Thankful November-Day 20

November 20, 2013

Today I am thankful for the neighborhood I live in. I am so thankful that God put us here 5 years ago. And while it is not our forever neighborhood (I think!!!), it's our neighborhood for now. I lived across the street from people who have grown to be some of my greatest friends. So great, that when they moved away I felt the void. My kids have friends in the neighborhood that they play with. It's so fun to hear the little voices as they run up to the door to see if Christian can play.
I have neighbors who look out for us and we look out for them. I am so thankful that for this time in my life God has allowed us to live in this neighborhood.

Thankful November-Day 19

November 19, 2013

Today I am thankful for Sigma Phi Lambda. If you don't know what that is, go here to find out. I am thankful that while I was at UT and my little small town conservative bubble was being busted, I found a group of girls who just loved God. Phi Lamb was not filled with perfect girls, I found friends who were perfect for me. I didn't just find friends, I found sisters. Sisters in Christ who gathered at lest once a week to worship God and encourage each other. Sisters who I stood up next to in their wedding and who stood next to me in mine. Sisters whose kids play with my kids. Sisters who moved away and came back and we go out of our way to meet for lunch because being with them for just a few short hours is so encouraging. I love that I wasn't in Phi Lamb with some girls that I am not good friends with. All because we met and found out that at one point in time we were in this little organization at this big university.

I am so thankful that Phi Lamb was there for me and is still there for so many other girls. Thank you God for Sigma Phi Lambda.

Thankful November-Day 18

November 18, 2013

Today I am thankful for public school and all the public school teachers. I am thankful for a place to send my kids during the day during the week so they can learn, because lets face it, I am not a teacher, that is not one of my gifts. So, not only would my kids not learn from me, one of us would end up dead from spending that much time with each other!
And I am thankful for the teachers who legitimately love their job and teach because it is what they were called to do. The teachers who take the time to help your kid because they see the potential. The teachers who go back each day, each year, even though they swear they might pull their hair out.

So thankful for public school and the public school teachers in my life.

Thankful November-Day 17

November 17, 2013

Today I am thankful for the community that God has put in my life. I love that I have community with people that I gather with on a weekly basis, but also with people that I gathered with on a weekly basis 10 years ago. 10 years ago I began watching kids for community groups at The Stone. I sat in a room or played in backyards for a couple of hours a week while parents gathered to grow deeper in their knowledge of Christ. I saw the community play out in front of my eyes and was so blessed by serving them. Fast forward 10 years later. Not only am I in community with a new group of believers with kids who play while we grow deeper in our knowledge of Christ, but thanks to adoption, my kids get to be in community with those kids I hung out with. I am thankful for that. I am thankful that Kristina is in community with a girl who I spent at least a day a week with for 2 years. I am thankful that Christian can go to the house of the boys I watched each week and play football or basketball with them. That I have community with people that are rivals on the football field (gasp!) but we sit and watch football together on Saturday and then sit together on Sunday morning.

Today I watched Hadley be loved on by Kristina and Christian and their "Austin cousins". I snapped a picture of that scene. It blessed my heart so much.

I am thankful for community.

Thankful November-Day 16

November 16, 2013

Today I am thankful for a baby who sleeps through the night already. Pretty much from the beginning, Hadley has slept through the night. As a person who loves their sleep, this has been amazing. One of my biggest fears when we first found out about Hadley was that my sleep was about to be severely cut in half. I'm pretty sure I cried about that.
Anyway- I am so thankful that all 3 of my kids sleep through the night with minimal interruptions. That in and of itself is proof that God loves me more than I'll ever know.

Thank you Jesus for a baby who sleeps so well.

Thankful November-Day 15

November 15, 2013

Today I am thankful for old friends. I am thankful for the friends you have had for so long that they know you better than most people ever will, even if you haven't spoken to them every day. I am thankful that these are the friends who you will take the time to spend time with at holiday's and on quick trips to your hometown. You will do this because you want your children to know this person who knows their momma before she was momma. So your kids will have someone who can tell them about you and what you were like and that you weren't always this lame.

I am thankful that these are the people who will cry with you when your precious doggy dies and when you find out you are pregnant and when your life just feels like its crumbling. They will remind you to keep fighting and remind you of all the crappy times you have overcome.

These are the people that see your family at the grocery store or at home and it makes them smile because its like they got to see you. These are the people whose kids have classes with your nieces and nephews and tell you stories about what they are like in school so you feel like you get to know them better. These are people who teach your nieces and nephews or who see them in the halls and your nieces and nephews don't know whether to add Mrs. to their name because they've never greeted them like that before.

I am thankful that I have old friends in my life still. They are such a huge part of who I am today and I can't imagine life without them.

So, to all my old friends, I love you!

