I am utterly amazed at the blessing God has bestowed upon me. With not an ounce of deserving. Some friends were posting on Facebook from November 1st through Thansgiving one thing each day they were grateful for. Knowing I'd fall behind, I saved them for this post.
1. I am saved by Grace.
2. I have a God and Savior who walks beside me and leads me through EVERY day.
3. I have an amazing husband who loves me.
4. My kids have a dad who loves them is so incredibly involved and invested in their lives.
5. I have a son who is brilliant, and loving, and refines my patience. :)
6. I have a daughter who is sweet and funny and overflowing with life.
7. We have been entrusted with the care of a spunky, adorable toddler for this period of her life.
8. We have a small, but affordable home.
9. I live in a country (and a state, and a county), where homeschooling is not only legal, but supported.
10. I have close friends who are walking the road with me of raising adopted, special needs children.
11. I have more close friends who are like-minded, and support each other in the daily realities of homeschooling and being wives and mothers who want to please God in our calling.
12. I have a large extended family that still gets together for holidays.
13. I have blog readers, some of whom I have never met, who supported me with prayers and encouraging words when two of our children were taken from us.
14. We were able to be a part this year of the planting of a church in the heart of our town.
15. The pastor and congregation of our church have amazing hearts for God, for the Bible, and for adoption!
16. More and more families are opening themselves up to answer God's call to care for orphans through adoption... this brings me GREAT joy!
17. In a time of great financial difficulty in this country, we are thriving.
18. My husband's work provides insurance for our family at a minimal cost to us.
19. My pantry is full.
20. I have both the means and the ability to make good, wholesome food for my family.
21. Brian's company opted to forgo annual raises this year, so that there would be NO lay-offs.
22. My children love me, despite my MANY imperfections.
23. We have two functioning vehicles.
24. My mom babysits! We don't have a weekly date night or anything, but we can generally go out on our anniversary, attend meetings with social workers when needed, and more... and that is a real blessing!
25. We just found out one of our former foster kids (S, now age 11, from January '09) is being adopted by someone Brian knows from work! Hooray!!
26. Tomorrow is the first day of the Christmas season (by my rules). Decorations, music, movies... and Peppermint Mochas... here I come!
Happy Thanksgiving, Friends! May you enjoy time with your loved ones as you count your many blessings. :)
Happy Thanksgiving!! May the Lord bless you and your family, and keep you, and make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
Posted by: Jessica in Michigan | 11/26/2009 at 08:25 PM
What a joy! Thanks for the positive outlook and your heart.
Posted by: Carolynn Slocum | 11/27/2009 at 05:28 PM