noticers" placed in my life at various stages. These people have spoken truth into my life when I have been absolutely incapable of seeing it by myself. My life has been radically blessed by these people who have offered a fresh perspective when I've been too focused on my own problems to see the gifts in my life and the talents in my heart.

Andy Andrews has an incredible story. The book starts with Andy in one of his presumably darkest places. His ability to rise above this no doubt is due in part to his Noticer, Jones. It's a simple story with profound ramifications. It challenged me to be a Noticer, to offer perspective to my struggling friends. As a book, it was beautifully written, quite an easy read, and it has already been passed on to dear friends.

I really challenge you dear friends to pick up a copy of this book and start Noticing. It changes everything, and invites a delicate spirit into your life.

Nancy vs. Tonya, Round 2

This evening Cate & Joanie brought over frozen custard. I asked them if they knew who Nancy Kerrigan & Tonya Harding were.

Cate's reply, "Is she [Nancy] related to...Jason?"

Nope.