Thankful November-Day 14

November 14, 2013

Today I am thankful for music. I listened to Kristina practicing the clarinet and watched as Christian packed his recorder in his backpack to take to music class yesterday. It made my band nerd heart swell with happiness. I watched as my son who can't sit still for the life of him, sat still for 30 minutes in awe as the bands were out on the field during halftime a few weeks ago. He looked at me in amazement as the drumline pounded out cadences and flutes and trumpets belted our solos. I love hearing him walk around the house singing his little heart out.

I love the way that music seems to drown out the thoughts in my head that are keeping me awake. I love love love listening to music in the car and hearing voices in the back seat singing along. I love hearing Kristina singing songs that she sings in church while she is putting the dishes away.
I love hearing Kristina and her friends belting out songs that are on the radio and giggling over the lyrics.

I love music and how good for the soul it is. Thank you God for the grace you have shown us in giving us music.

Thankful November-Day 13

November 13, 2013

Today I am thankful for cars. Not just any cars, but our cars in particular. I am thankful that we have vehicles to get our kids to and from school, carry my groceries in, go to church in, and visit friends and family in. I am thankful that, while we are not the best stewards of the vehicles we own, we have been able to use them to bless people. One day, hopefully, I'll be thankful for a bigger vehicle, but for now I am thankful that we have 2 cars that work.

Thankful November-Day 12

November 12, 2013

Today I am thankful for warm weather. As the temperature dropped all day and I was cold whether I was inside or outside, all I could do was check my weather app to see when it would warm up again. Most people hate the Texas heat, but this girl, this girl loves it! I mean, what isn't nice about sweet cotton shirts or tank tops and shorts and flip flops? And tans, who doesn't love a good tan. Instead I am stuck in cold weather in an itchy sweater. Also, when it's warmer I can BBQ and enjoy it. You can go swimming in a pool or at the beach.

Thank God for warm weather in this Great State!

Thankful November- Day 11

Today I am thankful for all of the Veterans who have served this great nation. Thank you to the men and women of the USMC, Navy, Army and Air Force who have selflessly given up their lives and freedom, some to the point of death, so that we can live our lives freely. Freedom is not free or cheap, so thank you. I am blessed to be surrounded by men and women who have selflessly served the good ole USA and could not be more proud of them and thankful for them.

So to all the Veterans out there, Thank you! May God bless you in all that you do. And to my most favorite Veteran, I love you, Elias! Thank you for being so great!

Thankful November-Day 10

November 10, 2013

Today I am thankful for the United States Marine Corps. I am thankful for the 238 years of service that they have done for our country. And while I tease Elias for it quite a bit, I am thankful that they understand just how awesome they are;) I am thankful that their dress blues cannot be rivaled and that they are Always Faithful. If you've ever met a Marine, you will see quality play out. I am thankful to be a part of this family/community.  The Few. The Proud. The Marines. Semper Fi!

Thankful November-Day 9

November 9, 2013

Today I am thankful for my church, The Austin Stone Community Church. I am thankful for the people who listened to God and came to Austin. When I was in college, my junior year, I was struggling with finding a body of believers to worship with and could not figure out what was missing. I was going to skip my Phi Lamb meeting to go to a basketball game (gasp!) and one morning I got on the bus and one of my sisters in Christ told me to go to the meeting because Chris Tomlin was going to be there. I went to be able to worship with Chris Tomlin and I remember him and Matt Carter telling us that they had started a church and were hoping to reach out to the UT campus. Almost 11 years later I dropped my baby off in the nursery that I served in for almost 6 years. I drop my kids off at classes where I can trust that they are speaking the Truth to them. I am thankful that The Stone isn't just the cool place to go to church but instead it's a Church that calls us to love a life that aligns with the Word of God. That I walk away from each Sunday with a new insight of who Jesus is. That I sit in a courtroom filled with people who love Him and it shows because they are there supporting adoption. It shows to the point that a stranger leans over and asks who we are and what church we go to because she has never seen support of adoption like this before. I am so blessed to worship my Savior with a body of believers who are serving God and making His name known.

Thank you Jesus for the Austin Stone.

Thankful November-Day 8

November 8, 2013

Today I am thankful for my home. I am thankful that God out is where we are at for a reason. I did have a problem with being content with my house but today I don't struggle with that. I am thankful that I live in a neighborhood that has kids that are the same ages as my kids. I am thankful that I have neighbors that became friends. I am thankful that I have neighbors who didn't speak more than a hello to me before Colty died but when he died they noticed and embraced me and my family. They banded together to help us and sent us notes. I'm thankful my kids have a place to sleep every night. That they have a constant here on earth.

Thank you Jesus for making my house a home.

