On the 8th Day of Thanksgiving My True Love Gave to Me...

wait--wrong thing. I realize I may be writing much more than some of the other people who are keeping up with this month of thanks thing, but it really is good for the soul. When you are focusing on what you are thankful for, the other junk in life just seems to fade away. That being said, today I am thankful for a special group of people. NOTE: Excuse the slight sappiness in this category, but I LOVE my nieces and nephews!

Megan, you made me an aunt for the first time. You were the most precious baby and have grown into a beautiful young woman. You share my love of chocolate and teaching young children. You are going to be an incredible teacher. Ryan, you have always been able to melt my heart. You were such a sweet little boy, loving and curious. Now you are all grown up, but still very loving. You are amazingly intelligent and unique! Jake, you are my book loving boy! Your wisdom far surpasses your years. We all learn from you on a daily basis. I will vote for you when you run for president--you are the only 2nd grader I know who has his political views already ironed out. You and I will get Lissie straightened out one of these days! Reagan, our little bundle of energy! Your zest for everything you do is so much fun to watch. I wish we lived closer so I could watch you play sports. I love that you are so poised that you have already volunteered and read scripture in church. You would be a blast to have in the classroom. And Brilyn--I got to know you when you were just a few hours old. You make me laugh little girl--you are a hoot (yes I know, you are NOT a hoot you are Brilyn Grace Bridges! ) and you are very smart, too. Notice a theme, I have the SMARTEST nieces and nephews in the world! Each one of you is a blessing and a joy to me.

Day 7

Today I am thankful for my in-laws. I was fortunate to not only grow up in a loving, wonderful family but to marry into one as well. You know, incredible husbands like mine don't just happen. I am thankful that Russell was raised in a loving, Christian family...and that his mom knew that he needed that cake handle every once in a while (private family joke!) I not only love them for raising my husband so well, I just plain like them and enjoy being with them. Love you Me Ma and Pa Daddy!

6th Day of Thanks...and Happy Birthday to my Princess!

I'll get to today's thankfulness in a minute, but first I have to talk about this 9 YEAR OLD at my house. Nine years ago this morning Russ, Conner, and I made the trek to Temple to King's Daughters Hospital for a scheduled C-section to welcome our new baby girl. We knew that she had been measuring on the large side, but I was doing well and she was doing well, so we didn't think too much of it. We had been told not to be surprised if she weighed 10 lbs. We were surprised, however, when after pulling, tugging, sweating, and calling for backup, our doctor gasped and said, "Good Lord, I just delivered a toddler!" Our sweet, perfectly healthy baby girl weighed in at a whopping 11 lbs. She was all cheeks and the most precious baby girl. Her brother was proud, her Daddy was proud, and her Mommy was tired. We quickly became hospital celebrities with people even dropping by my room to see her. I lost 22 lbs in 2 days. Aside from the more humorous aspects of her birth, our sweet Caleigh Faith was an answer to many prayers. We had suffered 3 miscarriages in a short time and were exploring other options when I had a dream; a very vivid dream in which I was holding a blonde, blue-eyed baby girl...and I was deliriously happy. I never worried another moment after that dream. I just knew. Except for the blonde, blue -eyed part...but guess what? God even gave me the details! She is such a joy. She has brought laughter, love, and sweetness to our lives. She is intelligent beyond imagination, but as silly as any 3rd grade girl. R. and I were laughing this morning about how we went to the hospital that morning thinking we had the whole parenting thing down. Conner was 5, we knew what we were doing. WE KNEW NOTHING! This second child would challenge us in ways we never dreamed. She came out of the womb with her own agenda, and she is still plowing straight ahead. A couple of years ago I asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. A doctor? A teacher? A lawyer? "Well Mom, I think I want to be a nail technician and an animal rights activist. And a vegetarian." Since she had chicken fried steak for her birthday dinner tonight, maybe she has changed her mind. Happy Birthday My Love! You make me smile!

P.S. I am thankful for the ability to see the humor in almost any situation. It is a coping skill I suppose, and a gift from God!

Day 5

I am so thankful for my family of origin. My parents and three sisters are not only some of my greatest supporters and cheerleaders, they are just FUN to be around. We can laugh harder than any group of people I know (usually at Milissa! Oh come on, you KNOW how much we love you!!)--seriously, I am blessed to have each of them in my life. When Russell and I got married, we had three sets of our grandparents at our wedding, my mom's parents having both already passed away. The combined years of marriage including our grandparents and parents was something like 250 years at that time. What examples. I can honestly say that my parents instilled in me a love for the church. I never remember church being a "chore" or something we "had" to do--it was a joy! There is just no better legacy than that. And my sisters...what to say here. Donetta and I were given the gift of two little living dolls when we were 9 and 11 and while the four of us may have very different personalities, we are definitely sisters! I long for a day when we might all live closer to one another and spend more time together. Mom, Dad, Donetta, Michelle, and Milissa--I love you and thank God for you!

On the Fourth Day of Thanksgiving...

...I am SO thankful for my children. They are both growing up to be fine young people and I couldn't be more proud of them. They keep us busy and laughing. We seem to have weathered the storms of the past several years and have come through even stronger and closer as a family. When I think of life before them, well, I can't even really remember. They have each brought something to our family that makes us complete. I love you Conner and Caleigh!

3rd Night of Thankfulness

I have learned a great life lesson today. It wasn't fun. Honestly, it hurt...a lot. I am telling you, it is often true that the harder you try to get it all together, the harder Satan works to tear it all apart. He is sneaky though, and sometimes uses the most unlikely ways of getting US to tear ourselves apart. When you let anyone or anything (even a "helping" profession) become too important, things will self destruct. If I didn't care so much about what I do and how I do it, it wouldn't matter what anyone else thinks about it. I however, have put WAY too much stock into what other people think for ENTIRELY too long. It's over. I know who I am, I know who's I am, I know my heart and my intentions, and as long as I periodically do some self reflection and CONSTANTLY pray for guidance, I AM OKAY! Really! No matter what anyone thinks. They don't have to like me, and I don't have to like them. I will treat them as a child of God. That's it. I am above all the mess of this world and NOTHING, NOTHING, is more important than my relationship with Christ. I happen to also believe that He meant for me to put my family next. I have to be comfortable with those two things before I can consider anything or anyone else.

So what am I thankful for tonight, when my whole body aches with the pain of worldly chaos and meanness? That it doesn't matter. At all.

A Month of Thankfulness

Several friends on facebook are naming something each day of November that they are thankful for. I thought I would borrow the idea and do it on my blog. I should probably start with being thankful that I caught my typo and didn't just post something about "faceboob". Oops! Seriously, I am already a day behind so I will catch up tonight. Here goes:

For November 1st: I am thankful for our church family. We laugh together, cry together, worship together, take care of one another, and I just love each and every one!

For November 2nd: I am thankful for my husband. I just can't seem to get over this sickness. Tonight he searched high and low and finally found some shower soothers for me (by Sudafed, and I LOVE them!). He is working on laundry right now and I am supposed to be in bed. He is incredible.

And now I will take Dr. Russell's advice and go to bed. Hope you have a blessed week!

P.S. Glad you're home Dad. Hopefully you and Mom will both rest better and it will be a quick recovery! You guys do a pretty amazing job taking care of each other as well!