I'm So Thankful...

Each day during the month of November people on Facebook will daily post what they are thankful for. I’ve never participated but I like to read what others are thankful for. Over the past couple days, I have been making a list of my 30 things I am thankful for. So, here is my list…it’s kind of lengthy…SORRY!! 1. I am thankful for our Heavenly Father…who despite all the wrongs I do…He still chose to die for me!! 2. I am thankful for my husband. Almost 15 years ago, we went on our first date and I have loved him ever since!! He always helps me at home, he very rarely tells me “no” when I want something (& when he does…he is usually right…I didn’t need it!!) and he is by far the best Daddy out there!! 3. I am thankful for Evan. He is the sweetest, most loving, hard-headed little boy I know. He melts my heart when he walks up to me, gives me a hug, & says I hug you! I love the fact that he likes to cuddle and that he loves to sing & dance with me. He is his mother made over!! 4. I am thankful for Emma. She is a fun-loving, mothering, bossy momma’s girl that I wouldn’t trade for anything!! Her little laugh is contagious and it can instantly make my day! I love to watch her play with her baby dolls and know she is going to be a perfect little momma one day! She likes to practice on Evan now!  5. I am thankful for my momma! I simply couldn’t make it without her. She has always done without things so we could have things. You never really appreciate your mom until you become one yourself and you finally realize the selflessness that comes along with being a mom! She is by far the greatest mom out there and I am so grateful she is mine!! 6. I am thankful for my daddy! I know that he will always be there if I ever need him! He loves to make up the craziest songs and will literally sing them at the craziest times. He is very handy to have around. He will fix anything but you might just end up with an oven knob as your temperature control in your car or duct tape and Velcro on your visor to help it stay up. It’s scary because I really think Evan is going to be a lot like him one day!! 7. I am thankful for my mama! She was such a sweet loving lady. She always looked so neat and smelled so good. I can still remember how soft her hands were and the scent of Oil of Olay because she used it daily! She was the best at brushing my hair because she didn’t hurt. Granted the knots were still there when she finished but she didn’t hurt. I can remember laying in her lap and her playing with my hair and her telling us we needed to put on a coat so we didn’t catch a cold. I will never forget the last time I spent with her. She was in the hospital and had been unresponsive for several days. We were taking turns spending the night up there and it was my night. Justin was asleep on the couch and I was sitting the chair beside her bed. I looked over and she was awake looking at me. This had to be like 2:00 in the morning. I remember I sat there for hours just talking to her. She never said a word to me but I knew it was going to be one of the last times I got to spend with her and I didn’t want to waste a second of that!! I will never forget that! 8. I am thankful for my papa! He was the Godliest man I have ever met! He never met a stranger and he truly cared about people! I remember he’d let us ride on the tractor with him while he cut hay and let us climb on the hay in the barn. He let us hold “Spooky’s puppies and even kept my favorite one out of the litter! He’d always pack us a snack for our trips to Columbia and would even stop on the interstate to get it for us when we got hungry! He was definitely one of a kind! He would be so proud of Evan’s love for cows!! 9. I am thankful for Grammy! She was a tough little lady and lots of people say I am just like her. Justin would probably agree! She lived a simple life as a mother of two rough little boys, who lost her husband at a young age. She never had much but what she did have she made herself. She always gave us crushed ice and ginger ale. That was so much fun crushing our ice! 10. I am thankful for Katie! She drove me crazy for many years but she is one of my best friends!! I know that she is always there if I need her. It makes me so happy to see Emma & Evan squeal with excitement when she walks in a room because they have a special love for Aunt Katie. She is definitely a strong Godly woman that I am so proud of!! 11. I am thankful for Matt. He is definitely the kind of man Katie needed! He tends to keep her under control. They have faced some tough things together and she couldn’t have picked anyone better for her husband! 12. I am thankful for Alison!! She is the best big sister even though she didn’t let us wear her clothes or read notes from her boyfriends!! She has been there for me in some of the most difficult times in my life. Even though she didn’t say much, her willingness to listen was exactly what I needed. She is a simple girl with a big heart! I look up to her in so many ways!! 13. I am thankful for Nick! He has definitely gotten Alison to do things I never imagined Alison doing!! He really seems to love her and after some of the things Alison has been through…she truly deserves that!! 14. I am thankful for George! He is the only uncle I have and no aunts! He’s been kind of in and out of our lives because of his work. He lived in Silverstreet, then Clemson, then North Carolina, back to Newberry, and now is in 96! I feel like we have gotten closer to him within the past few years since he has been back in town! 15. Speaking of town…I am thankful for 96! Sometimes living in a small time is a bad thing because everyone knows everyone’s business and they don’t mind telling it…but it can also be neat when a small town comes together to support one of its own! We’ve seen that a couple times here lately with the Praying for Craig signs and the 1 small town 1 big family shirts for Bobby Sargent. It is neat to come back for festivals and see people you haven’t seen in a while. Those type things don’t happen in big cities!! 