Thankful November-Day 7

November 7, 2013

Today I'm thankful for adoption. Today was National Adoption Day. I got to sit in a courtroom with about 100 other people or so and watch as my friend and her 2 boys became a Forever Family. I listened to 2 teenage boys say that they wanted  her to be their mom. Then , after celebrating, I went to pick up my son. My son. My forever son.  And we got home and he helped me unload my car and I went to the kitchen and I watched him play with his baby sister in her car seat and then take her out and then ask if he could feed her. His baby sister. Then I opened the door for my daughter. My precious first born. And I thought to myself , I am so thankful that my baby girl has Kristina and Christian as her big sister and big brother. Forever. I am beyond thankful that God has called our family to adopt. I could not imagine my life without my kids.

Thank You Jesus for adopting me into Your family so I could adopt my kids.

Thankful November-Day 6

November 6, 2013

Today I am thankful for my family in blue. They are auch a huge blessing to me. I could not have asked for a better class for Elias to be a part of. I remember being frustrated with the process to become a part of APD and how long it took, but I see God'a perfect timing play out in who we went through this with. I am thankful that I have people who just "get it". I am thankful that they love my kids so well. I am thankful that they love me so well. I am thankful that they spend holidays with me and my kids when Elias has to work and it's not weird. I am thankful that I have women in my life who understand the feeling when you hear of the loss of one of our own. I am thankful that they will stay up and text with you when your husband is working bc they are up too and can't sleep either. I am so thankful that the family extends beyond the border of our city and beyond our class.That we are all one big family.

Thank you Jesus for placing these people in my life. I love each and every one of them.

Thankful November-Day 5

November 5, 2013

I am thankful for my parents today. They have been an amazing example of persevering and love. By no means have they had it easy but with God they have made it through. I am thankful for the love they taught me about. I am thankful they raised me and my brother and sister in church. They loved me even when I was a big brat. Being a parent now,  I am more aware of just how hard it is. They were always there for me. Y'all, my parents went to EVERY Brazosport football game for 8 years to watch my brother and me perform. 8 years. They went on field trips, attended concerts, went to sporting events.

Thank you mom and dad for teaching me what being Christlike is.

Thankful November-Day 4

November 4, 2013

I am thankful today for The University of Texas-Austin. I could not have had a better college experience than the one I had. I am thankful for UT for so many reasons but the main reason is because it's awesome! I mean, athletics are superb. Facilities are pretty nice. The city is amazing. And not to forget the stellar academic programs they offer.

Django Walker says it best- "I'm one of the chosen whose blood runs Burnt Orange. Thank God I was born a Texas Longhorn!"

Texas! Fight! \m/

Thankful November-Day 3

November 3, 2013
Today I am thankful for my children. All 3 of them! And I am thankful that God has placed them in my family exactly when He did. He has taught me so much about His love for us through them. He has taught me about His character and how much I am lacking in being like Him. I love my children. They are beautiful. And precious. Best of all, on this earth they are mine. He has given them to me to point them to Him. And they point me to Him everyday.

Introducing Kristina, Christian and Hadley!

Thankful November-Day 2

November 2, 2013

Today I'm thankful for marriage. I am thankful that God has allowed us to experience His love through marriage. I am thankful that nothing on earth can change God's definition of marriage. I realize that some people are not fans of God's definition for different reasons, but I am thankful that He has shown me why that definition is so important through my marriage. I am thankful for the guy God has given me to experience marriage with.  I am so thankful for Elias. He is my leader. He never lets me get to far ahead of myself and always helps me to be rooted. He is the person who most keeps me in line with the Truth. I definitely have days of frustration with him, but let me tell you, I would rather experience 1,000 bad days with him than 1 day without him.
Thank you Jesus for my husband. Thank You for opening his ears to hear You so He can lead our family.

Thankful November-Day 1

I'm back! Well, at least I hope to be. It's been quite some time since my last post! Crazy how much our lives have changed since then. For starters, we officially became a Forever Family on August 2, 2013.  And on August 24, 2013 we added 1 more person to our family. That means I can officially talk about my kids and share pictures and all that jazz. But because they are so sweet and deserve more than a 2 second blurb, I'll save that for one of these thankful days.

Speaking of thankful; there is a thing going around on Facebook where people are posting what they are thankful for each day. I think that is a neat idea and want to do it, but I want to try to blog it. Why? Because I want to try to blog more and I think this might help me out and also, when I think of how thankful I am there is not enough space on a FB status update to really tell you why.

So, here we go!

November 1, 2013

Jesus. I am thankful for Jesus. Not just today, but every day. I figured I would start with Jesus because, without Him there I have nothing. He has been so good to me. Better than I deserve. He has given me an abundant life filled with more than I could have ever dreamed of.

I am thankful that He died for my sins.
I am thankful that He loves a sinner, like me.
I am thankful that He is coming back.
I am thankful that He is my Savior.
I am thankful that He called me to Him.
I am thankful that He forgives.
I am thankful that He never leaves me.
I am thankful that He is faithful.
I am thankful that He is God.

Thank you Jesus for this beautiful life you have given me. Thank you for my salvation. I love you, Jesus!