Thank-ful-ness

I am always thankful, grateful, and feel very blessed with the life God has given me. It hasn't always been easy, but even those times have given me something to be thankful for. The month of November everyone tends to reflect on the things that truly make them thankful. I am no different. Here is my list of things I am most thankful for...

God & Another chance to get it right.
 I fail daily. Miserably. But I try. I am thankful that God gives me unconditional love and support even when I fail against Him. I am thankful that each day He gives me a new day to get it right. His unending love and mercy, His grace, His dedication make me very thankful that I serve a mighty God.

My Husband.
Jay. Someone who never ceases to frustrate me as much as he amazes me, but I am so thankful for him. I am so very, very grateful for his dedication to us, his family. I am thankful that he works, and works hard, to provide for us. I am thankful God gave me him.

My Child.
Jake. My sweet, little Jake. I am thankful for him for so many reasons. He is all I physically have left of Travis and the good memories of our time together. He is my child, a child I wasn't so sure I would ever have. I am thankful that he challenges me, he makes life so much happier, even when he makes it very challenging. I am thankful that he is teaching me so much more than I could have ever learned on my own. For that I am grateful.

My Parents.
I have found there are few like them. I am thankful they are my parents. I am thankful that they have always given way too much to my brother and I and that we never did without love, among the material things. I am thankful they were our friends as well as our parents. I am thankful they allowed us to grow into our own personalities, to become what we wanted. I am thankful for all the lessons, even the ones that I didn't want them to teach me. I am thankful for the life they provided for us.

My Sibling(s).
Jeff & Jess. Yes, Jess is my sibling too. My brother means more to me than anyone will ever know. I am so thankful that he is who he is. No matter what he does in his life, he always seems to make me proud to be his sister. I am thankful for the moments of competition, for they have taught us both a little bit more about each other. If nothing else, it has shown us a few more buttons to push. I am thankful for the friendship that he gives me above being my brother. I am thankful that he married Jess and that she is more than a sister-in-law. She is the closest thing I will ever have to a sister and I am thankful for that sisterhood. My siblings are part of my daily life that make my heart a little happier and my world spin just a little faster.

My Family.
All of them. We have a very diverse family but I am so grateful for each and every one of them. Each one has a very unique story that has either taught me what I want to do in life, or what I absolutely never want for my life, and either way I am glad they could show me these lessons first hand. I am thankful that they are my family, what a boring life I would have without them.

My REAL Friends.
The few, the proud, the real. Those are few and far in between once you get up to the age of high school reunions. I have a select few I can count on one hand that I consider real, true, genuine friends. I am thankful for those few, and wouldn't trade what we share for the world. Each one has impacted my life in different ways and I can only hope that I have returned the favor, big or small.

Medical Technology & Modern Medicine.
Without the two, where would my Jacob be? I have spent a small fortune in doctors/hospital bills this year but I am glad to pay for each one of them. For each one of them has brought me answers to why my baby could not stay healthy. Each one of them has given me a little bit of peace in my heart that he will grow to be a strong, healthy, rowdy little fella like his father. For that I am thankful.

Photography.
Sometimes pictures are all we have. It is true that a picture can say a thousand words. Anyone that doesn't believe that can come take a look at the multiple containers of pictures I have of the 4 years I had with Travis. There are memories in there that only pictures could describe accurately. Words just don't do the happy times justice. These pictures are all I have left, besides that set of hazel eyes on that brown haired boy that calls me mom. I am thankful for photography.

Heartache & Struggle.
They mold you. Shape you. Define you, if you let them. I am thankful for all that I have been through the last 5 or so years, it has made me realize how strong and how weak I really am. How emotionally broken yet emotionally stable I can be. I am thankful that I have overcome and pressed on, yet still breakdown. I am thankful for the lessons that have come from every heart felt pain.

Travis.
I am thankful for 4 years with a man that changed my life forever. He helped in giving me the gift of a baby that I so desperately wanted but was afraid I would never have. He taught me so much about fighting for what and who you love, how to never give up, and how to love even on the hardest days. He broke me in ways that only he could, but could build me up just as well. He gave me some of the best days of my life and some of the worst days of my life but I am thankful for them all.

First World Blessings.
Or problems, however you look at it. We as US citizens are blessed. We are blessed to live in a country of opportunity. I am thankful for those blessings and I am praying that I can limit the amounts of complaints toward these blessings to a minimal. I am sure that anyone in a third world country would love my first world problems.

Adoption.
Be still my beating heart. This is partially why mission trips are on the back burner of my life. I struggle emotionally with this. I am fine in the moment, but that plane ride back home would be the death of me. My heart would ache for every single one of those babies I just left in that dirt floor, no running water, no central heat/air, orphanage. I am thankful for the services of adoption and those that give their birth children the gift of a better life through adoption. I am praying daily that I will be able to adopt and give a child new life.

Our Church.
There is no greater place to feel at home, then CLife. When we moved to Forney 2 years ago, we longed to find a church that we could call home. A church that we could find friends, that we fit in, that we were not judged. I am thankful that we found just that. I am thankful that even when we can't make it (which is awfully often) we have the resources to teach us the sermon of Sunday morning. I am thankful for its people and the Christ centered friends we have gained from those brick walls. I am thankful for Sunday night fellowship with these friends.

Traditions.
I am thankful for traditions of family. Traditions passed down from generation to generation and the stories of how they all started. I am thankful for the memories created from the traditions. The joy, the laughter, the moments of happiness. Traditions are what makes those we have love and lost seem a little bit closer during the holidays. I am thankful that my family has many traditions, traditions that have been recreated but never broken, traditions carried out from one mom to the next, one dad to the next. Traditions, so thankful for them all.

Coming Together of People.
In times of need, in times of sorrow, in times of happiness, in times of celebration. I am thankful for the coming together of people. The comfort of knowing that there are people that will come together to celebrate new life, and mourn the loss of life. Thankful that in coming together, you are never alone. Thankful for our community & its people.

US Military.
Protection of my freedoms, of my life, of my children's lives. Maybe I am a bit partial and have a huge spot in my heart for the military after being married to a Marine and having an Army brother. Either way, you better count your lucky stars that we have these 18 year old babies who sign that dotted line not having a clue what is to come. They put their lives on the line for all of us back here to continue having the luxurious lives that we do. I am thankful that I know two very special people in my life that sacrificed so much to be apart of something so honorable. Semper Fi & Army Strong.

Service Workers.
Teachers. Fireman. Police. First Responders. LIFE SAVERS in their own categories. These people are the hearts of our society and get very little credit for all that they do. I am thankful that I got the chance to be in that category for 3 years as a middle school teacher and hope that I touched at least one life in my 3 years. I am thankful for the countless friends and family members that have also assumed these roles. Thank you & you are appreciated.

My Job.
Even on the really hard days. I am super envious of my stay at home mommy friends, but I am thankful that in a time where people are dying to find just any job, I have one. A good one, that provides me with just enough to care for my family and health insurance that we could not go without.


And I have a thankful heart for a few of my favorite things......love, laughter, happy hearts, those we've loved and lost and the memories they left in our hearts, the gifts from God in sweet children, and above all the simplier things in life.


Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].
1 Thessalonians 5: 18