16. I am thankful for South Main. It was very difficult to leave Siloam and a place that was so familiar but at this point in our lives we thought it was the best choice for us. We have met some really neat people! 17. I am thankful for our weekly bible study! It is time where us girls get together and learn about God! We always have a good snack, a good lesson, & good music. It’s even more special that Katie is the one leading it! 18. I am thankful for the men’s weekly bible study. Even though Justin doesn’t get to go every week…he really enjoys the weeks he gets to go! It is a great place for him to get to hang out with guys his age that are good Christian guys! 19. I am thankful for Learning Express! It isn’t your typical nursery! The hours are horrible for a working parent but I would do whatever I needed to to keep Emma & Evan there. I love the fact that they are learning about the Lord at such a young age! Each time Evan sings “This Little Light of Mine” or Jesus Loves Me”…it makes me appreciate Learning Express!! 20. I am thankful for Mrs. Melissa! She is Emma & Evan’s teacher at school right now. She is a super nice lady! I really think she has a kind heart and a love for kids. You have to to work in a room full of 2 year olds! My two are a handful by themselves!! Learning Express wouldn’t go on without teachers like Mrs. Melissa!! 21. I am thankful for Davis & Floyd! I have been working here 10 years now. It is not your typical company to work for! People here are so nice and considerate of each other. His Radio plays in our room every day! We have ladies bible studies during lunch and at each function a prayer is said before we eat! It is more like a big family rather than a company! 22. I am thankful for Gail Wilson! She is by far the best boss EVER!!! She completely understands the life of a working mom and has let me work an adjusted schedule for the past few years. She buys my kids things all the time. She is constantly doing things for me that normal bosses wouldn’t do. I know whenever I need prayer about something that I can go to her and she will pray for me. She is a very Godly woman and facilitates all the ladies bible studies we do here at work. She is one of a kind! 23. I am thankful for my coworkers! They listen to my numerous Emma & Evan stories, they listen to me complain about whatever might be on my mind, and they often come to me for advice. Not sure I am the appropriate one for the advice but it makes me feel good to know they value my opinion! 24. I am thankful for Eaton! Justin has been there 7 years now. I have hated all the overtime Justin has had to work in those 7 years but I am also thankful that when times got hard with the economy and all…his job seemed to pick up! We have been blessed that he was able to get a 1st shift job out there when he did, they helped him get his associates degree, and will help with his 4 year degree that I plan for him to start working toward soon!  25. I am thankful for friends! I have some of the best friends ever! Some of us have been friends for over 20 years now! Then, there are some that I have just met within the last year. Although life is busy and hectic right now and I don’t get to see many of them as much as I use too…I am still grateful to know they are always a phone call away!! 26. I am thankful for good health! For the most part I have been a fairly healthy person. After my numerous doctor visits this year you might would think otherwise but everything has always come back fine! 27. I am thankful for our house! It came along at just the right time. I am not sure where we would have put two babies in our old house! You know how you make that imaginary list of things your next house will have?? It had almost everything on my list. It had a garage, a dining room, a laundry room, a pool, and now it has a fireplace! So my list is complete! 28. I am thankful for my car! I LOVE my car! It is perfect for what we need. It wasn’t by any means what I had planned to get because honestly…I didn’t even know what a Traverse was! But I am so glad I saw it sitting on the lot! 29. I am thankful for Cody! His only care in this world is Justin Turner! He is an excellent dog and has been for almost 7 years! He is gentle with Evan and lets him hug all over him. Emma doesn’t get close enough for contact! 30. Lastly, I am thankful for the different seasons. I love the fresh flowers, & green grass of spring. I love the long hot days of summer where you can swim or eat ice cream and just enjoy outside time. I love the changing of the leaves in fall and the cooler t-shirt and jeans weather. I love the cold winter days where you get to wear jackets & scarfs and drink hot chocolate! For so many things I am thankful!!! Psalms 107:1