Posts Tagged ‘gratitude’

2016 Blessings

Wednesday, December 28th, 2016

This year, our biggest blessing was moving to Georgia, where we laid family roots and grew into our new home. The boys are comfortable with their new surroundings, and the sounds of neighbor kids playing out back is just what we were hoping for. Although at times it gets loud, it’s fun to watch Jack and Tate develop new friendships.

Many family and friends came to visit us this year. We also traveled and saw some extended family that we rarely get to see. I’m happy to have had the chance to spend quality time together, and look forward to more visits next year.

I’m thankful for the health of our family. We’ve been thinking and praying for our little friend, Ayden who went through many, many procedures, tests, and experiments to rid him of leukemia. Just last week we were informed the final option the doctors performed worked, and the latest tests revealed he was cancer free! We’re so happy for him and his family. He still has a long road ahead, but this was the best gift we could all ask for.

I hope this year provided you with many blessings, as well. I’m looking forward to the New Year and all it has in store. Happy New Year!

Thankful

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2016

From Wednesday Mom – Janelle:
Life is busy. Some days are harder than others, but they are consistently filled with the daily routines that keep my family fed and happy.

I admit that I can get bogged down with the unexpected events that life throws at me. Things break, kids get sick, and life happens, sometimes all at once. When I’m tired and my kids are stressing me out, I let trivial stuff really throw me off center.

Despite the momentary bouts with life’s challenges, I try to adjust my world view over the holidays. I have a wonderful husband, two healthy kids, and extended loving family. My husband and his parents will be able to join us this Thanksgiving. We are lucky my husband doesn’t have to work, because so many people are flying this week.

I have friends with less stable family life, sick children, and a spouse who is deployed and/or working this Thanksgiving. I am thankful for my situation. Sure, it is crazy being married to a pilot, but he is here with us this week. Being together as a family, makes this Thursday a real holiday to celebrate.

Happy Thanksgiving

Giving Thanks

Monday, November 30th, 2015

From Friday Mom – Erin:
This Thanksgiving had us counting our blessings. A dear friend of ours got news over the holiday weekend that his nephew—a month younger than Rory—has a genetic digestive disorder that has been affecting his appetite and will mean the beginning of a fairly lengthy battery of tests and treatments to determine the extent of the impact it will have on his lifestyle. His younger brother and sister-in-law received word from their specialist while home visiting with family, and the news cast a fairly dark cloud over the family’s collective celebrations. They are at the very early stages and have no sense of the ultimate impact the disorder will have. In sum—they are still in the stage of discomforting uncertainty.

We also learned of the passing of the grandson of one of the sports icons that has shaped our recent college sports rivalries in the past decade. Though obviously far, far more remote to our own small family, the story of a young boy spending his fifth year of life faced with the diagnosis of a terminal, inoperable brain tumor cuts to the quick of any parent’s heart. How can it not.

The emotion one feels as a parent when grappling with such misfortune at a distance is clearly nothing compared to those who face it directly. To say that parenting carries with it a host of emotions is a tremendous understatement. From the feelings of surprise at the depth and breadth of emotion you feel toward your own children, to the shock of unfortunate news affecting parents you barely know—parenthood opens a host of emotional connections you had never felt or shared. And, at the start of this holiday season, it makes us realize what a gift it is to have two happy, healthy children. So very, very much to be thankful for, indeed.