Thankful

 Hello! It's been a while since I have been here, my friends... 

and the break was good for me.

I don't know if anyone will read this blog anymore, and that's okay!

November is the time for expressing our Thankfulness, 

and since I have expressed so many of my emotions and experiences

here on my personal blog since 2006,

I think it's fitting for me to share my gratitude here, as well...

So this month, I'll be sharing photos that express

'What I Am Thankful For' each day.

Day 1

 

I am Thankful for my faith, 

for my belief in and relationship with a good and loving God.

Much like a parent does with their child, He often allows consequences in my life that I don't like - 

but that serve to make me stronger, smarter, kinder, more grateful, more loving, more giving, 

and more willing to trust Him in every part of my life. 

He has never failed me, He has never left me. 

I've failed Him, I've left Him, 

I've pretended He didn't matter to me in order to keep from being teased and ridiculed. 

But He stayed, and stood by me during the darkest days of my life... 

days of seeing my children suffer physical and emotional pain in different ways, 

losing so many people that I love, hearing a diagnosis that left me speechless, 

an awakening to the truth and a mental state that was unbearable... 

He's never left my side. 

I live and breathe because He loves me, and He saved me - 

not just my eternal soul by His death and resurrection, 

but in more ways than I can count every.single.day.

That's what I am Thankful for, first and foremost. 
Day 2

I am Thankful for the Friends & Family 

who have helped me to heal from my brokenness...

For those people so special to me who didn't pry or advise, 

but who didn't run and hide when my world was no more...

For my parents and their generosity, acceptance, support, understanding, and love - 

from the very moment that everything came crashing down...

For my best friend Lori Fuller-Pittman, 

whose encouragement and prayer and listening ear led me through the darkness by the hand... 

and still does, from Heaven...

For my brothers and sisters Don, Stacy, Scott, and Linda, 

and their love and prayers and thoughts - and attempts at understanding

For my strong friends in Washington 

Todd Waddell, Janet Sears, Sharyn Johnson Sowell, Marybeth Sande, Sara Schneider, and Meredith Baker who all physically embraced me and helped me to carry the heavy load...

For my faithful friends in California 

Sylvia Asmussen, Sharon Hughes, Rita Reade, Lidy Baars, and Linda Pace MacDonald, 

who have knelt in prayer for me (and my family) and uplifted my spirit with their friendship and open hearts...

For my 'mostly' online friends (some of whom I know in person, too)

Scott and Coleen and Michelle and Mary and Nicki and Natalie 

and Susan and Janet and Patty and Martha and Andrea and Sharon, 

who message me and email me and post sweet thoughts and encouraging quotes...

For the readers of my blog who have offered compassion, a kind comment, 

a prayer or a thought of healing to a woman who sorely needed it... 

I thank you ALL...

You have all affected my life and my soul in the same way that sunshine burns off dense fog, 

restoring clarity and warmth. 

 I am profoundly grateful.

Day 3

I am Thankful and grateful beyond measure for family: 

my four children, my three sons in law, and my four beautiful grandchildren

Jeni and Joel . Jay, Bethany, Troy and Hope

Joel and Jameson . Brandon, Brianna, and Michael

You are the lights of my life, 

and I will be forever grateful to Bob for giving me the gift of your presence in our lives. 

Life would have been much too calm, boring, and unhappy without the love and laughter you have all contributed, 

and we would not have been 'the Kennedy Krew' if not for you!

There are no words that I could use to adequately express how much I love these eleven people... 

how I worry about them, dream for them, pray for them, cheer for them, cry for them, ache for them, 

and how I want the very best in life for each one of them. 

Especially when life is hard, my heart is filled with overwhelming love for them.

My three beautiful daughters are married to three good men, 

who love them and protect them and provide for them. 

My handsome son has known heartache - but I know that he has so much love to share that someday, 

he will be a wonderful husband to the right woman. 

I could not be prouder of all of these young adults, 

watching them mature and discover who they are and what is important to them in life...

Although I used to joke about 'not needing to be a Grandma', 

my discovery has been that it is the most remarkable gift that can be bestowed! 

To hold 'the boys' as newborn babies was a joy I can't describe. 

I watch my own children as parents, and they are loving and guiding their children with such wisdom. 

I am awed by the dedication that Joel has to his son, 

and by the creative and playful spirits that my daughters have with their children.
Jeni has such a loving, caretaking spirit that she shares with her siblings and nephews...

You are all doing SUCH a great job!

My three grandsons and granddaughter bring smiles to my face and tears to my eyes 

as I think about how fast they are growing up... every moment is so very precious. 

I see their parents reflected in their expressions and smiles and laughter, 

and it brings back so many memories.

And I am thrilled and thankful beyond words that this Christmas, 

I will be able to hug ALL eleven of these very special people at once - for the very first time! 

I am blessed, and I know it... and I am Thankful for those blessings.