Thanksgiving...I have been thinking alot about Thanksgiving. I am a facebook reader and I love to look at pictures and read about friends and family. For the month of November everyone has been posting the things they are most thankful for. For some reason this bothered me this year. I kept asking myself why we don't share more about the things we are thankful for. So, of this last month I have been thinking of the many things I am thankful for and the things I am going to try and be more thankful for.
First and most of all I am thankful for my salvation! I am thankful that God sent his Son to die for me and to save me from my nasty sin. At the same time I am thankful that God saw fit to bring my loving husband to His saving grace. On top of that I am so very thankful that my son Kalebh has found this free gift as well and I am praying for the day that sweet Kailiegh will come to understand His saving grace as well.
I am thankful for my sweet Momma and Daddy. I am thankful that they still love each other and have a happy marriage of almost 40 years. I am proud that they not only love each other but that love and serve our Heavenly Father. I am thankful that they drug me church all of my life. At the time I was very annoyed that they felt this was imporatn but now I am so very grateful. Thank you mom and dad for not only loving me but for believing in me. We have had some wild times, sad times, very hard and life changing times but most of all we have come though all of it together and with a stronger understanding that Christ is our solid rock. I love you forever!
Granny -- I am so very thankful for her and what she means to me. This year has been a very hard year for not only her but for us to. Thankful she is feeling better and getting stronger. As I left the nursing home the other day I just cried and cried not for any reason other than I was sad for me. SHe was happy, she was glad to see us and she seemed happy where she was. But, I was sad for me. That I couldn't walk into her house slam the garage door and see her sitting in her chair listen to the tv that was about 10 times to loud. I couldn't smell her cooking breakfast or kiss her as I went and crawled into the bed next to her. I am thankful for her life, her love for her family but more than all of that I am thankful that she has shown each of us grandkids how you are to love, lead and grow in our relationships with Christ. Thankful that we have wonderful memories!
Family --- Whew the list could and might go on and on...I am thankful for my sister. She is everything I am not and that is what I love the most about her. She is strong, understanding, forgiving, compassionate and she never gives up. I love her with all my heart and I am so thankful for her and all the things she means to me. There have been many times in my life that she has shown up when I need her most and I will forever hold that close to my heart! Not to mention she has given us our sweet sweet Bailey who brings so much joy to our lives. I am thankful for my cousins near and far and to each one of them they mean something dear to me. Matt and Alica I claim as more like brother and sister because we have just been closer in distance than others but I love Matt and how loving and tender hearted he is and Alica is so driven in everything she does.
In-Laws -- I have the best inlaws anyone could as for. My mother in law is more like my second Mom than anything. She has shown me so much about life, love, forgiveness and accomplishing anything you set your mind to. Edith loves me as if I were her own and has taught me so much. My sister in law and brother in law Cindy and Greg are wonderful. They are alot of fun to be around and their kids and mine play so well together. I love the fact that we can all do things together and enjoy each other. My brother in law Bobby is alot of fun as well. He loves my sister and is a good Father as well. Just like my sister Bobby has shown up and been there for me in some really hard times. It is times like this that make someone very special.
Sonic Drinks --- Without them...really do you want to know what I would be like?
Work -- I love the place I work and for the people I work for. I enjoy the ladies I teach with and we have a great time. I am thankful each year for the students I am allowed to teach. I just pray that I not only teach them life lessons but that in some way they see the love of Christ in me.
Kalebh -- Kalebh brings so much joy to my life. He makes us laugh, he makes us think and he is always so forgiving of everyone. Kalebh is so tender hearted and he wants to please everyone. He wants to know more every day and he works hard at everything he decides to do. Kalebh brought surprise to our lives but he has taught me so many things in his short 8 years and I am so excited to see how God is going to use him in the years to come.
Kailiegh -- She is a ball of fire. When she is hungry she is mad, when she is sleepy she is emotional when she is fully rested she is a ball of fire! She is loving when she wants to be, she is jealous of her Daddy ( doesn't want anyone loving on him but her) but at the same time she is sharing, she isn't afraid to try anything one time and she will tell you what is on her mind. I love her with all my heart I prayed she would be a cuddly baby and at 4 she still crawls up in my lap and loves on me at the right moment and she reminds me as to why my mom and dad loved quit days :) Our life wouldn't be the same without her and I am so thankful that God saw fit to give me a daughter....just like me :)
Chad -- He is everything a girl could ask for. He loves me when I am mad, sad, cranky, or just being me. He is always so good to me. He treats me like a princess and if he could give me the moon he would! I love him so much and I am so thankful that God not only blessed me with him as my husband but blessed us together as parents I can't image traveling this journey of life with anyone other than him. I catch myself at times staring at him with the kids and just thanking God for blessing me.
Friend -- I have been blessed with great friends, from long ago to not so long ago. You make me laugh you make me smile but more than anything you inspire me to be a better friend in each and every way.
Freedom -- I am thankful we leave in a free Country where we can serve whatever God we want to and worship him openly. I am thankful for freedom in many forms.
Most of all this Thanksgiving season I am reminded that I don't spend enough time being thankful. I spent time this thanksgiving thinking how we spend one day being thankful followed by the next day being about how much more "stuff" can I get. My goal is to be more thankful and less waiting. I am remind by many friends that serve as missionaries and by the kids I teach each day that there are so many that have less to be thankful for than I do but spend more time showing Thanksgiving!
I hope each of you have had a wonderful holiday of Thanksgiving but my prayer is that you will join me in giving thanks to the Creator each and every day.
Love to all,
