A Month Full of Thankful Thursdays

WOW!!!!  That about sums up this month.  My dad reminded me last night that I have not posted since May 7th.  I can assure you it has not been by choice.  We have had a rather eventful month.  Every Thursday has found me away from my computer, unable to post.  The last time I tried it from my trusty phone that didn't turn out so good.  So, I have continued to look ahead until the next Thursday with my thankful list continuing to grow in light of every little event that we've experienced.  Life sure does catch us by surprise sometimes, but I am so very thankful that it absolutely NEVER catches our amazing God by surprise (#111)

#112  It really doesn't matter how clean my house is, or if every piece of laundry is washed, dried, folded, and put away.  The time I spend with my girls, my husband, my family, and my friends is a gift from God.  I am thankful for each of those moments. 

#113  I am thankful for days when no one is sneezing, coughing, vomiting, having a headache, or (you fill in the blank).  We really do take our health for granted.

#114  I am thankful for Dr. Pepper and Happy Hour at Sonic.

#115  I am thankful for pool days once again!!!!

#116  I am thankful for dance recitals and choir musicals.

#117  I am thankful for friends like Beth who will take the time to have her precious daughters record and send a special video to my sick little one in the hospital just to brighten her day.

#118  I am thankful for a message like this sent from many miles away--"I wish I was there to make sure you were taken care of."  God blesses our life with special friends who understand the depth of that kind of message only a few times in our life. 

#119  I am thankful for health insurance. What a blessing to owe only a small price for such amazing health care!!!!  Five days in VCH is not cheap.  Insurance is a blessing.

#120  I am thankful for a husband who works hard, loves selflessly, laughs with us daily, enjoys being with us, chooses to like our hobbies/interests, . . .  the lists goes on and on.

#121  I am thankful for my daddy!!!  He came to sit with me while Anna Claire was in the hospital just so I wouldn't have to be alone so Jason could continue to work.  He loves his kids and grand kids. 

#122  I am thankful for suffering.  God teaches just how BIG He is, just how much He is into every detail of our life, just how much He can be trusted, just how much His ways are higher than our ways, just how much He loves us.

#123  I am thankful for Kim, Chris, Kathryn Grace, and Christin Faith.  They are like family to us.  What would we do without them?!  I can't begin to imagine.  For five days our oldest daughter lived with them while we made sure our youngest was taken care of in the hospital.  Not one time did I have to wonder if she was safe, protected, fed, bathed, loved, . . .  Friends like that are a treasure.

#124  I am thankful for doctors and nurses, housekeepers, IV techs, dietary/nutrition staff--every single person who crossed our path at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital.  I am thankful for the care that we received that restored our precious daughter to full health.  I am thankful for the guiding hand of our Great Physician.

#125  I am thankful for a successful year of homeschooling.  I couldn't be prouder of the progress of Carrington and Anna Claire.  They both worked so hard.  God rewarded their efforts; He expanded their knowledge; He grew them spiritually, emotionally, physically, and mentally. 

#126  I am thankful for friends who visited AC or sent her a special little treat to brighten her days in the hospital.  She was BLESSED beyond what words can truly say.

#127  I am thankful to be a mom!!!!

#128  I am thankful to be on the journey toward adoption even on days when the path seems rugged and steep, days when the path seems covered in quicksand, days when the path seems like where trudging through mud. 

#129  I am thankful for summer Bible study in the book of Nehemiah.

#130  I am thankful for the sacrifices of men and women in uniform, past and present.

#131  I am thankful for my mom.  I am thankful that when I was a teenager she was my friend, not my enemy, that she was willing to listen to me, that she had time for me. 

#132  I am thankful for food, shelter, clothing, and love.  The simple things in life are often so very easy to overlook.  Today I got to eat Mexican--one of my favorites.  I get to sleep in a comfy bed tonight.  I had a choice of what to wear today, and I have the amazing opportunity to love and to be loved by many.

