I Am Thankful For....

As we approach the holiday season, with Thanksgiving kicking it off, I felt it would be appropriate to do a post about being thankful. Having a child with not one but TWO chronic illnesses, well, it can be very easy to get caught up in the negatives of life. But really, we have so very much to be thankful for. So, here goes....

1) First and foremost I am thankful that I finally, after 36 years of attending various churches I finally know what it means to love God our Father with all my heart and soul and feel His love in return.
2) I am thankful for my family and my friends. Without them life would be boring and lonely. They also help keep me on the straight and narrow. Some of them by forcing me to keep THEM on the straight and narrow ;o)
3) My church, they have become my friends and my family. I can't imagine my life without them now. It's like they have always been there. So #3 really ties #'s 1 & 2 together.
4)Laughter...I am so very thankful for laughter. On my worst days when I feel like nothing is worth it anymore, something or someone makes me laugh and that is all it takes to make me feel better.
5)I am thankful for the medicines that Bean takes. Because despite their dangers and risks, they are what is giving her a somewhat "normal" life.
6) I am even thankful for her illnesses. They are what have shaped and defined our lives to what they are now. They have made us stronger, more confident, made us move to a new state, start our new lives, etc (see #'s 1-3)

These are just a few examples. I mean really I could go on and on in great detail forever of the things I am thankful for. The sun, moon, stars, trees, ocean, clouds, FOOD, music, movies, blankets warm from the dryer, soft kisses, sticky hands and chubby arms, cherub smiles, a good book, naps, sleeping children, good dreams, PJ days, pancake breakfasts with lots of syrup, hot coffee in the morning, Christmas morning with eyes of wonder, crunchy leaves in the Fall......See what I mean? I could go on forever :o)
I hope that you and yours have a blessed holiday season. Please remember, take a moment and count your blessings. We ALL have them.

1 Timothy 4:4-5 (New International Version, ©2010)

4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.