Thankful

I am so incredibly thankful...

and not just because it is Thanksgiving and Mom fixed sweet potato casserole, but because I have so many blessings to be thankful for...

all through out the year...

and while life ain't always easy...

I know how truly blessed we are....

and I know how thankful I should be....

all the time...

I have worked so hard this past year to try and be thankful in all circumstances...

 

 

 and while I have not always been successful at this, I am learning that it is through the tough stuff that we see the good stuff.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:9-10

So I am thankful...

even when I am doing the third load of laundry for the day, even when the kids aren't being very thankful, even when the dish washer breaks, even when the microwave breaks, even when Hubby swears he is right and he is so not (wink), even when the cars don't run quite right - ever and even when the worries of the future creep in...

I am thankful.

I mean after all, I have a washing machine, I have kids, I have a dish washer, I have a microwave, I have a Hubby, I have a car and I have dreams of a future.

I am blessed y'all!

With all that is going on in the world today, what the heck do I have to complain about...

EVER

So, today, we officially gave thanks and after eating much of what we were thankful for (hehe)...

we got to have fun...

with our family...

 

 

 playing football....

 

 

 and just enjoying each other....

 

 

 and the time that we had together...

 

 

  to laugh...

 

 

 and to recognize all that we have been given and the love that He has surrounded us with.

 

 

 HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

OVER-COMER

Why did I not know?

I should have known!

 I know my Lizzie and I should have known. 

The doctor said she was cleared to play soccer the day the last cast came off and the brace went on.

He said she could play but it would have to be with her brace on...

the brace that keeps her foot in a fixed position...

 the brace that prevents her from bending her foot...

yeah – that brace.

So not only was she weak-er from spending weeks in a wheelchair but now, if she played, it would be in her brace.

 Even so...

I should have known.

Not even 2 weeks from this post, where she participated in practice for the very first time...

She was out on that field...

 playing y'all!

She had to hop/skip a little bit at first but before long, the hop/skip turned to a hop/run and then...

she was baaaaack!

I have to admit, I was a little upset with Hubby (who is also her coach), when he put her in that first game.

I thought it was too soon...

I held my breath as she so bravely walked out on to that field with her brace neatly tucked into her soccer sock and her mismatched cleats as one had to be big enough to fit over that brace.

I cried as she got right back in, took her first tumble and got right back up again...

ready for more

 Oh my Mighty Mouse...

You are simply amazing...

amazingly beautiful

amazingly courageous

amazingly fast

amazingly determined

amazingly bright

amazingly compassionate

and amazingly...

I get to be your Mom!

My love, you will never just watch from the sidelines for long...

Your determined spirit will get you where God wants you 

 As you so beautifully told me after watching this video:

"Mom, this reminds me of when I was in a wheelchair and when Marny had cancer. Mom, we were overcomers. God helped us!"

YES!

My Mighty Mouse!

After over 20 casts in 6 years...

 You are an overcomer!

It is All Your Fault...

You started this!

 Seventeen years ago, we were newly married with 5 dogs and no kids...

and then came YOU!

 My darling boy, it is all your fault...

all the noise and all the busy-ness...

  well I blame it all on you, cause if you had not been so darn cute...

we would have stopped with you, but ya had to go and be all cute and stuff and we just could not help ourselves!

 Hence, I hereby proclaim that all future complaints about the noise and the chaos, go straight to you my sweet Christian cause...

 it is not MY fault!

*grin*

I honestly cannot wrap my mind around the fact that you are 17 years old and that in less than 2 years, you will be headed off to college and into adulthood.

You want to go into the military and possibly fly planes and while that makes this Momma very proud...

it also makes this Momma's heart hurt just a little for what I know you have in front of you...

cause, sometimes, when I look at you...

my eyes still see the 3 year old curly haired little boy who did not want to leave my side...

not the strong, confident, determined, decisive, courageous young man you are becoming.

 Back then, you thought Rescue Heroes were da bomb... 

and now you want to be a hero.

I hope you realize that in these Momma's eyes...

you are already a hero.

In many ways, you remind me so much of your Gada...

the strong silent (most of the time) type...

who was a goof at heart but only to those who knew him well.

He was good at just about everything he tried and he liked to try things...

who did not like to attract attention to himself but often found himself the object of attention.

Your Grandfather had a quiet confidence about him that came from years of experiences and wisdoms gained from lessons learned.

He had a fierce heart for those he loved and a compassionate heart for those in need...

and I see much of him in you, my dear Christian.

So continue to walk boldly, with confidence and compassion and know that when you mess up (cause you will mess up) and when things get tough (cause they will get tough), God is there and His grace is sufficient.  He created you and He knows your fears, your worries and your doubts and He will love you through it all.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:13-16

 Happy 17th birthday my fabulous (hehe) Christian!

 We love you!