Tuesday, November 23, 2010

A Time For Thanks

Thanksgiving is just two days away and we have a lot to be thankful for again. This year has been another year full of blessings, lesson learned, happiness, joy, smiles, and laughs. Though our life is far from perfect, it is perfect for us and we are full of thanks. This year we are hosting Thanksgiving over our house for my side of the family, then after that we are heading over to Matt's aunt's house for Thanksgiving, then the big football game where Texas A&M is going to beat t.u.! It will be a maroon out Thanksgiving!

To all that read this, I hope your year was as blessed as ours and that you have much more joy and happiness to follow in the year to come. "A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues." Cicero.

We give thanks this year for so much. Just to name a few:
- My nephew Kannon was born on Sept.12 healthy after being 5 weeks early and a hard pregnancy.
- Colin has gone 14 months without any heart complications or surgeries. He only has to see his cardiologist every 6 months.. at one time it was once a week
- Katherine has a heart of pure gold. She is so caring and affectionate to everyone, especially Colin.
- I love my husband more than the day I married him
- Colin loves to eat and has no more feeding issues
- Katherine can make me laugh all the time, even on my worst days. I cherish the time we spend together.
- We have a great support of family and friends
- I am very thankful I had the opportunity to spend time with my grandparents twice this past year. I know their health is fading, but I am counting my blessings that I have got to spend so far 31 very blessed years with them by my side. They have been a cornerstone in my life.
- We have never had to go without while so many have had to
- We always have food in the refrigerator/pantry, we have a nice house for our kids to grow up in
- Both kids are doing great at school and they have a safe/wonderful environment to learn in
- Wonderful parents and in-laws that support us and are there for us whenever we need them.
- For date nights and margaritas with a very handsome, funny man
- For the heart community I have found. The support from these families are amazing and though I have not met most of them, I consider them very close friends. I want Colin to grow up with knowing kids just like him, I feel that is very important.
- I am thankful for Facebook.. Okay hear me out on this one. First I have been able to connect with friends I have lost over the years, I have found a GREAT support network there of other heart parents, and I can keep in closer contact with family and share pictures of the kids.. Okay so I am a dork.. That's okay.
- Katherine followed in my footsteps and played soccer
- The Aggies have been winning!
- Sunny warm days full of laughter, tickles, playgrounds, dress up, ice cream, and love
- 4 year old art work

This year has come with sadness, which makes me appreciate life's simplicity. This year I have learned I will lose one person I love so much, my grandma. Words can not express how much she means to be, but in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I am turning my grief into thanks for God giving me such an AMAZING grandma! I have seen so much sadness in the heart community, I give thanks in every breath Colin breathes. I give thanks in the HOPE for future for these kids, we have come so far in recent years in fighting the battle.

Happy Thanksgiving to all! I hope you all get to share with the ones you love AND Gig'Em Aggies!

3 comments:

Sherry said...

And to all your list of 'thanks', I say "AMEN!"

Well, except for the Aggie thing...:)

Lara Bynum said...

You made me cry! WaH... We are so thankful for all of the same things, and most of all our little miracle babies Katherine, Colin, and Kannon. And for special sister and brother in laws who are always there for us. Love you guys! XOXO

Jenny said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your grandmother Jennifer. I'm glad that you got out to visit recently. This has been quite a year!! I'm thankful for great heart mom friends like you. :)