What am I thankful for?

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I thought I would do a "I'm Thankful For" Post. However, I think I am going to write something daily that I am truly blessed and thankful for.

There are so many things, but tonight I am going to focus a little on my faith and family. When I was 19 living at home, I made a choice to move out of my house and marry my first husband because my Dad wouldn't let me date him (he was 15 years older than me). I was so naive, had never lived anywhere but with my mom and dad and knew very little about the world outside our family life. I always tease my dad and say it was his fault because if he would have just let me date him, I probably would have dumped him after a couple of month's. It was not a good marriage, he was very controlling and unfaithful. So why am I mentioning this now. I am so thankful that from that marriage I gave birth to two wonderful children. They are now 14 and 11 and I'm not sure where the time has gone. I am also grateful for the divorce. Yes, I know that may sound crazy, but because of it, my ex and I are good friends and he has become an amazing father.

I am also thankful for my husband. He may be far from perfect, but he is perfect for me and our family. I love him sooooo much, more than I could ever express in words. He has put up with me for the last nine years, which quite frankly can be hard to do. I am very flaky. Lose my keys and almost everything else not attached to me on a regular basis. He may gripe, but always helps me find my "things". He is my best friend. And he has the kind of love for me that II Corinthians speaks about. He knew I had always wanted to adopt from day one, and was more than willing to go with along side me. He trusts me and my opinion although sometimes I am not sure why. After I took out 35 thousand dollars in loans for our zambia adoption and ended up without a daughter, with a huge ache in my heart, and a large debt, he never once has blamed me. It would be so easy for him to be hateful or spiteful when I say "no we can't do this or that, we don't have the money" but he is not. He is supportive and loving and out of his mind because we are smack dab in the middle of adopting again. Mike I love you and you really do complete me and our family.

I am also very thankful for my youngest son. He is the baby, but he is so much more than that. We were a broken family before he was born. There was nothing to join us together as a family joined in marriage. The boys had a step dad who loved them, but it just wasn't the same. Then this little fellow came along. The boys have adored him since he was born. I don't know what happened, but he was a true blessing from God. He has bonded us all together in ways that wouldn't have been possible without him. He makes me laugh everyday and I could just stare at his cute little face all day, every day.

I am also so so grateful for my faith. I am not sure why the Lord chose me to have a heart of compassion, but He did, and I am reminded of this special gift every day. I am still somewhat naive and was in a bible study one evening when we were in the book of James. It has always been my favorite book in the Bible. That night I realized that not all Christians had a heart of Compassion. Everyone is given different gifts from the Lord. And I am soooo very grateful for this one. There are times when I feel worn down and wonder why I am even trying to make a difference in the world when such little things aren't even making a dent. The Holy Spirit quickly re-fill me with passion for the hurting and lonely when I no longer have the strength. Thank you Lord for all of your blessings and Grace.