Don't miss Thanksgiving

It is such a busy time of the year - it is so easy to get caught up in the to do lists - making gift lists, cooking, holiday parties, visit to Santa, Christmas programs, shopping, baking cookings. All are wonderful things & activities to enjoy and I am excited for all of it this season.


But don't miss Thanksgiving - a time to reflect on all of the blessings in our lives. It's funny, I could be stressed out - only 4 weeks until we head to Indiana for Christmas, we are hosting Thanksgiving dinner at our house, Trace is in the middle of potty training, I am behind at work, 2009 is almost over and I have yet to print one picture I've taken, and my daughter asked Santa for a real Unicorn. And yet, this year, those things haven't been my focus - instead, I have tried to spend my time stepping back and seeing all of the ways my life has been blessed. I'm not blessed more than years past, I am just more aware of the blessings in my life and I want to appreciate them and cherish them.


I am thankful for....

• a faithful and loving God


• a loving husband that protects and provides for his family


• a beautiful daughter who is so eager to be my little helper


• a energetic son want his mommy to "hole-cho-me" all the time (hold him)


• supportive parents & parent-in-laws that still take care of their kids and love their grandkids beyond measure


• great-grandmas that are still a part of my children's lives


• brothers & sisters (in-laws included) that keep our family so close


• friends that encourage and accept who we are

I still get frustrated with my kids, yell when I shouldn't, give my husband those dagger looks when I get mad, not call my family often enough, but I am praying that God will continue to open my heart to help me "see" these blessings in front of me and be THANKFUL every day.

So tonight - give you kids an extra hug & kiss, make a phone call to someone you love, say a prayer of thanksgiving, and if you would please say a prayer of healing for a little girl, named Hannah Grace, whose story is the reason for the focus on my blessings and for inspiring this post. When the prayer request came for the Crumby family in mid-September, I realized I could have been looking in the mirror. A couple with a 4 1/2 yr old little girl Hannah and 2 yr old son Caleb - Hannah was running a fever for 3 days - she went to the doctor and was sent immediately to Arkansas Children's Hospital with a diagnosis of lukemia - no prior symptoms. Hannah has since suffered a serious of strokes and is currently on a ventilator. The faith and heartbreak of her parents is unimaginable. God is powerful - please pray and be thankful for your blessings.