thankful for...

With Thanksgiving less than a week away, of course we are thinking about what we are thankful for.  When we talked about this as a family, Charlie said he was thankful for "my fuel truck" (closest toy in view).  It's not just Thanksgiving, but this time of year, that makes me reflect on how much we truly have to be thankful for.  It was just 3 years ago, that my heart wasn't exactly full of thanksgiving because we in the middle of trying to get pregnant with no successes.  That year I was ridiculously hormonal- crying during the Thanksgiving parade at commercials that contained children.  I desperately wanted to be a mom, but had to focus on other areas in which I was thankful, namely:

• a supportive husband who loved me unconditionally (hormones and all...)
• God's grace that was sufficient for my salvation and my daily struggles in understanding His will
• a job where I got to love kids through their biggest trial (even if they weren't mine, I could still love them...)

Then exactly a year later, Charlie's adoption was finalized on November 17th and of course our hearts were overflowing with thankfulness!

And it was just last year a this time that we found out we were pregnant with Ethan and were able to share the news with our families.

This  year?  No big news or recent events, but thankful hearts none the less.

We are thankful for:

• our freedom to worship
• Chris' job that he loves and that can pay the bills in this economy
• our boys
• my mom who watches the boys for me for a WHOLE day so I can continue to work at the job I love
• starbucks!  (and Cara's markout that she generously shares)
• Arizona winters
• macaroni and cheese (Charlie)
• great friends (old & new)
• our health
• our house-  we might be stuck in it due to the market, but we are glad to have it!
• extended family that live so close
• a trip to Hawaii (that was given to us- so thankful!) to look forward to

On a little bit different note:

There have been a few times when Charlie tells us his tummy hurts because "it is sooo hungry".  Sometimes we have been away from the house, so we have to tell him to wait until we get home to get a snack.  Chris and I were talking about how heartbreaking it would be to hear those words as parents knowing you didn't have enough food to satisfy your child's hunger.  With that being said, we are thankful to simply have food to feed our family this Thanksgiving and our hearts definitely go out to those families who are struggling this year.

The kids at church this Sunday are having 'frozen turkey races' down the stairs.  It will be fun to watch the turkeys slide down tarps with oil, but after the races they are getting cleaned up and donated to families for their Thanksgiving dinner.

(great idea, sweetie!)

Philippians 4:12

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or well hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."