Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!  Today is a day to be thankful, but I'm thankful every single day of my life.  I am so blessed, and I know it.  But, since today's Thanksgiving Day, I'll try to put into words how thankful I am.

I am thankful for my personal freedoms. I'm thankful that I am free to love God, free to speak of Him.  I'm thankful that He sent His son here to die for our sins.  Thankful that through that, I will see my Landon, my Popaw, all those who've believed in Him and gone on before. 

I am thankful for my health.  I'm not in the best shape, but I intend to do something about it. I'm thankful for the YMCA membership that will help me do that, if I'll just start using it.  I am thankful that my body allowed me to carry the four most beautiful children I've ever seen.  I get angry that it failed me with Landon, but I'm still thankful for the wonders it has given me.

I'm thankful for my Mom.  She is, and has always been, my biggest cheerleader.  She would drop everything in a heartbeat if I needed her to.  She loves me, Larry, and our kids unconditionally.

I'm thankful to still have my Momaw Ardilla in my life.  She's 76 years old, and still comes over here to fold my laundry sometimes, or to sit with my kids if I need her to.  She's the strongest woman I know, and I thank God every day for her.  She lost her mother and husband within 4 and 1/2 months of each other back in 2001.  She has lost a grandchild to stillbirth, and she watched the devastation of Landon's life and death.  And still keeps going. 

I'm thankful for Larry.  After a horrible marriage and a string of bad boyfriends, meeting a true Good Guy was a blessing in itself.  Having him fall in love with me, marry me, give me my beautiful children,  was a miracle.  He works so hard for our familly, he works to allow me to stay home with our kids.  I'm sad that he has never had Thanksgiving day off since we became parents.  Aidan has never had Thanksgiving (Or Christmas, for that matter) dinner with his daddy, and now the girls are following suit.  But on a positive note,  he will make enough money on Thanksgiving and Black Friday to totally pay for our entire Christmas.  I  love him with all I have in me.

I'm thankful for Aidan Henry.  My funny little monkey boy.  The child who made me a Mommy.  He's so sweet, smart, stubborn, and pretty.  His personality and humor are a constant source of joy.  I'm thankful that he finally started talking, thankful that he's finally showing interest in learning colors, shapes and numbers.  He's the most amazing, sweet, generous big brother I've ever seen.  He loves those girls so much. I'm thankful for that. He is the answer to a whole lot of prayers. 

I'm thankful for Landon James.  Even though my time with him was brief, I love him so much. I miss him, his death hurt me more than anything in the world ever has.,  but I'm still so thankful that he's mine, that I was the mom who was lucky enough to hold him for two weeks, to love him for eternity. He's the one who taught me that a mother's love knows no bounds, not even death could put a damper on the love I have for my littlest son.

I'm thankful for Rebekah Maxine. My spirited little peanut.  She's so funny, so determined.  I can already tell that she's going to be a persistant child.  When she wants something, she does what she has to to get it.  She's not exactly crawling yet, but she's fully mobile.  We put our Christmas tree up on Sunday, and I've already had to pull her out from behind it several times.  She has the best, greatest, laugh, and I love nothing more than hearing it! She's ticklish, and I can make her squeal by just pretending like I'm going to tickle her.  My first little Rainbow baby, I love you.

I'm thankful for Grace Nichole. My little Miss Congeniality.  She's silly, and she loves attention.  She "dances" and tries so hard to clap her hands.  She does silly little things, then watches me to see if I'll laugh or applaud her.  She is so sweet.  She loves kisses and huggs and cuddles.  Rebekah started out as a die-hard Mama's girl, but now Gracie is the one that's all about Mommy.  Don't get me wrong, Bekah still would rather have me than anyone else, but she does better than Gracie with other holding her.  Gracie has the sweetest smile.  I live for seeing those!!

I'm thankful for a good relationship with my brother and his little family. I'm crazy over my niece and nephew.  I have a good sister in law. 

See, told you I"m super blessed.  There's so much more, but I've got a child yelling for his "pants on", a tray of butterfinger bars to dip, three kids to dress for Thanksgiving dinner, bags to pack up, shoes to locate, I'm sure anyone with kids understands all of this.  I hope each and every one of you who read this, the happiest and most blessed Thanksgiving possible.