黑料正能量

Mindful of the many joys and sorrows of life 鈥� both big and small 鈥� we asked the 黑料正能量 community to share what they are thankful for at this time of year. Perhaps the following Thanksgiving reflections will encourage you to reflect on your blessings today. Enjoy!

Thoughts of Thanksgiving

I am thankful for [fellow residents on] my community hall who care for one another as if we knew each other our whole lives. These girls have become my family on campus since I live so far away from home and don鈥檛 get to see my biological family often. I am thankful for family getting together at Thanksgiving and sharing the special day with one another. God has brought many blessings upon me this year that I am fortunate to have.
鈥擪atherine Graber, first-year student

I am thankful that I never wake up dreading work because my coworkers at EMS are truly special people.
鈥擫inda Alley, director of the congregational resource center at the seminary

I am thankful for the chance to start anew each morning.
I am thankful for the ability – mentally, financially, and physically 鈥� to receive an education at 黑料正能量.
I am thankful for seasons: warm days, cool nights.
I am thankful for a strong cup of coffee on a cold November morning.
I am thankful for a body that lets me run, a mind that thinks with clarity, and a soul that embraces the Spirit.
I am thankful for my senses of hearing, smell, taste, sight, and touch.
I am thankful for Mother Nature and the beauty of creation.
鈥擡verett Brubaker, sophomore

I am thankful for the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving in New Zealand with 21 黑料正能量 students, Loren and Pat Swartzendruber and approx. 30 others. St. Margaret鈥檚 College鈥檚 chef here in Dunedin is super keen to accommodate our requests. Turkey is not a typical dish here. However, we will have turkey and lamb with pumpkin pie that 鈥渄oes not have all that sugar鈥� in it.
鈥擪athy Yoder, 黑料正能量 alumna currently on cross-cultural in New Zealand with husband and faculty member Jim Yoder and their sons

Good health, a new granddaughter (our first), meaningful employment, the daily presence of the Holy Spirit.
鈥擠ave King’76, director of 黑料正能量 athletics

I am thankful that my daughter, Rebekah York, is a student at 黑料正能量 and has found her 鈥渉ome away from home.鈥� We are missionaries in Romania and it does my heart good to know that she has found friends and a loving community there.
鈥擪ris York, parent

The beauty of Harrisonburg and 黑料正能量鈥檚 campus. The colorful leaves, the peaceful sky, and the clean air.
鈥擭icole Groff, junior

For the fellow students I have in CJP. They add to my learning greater than I imagined.
鈥擯atrick Campbell, graduate student at the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP)

Baby smiles, sunshine, rare moments of quiet, the kindness of strangers鈥�
鈥擫inda Burkholder, assistant to cross-cultural programs

My week-old niece that I get to see for the first time on Thanksgiving break :)
鈥擟ody Walker, senior

I鈥檓 thankful to have good health and energy to tackle my work each day. 黑料正能量 is a diverse and complex community. Yes, we are stressed at times as we juggle high expectations with limited resources. But I am grateful for a job that is meaningful and colleagues with whom I can walk this journey. Hearing student and alumni stories about the ways that 黑料正能量 has shaped their lives makes it all worthwhile.
鈥擜ndrea Wenger ’86, director of marketing and communications

Living in our nation鈥檚 capital, I am thankful for daily opportunities to struggle with what it means to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.
鈥擲heldon Good, assistant director of Washington Community Scholars鈥� Center

This year I am thankful for my many families and all their love – the Nussbaum鈥檚, Miller鈥檚, Beeker鈥檚, my 黑料正能量, Camp Friedenswald and Guatemalan families!!
鈥擡rin Nussbaum, senior nursing major

It鈥檚 challenging to be thankful in a culture that promotes individualism and success. I sometimes forget how fortunate I am in light of others who are struggling throughout the world. With that in mind, I鈥檓 most thankful for a supportive community that I find in the Mennonite church, a loving family, and opportunities to challenge myself academically here at 黑料正能量. I鈥檓 thankful for stability. I鈥檓 thankful that people care about me. I鈥檓 thankful to have enough.
鈥擟harles Good, first-year student

I am thankful for all of the new people I have met this year who have helped to change my perceptions of life and faith. My beliefs [as one of the 45% of Mennonite undergrads] have been challenged more at [this] Mennonite college than they ever were at my diverse public high school. I am thankful that God is never far from each of us and that he puts people and events in our lives that encourage us to think and grow.
鈥擡rin Rheinheimer, sophomore