#133  I am thankful for my friends from Los Trojas, amazing how God binds your heart to those who aren't just like you, across language barriers, just by investing a little time in building relationships.

#134  I am thankful for Bill and Sharon Z. and their leadership in our church in the lives of young families.

#135  I am thankful for Barbara and Bill and how they love our family like we were their children and grandchildren.

#136  I am thankful for a weekend in the mountains with Meme and Grandpa.

#137  I am thankful for a garden full of plants just waiting for a harvest of fruits and veggies.

#138  I am thankful for Shonda and Neil and how they make me laugh hysterically and how they jumped right in to help take care of Carrington on the day AC was so sick.

#139  I am thankful for dance teachers who would make AC feel so special by sending her the cutest pink pig and tiara craft kit to the hospital.

#140  I am thankful for Kelly.  A long phone conversation with her makes everything seem okay!!!  She loved us so well when my sweet girl was in the hospital.

WHEW!!!  I'll stop here for this week.  I feel like I could go on and on forever.  I have so much to be thankful for.  I don't want to cease to notice every detail in my life that really is a gift from the Father. 

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!

His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 107:1

Thankful from a Bench in DisneyWorld. . . Or Maybe Not!

I originally wrote this post on Thursday as I sat on a bench in Disney right in front of Cinderella's castle.  However, as you know, technology can sometimes be difficult.  And, after writing the whole thing, it didn't post exactly right, so it was deleted, and here I sit.  Not, on a bench in Disney, but in my bonus room/school room, back at home, returning to the everyday routine of life, reflecting on what I would like to add to my thankful list.  So, here it goes. . .

103.  I am thankful for a week spent making memories with my family. I'm thankful for laughter sometimes with each other, sometimes at what we saw happening around us (but never at the expense of others), sometimes at what one of us said (often Anna Claire because that kid is absolutely a stand-up show all by herself!!!), sometimes at what one of us did (that could have been anyone of us at any given late night hour--bless the poor guy whose foot I ran over with the stroller--the look on his face was priceless but his immediate response of  "it's okay, I still have a finger!" was good enough for camera!). . .  I'm thankful for seeing the magic in my daughters' eyes, the magic to believe, to imagine, and to dream!


104.  I'm thankful for a reminder just this morning of God's protection and provision, that what we see as a closed door and as something painful is often His watchful eye.  We may not always see that at the time, but down the road we will nod our head in agreement knowing that God always works for our good!


105.  I am thankful for air travel.  How amazing is that!!!!  I am thankful that we made that trip to Orlando in just a couple of hours.  I absolutely do NOT like long car rides.  That short little plane ride was delightful!!!!


106.  I am thankful for my friend Sharon and her wonderful sense of humor.  She has a unique way of making me laugh and a way of helping me see the lighter side of some pretty intense situations.  I am thankful that God knows who we need in our life and who will help us carry some of our heavy loads.


107.  I am thankful for my nephew Slade.  His sweet little voice and his cute facial expressions melt my heart.  I love the way he says the names of my girls and myself and "Uncle Jase."  He's a keeper!!!  What a blessing he is!!!


108.  I am thankful for my mother-in-law and my father-in-law and how much they love their family.  They love to love us.  They find great delight in giving of themselves.  They want to help us in anyway possible and that means a lot.  Jason and I are so blessed with wonderful parents who loves us and love our children.  We have a remarkable spiritual heritage and we are better people because of it.  We are blessed!


109.  I am thankful for Monday night outreach.  I missed going last week and I can't wait to go tonight.  What a joy it is to see those same sweet faces each week and to share life with them!


110.  I am thankful for the women in my Bunco group.  They lift me up.  They bring fun and laughter to my month. 


111.  And, if you're reading this post, I am thankful for you!!!!  Thankful that you are a part of my life.  Thankful that you are investing in me and my family in some way and that God has given us the opportunity to share this remarkable journey called life.  Let's live it to the fullest!!!!