Thankful

It's Thanksgiving morning. There is a lot of cooking, parade watching, turkey grilling and great smells being experienced in our house.

I have so many things to be immensely thankful for. God has done an amazing work in my life and in the life of my family over the last year! But before I spread all my Thanksgiving cheer I want to say one thing...

On just about every holiday I fight fight fight the urge to become nostalgic and think about the people I love who are not with us on that particular day. I miss my dad with my whole heart, I wish my mom, brother and I lived closer, I hope for the day I get to spend a holiday with Mea & Pal again.

I have always longed for those holidays where the house is full of my family, Erik's family, our family.

But, for many different and very complicated reasons we now find ourselves spending most holidays without our family of origins.

An amazing thing has happened though...an amazing thing! God has always, no matter where we are, blessed us with friends who feel like (who are) family. He has brought people into our lives who love us and who we love. They take us in, we take them in, and holidays become about family again.

So, today we are going over to the Sanchez' house. We are going to laugh, eat a lot and know that God has blessed us over and above...beyond measure!

I will wait for the day when my mom and brother are out of school and can travel on the holidays. I will wait for the day when we can financially afford to travel to them. I will remember my dad's laugh and how much he loved pecan pie. I know that in years to come my house (or their homes) will be bustling and filled with laughter, filled with family who adore each other.

Today I will focus on the AMAZING friends who have become family. Today I will know that my family has grown over the last few years and that God has brought these people into my life to sharpen me. They make me a better mom, wife and friend. I am so very thankful for that!

So, on to my Thankful List...

Today I am thanking God that...

• I have a home that is really home to me. I love it! I am THANKFUL!!!!!!!
• My family is together, we are re-discovering laughter in our home and we have found a brand new, over-the-top, amazing kind of normal this past year. I am THANKFUL!!!!!!!
• God speaks to my heart everyday about His love for me, His grace for me, His mercy for me. He has changed me. He has removed the masks I hid behind and is replacing my hurts with compassion for the hurting. HE is amazing!!!!! I am THANKFUL!!!!!!!
• I have a husband who is my personal hero. He has fought and fought and, when he was down, fought some more to make a life for our family in the midst of adversity. Erik has stood at the bow of our "ship" and steered us to a place of blessing. I am THANKFUL!!!!!!!
• Cross Timbers is my church home. I have found a place of belonging. I have found people who love me for me...regardless of my flaws and my junk...they see me as an amazing creation whom God is healing and restoring. I am THANKFUL!!!!!!!
• My mom loves me no matter what. She is a voice of encouragement no matter what. She supports me in all I do...200%! I am THANKFUL!!!!!!!
• My daughter has a contagious laugh and loves to love people. She is creative. She is meticulous. She is SMART. She is a joy and a light in my life. I am THANKFUL!!!!!!!
• My son is affectionate. He is funny. He saves me kisses. He has a strength that I can already see, even at 4. I am THANKFUL!!!!!!!

I am blessed.