Thankful for...

Many of our family members have been blogging daily in November about things that they are thankful for. I thought that was a great idea and will probably follow suit next year. However, this month I devoted most of my blogging to capturing every moment of Drew's existence. (Why am I so obsessed with documenting my kids' childhoods? They are boys and will probably care nothing about the hours and hours that I have spent uploading pictures and typing about their lives. Oh well...)

I did want to take a second to reflect on the abundant bounty of blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon me. I am so in awe of the things that He has done for me and given me. I could never cover it all in one post, but I will attempt to list some of the things that I am thankful for.

1. First and foremost, I am thankful for Jesus. I am grateful for the ultimate sacrifice that He made to allow me to spend an eternity in heaven with Him. I am thankful that He chose me to be His child and allows me to have a daily walk with Him. Without Him, nothing else would have any meaning or worth. He alone is my strength and joy.

2. I am thankful for my church. I am grateful that I have a pastor that I am confident is seeking God fervently and truly desires to lead his flock to a closer relationship with Christ. I am thankful for each of the members of our church that have gone above and beyond to make our family feel welcomed. From the first Sunday that we visited, we felt at home. Especially with the birth of Drew, our church family has been SO supportive. There have been so many phone calls, meals, visits, emails, prayers, and gifts from our sweet church friends. You guys are amazing and I am so thankful for you!!!

3. I am thankful for the amazing man that I am privileged to call my husband. I am grateful that he loves me unconditionally and is able to see past my many faults. I am thankful that he can tell when life is overwhelming me and that those are the times when he gives me extra encouragement (or a nap!). He is so much more than I deserve in a husband. But, somehow God picked me to be his wife. I just love that man with all my being!

4. I am thankful for the two precious souls that the Lord has entrusted me with mothering. I take the role of being their mother very seriously. It isn't a job or just another "hat" that I wear. It is an honor and a privilege.


Clayton is a great kid! He is absolutely hysterical, creative, loving, energetic (that is the understatement of the century - the kid NEVER stops moving), and quick to see the beauty in every situation. He is also strong willed and tests me every single day. He has taught me to be consistent in everything that I do, because he will always hold me accountable.


Drew is a precious gift as well. He has only been here for a month, but I already can't imagine what life was like without him. I love everything about that little guy - from his beautiful blue eyes with their super blond eyelashes, to his crazy hair that sticks up in the back no matter what I do, to his teeny tiny fingers and toes. I am so glad that he is a snuggler. I love that he fits just perfect in my arms and I treasure every moment of getting to hold him. Before too long he will be "on the move" and will probably not want his Mama to hold him nonstop. I am enjoying it while I can.

5. I am thankful for our parents, grandparents, siblings, nieces, and extended family. I am grateful that we have so many family members that love us and would be there in a moment's notice if we needed them. I am thankful that we all share a common faith and values. We may disagree about the little stuff, but we are all on the same page when it comes to the things that really matter. I am so grateful that my children have all four grandparents and three great grandparents. My grandfathers both died before I was born, and my grandmothers passed away when I was 4 and 13. I feel like I missed out on so much by not having grandparents for much of my childhood. I know that my children will learn so much from the 7 grandparents/great-grandparents that they have. There is just so much wisdom and love that Clayton and Drew will get from them. I always wanted my kids to understand the value of family. I am certain that, with our tight network of family, they always will.

6. I am thankful for all of my friends. I laugh whenever I think about how different all of my different groups of friends are. I have "old" friends that I have known since preschool and friends that I adore just as much, but have only known for a few months. One of my favorite things about this stage of our life with our new baby, is that I have gotten to actually see and visit with almost all of my friends in the last month. It has been great! Let's face it, we're all busy and sometimes we can go months without actually seeing our friends one-on-one. Luckily, we live in a technologically advanced time when we can communicate by email, texting, blogging, etc. But, nothing beats a good, old fashioned chat session with a girlfriend. I have loved getting to do just that with most of my sweet pals. I appreciate each and every one of you that I get to call "my friend."


7. I am thankful for Wade's job. In a time where the economy is in the toilet and finances are uncertain, I am grateful that Wade has a job (let alone one that he LOVES!). Wade has always been a hard worker, but I have noticed that he is striving to do even more these days. It is so obvious that he loves what he is doing and really respects his boss. Wade calls his boss, Tony, his "mentor." Tony has really taken the time to teach Wade everything he knows. He has been so good to Wade. Wade works extra hard so that he won't let Tony down. It's just a neat relationship that those two have.

8. I am thankful for my "job." I am grateful every single day that I get to stay home with my
boys. I know that things could change at any time and I could have to go back to work. So, I just try to enjoy it while I can. Please don't ever think that my children are perfect or that every day is a party at our house. There are some days when I would gladly throw on my scrubs and head to the hospital just to escape the craziness. I am exhausted and pushed to my limit by the end of the day. But, it never fails - when it has been a really tough day and I am ready to throw in the towel, Clayton says something hysterical and I remember why it is that I love being at home with him. It is the best job in the world and I am so grateful to have this time with them!

9. I am thankful for our home. I am thankful for the structure itself, of course, but more thankful for the home that we have made it. It was so evident that the Lord had a hand in our home search. He led us to a great area and a house that works perfectly with our family. Throughout the whole process, we were dependent on Him and prayed that he would lead us in the decisions that we were supposed to make. We ended up getting a great house (that needed a little love/paint/flooring/odds & ends) at a steal of a price. With a lot of work, we made it our own. Now it is truly a "home" that I love. I love that you can hear the pounding of little superhero feet and the coos of a newborn baby. You can see where Clayton whacked the wall in the dining room when he was a little to zealous in showing us his golf swing. I love that Wade has an office that allows him to work from home. I love that there is a spot for all of my scrapbooking/craft supplies. I love that I can see us living here for many years to come. It is a great house!


I have so much to be grateful for! Next year I promise to spread out my thankfulness so that it isn't crammed into one super long post. :)