So Thankful...

I know that I have so much to be thankful for, every day day of the year, but given that today is a day especially set apart for remembering my many blessings, I thought I'd list just a few things here.

I am SO very thankful for my Savior, my Father, my Lord. I am so thankful that he saved a wretch like me. His grace is truly Amazing.

I am so thankful for my little family. I remember praying as a teenager that God would send me a man who fit all the little criteria in my mind of what a good husband and father should be. He far exceeded my silly little list when He sent me Justin. Our journey has not always been easy, but it was what got us to where we are now. Our marriage is not perfect, and we have our rough times, but I am so thankful to have him as my husband. He is my love, my friend, my helper, and the BEST Daddy my two girls could ever have. I'm so blessed to have his last name.

(I can't even get through this without crying. Give me a second to wipe my eyes so I can see....Okay, back now.)

I am so thankful for my beautiful girls. I cannot believe I have been blessed to be their Momma. They are the most amazing gifts in this world. They make me smile bigger, hurt deeper, and laugh harder than anyone or anything in this world. Abigail is the smartest kid I know. (Don't anybody take offense. She's mine, I can say that. :)) She amazes me every day with the things she says and does. She's such a funny combination of Justin and I, plus her own little (big!) personality thrown in there, too! She is beautiful and confident. She loves her little sister and her Hopper. She can count and read and dance and spin. She eats deer jerky with her chocolate milk for breakfast. She thinks that everybody loves her and her chickens. She believes in accessorizing for any occasion. She can (and will) argue with a post, and she will always win. She is my big girl, my snuggle bunny, my princess. I love her with all my heart.

I believe that ALL children are a miracle, sent straight from God. But I believe that Julianne is our special miracle, given what we went through after having Abigail. I did not know if we would be able to have another child, and I hoped and prayed so hard for this little girl. It was one of those hopes that you don't dare speak out loud, because it's too sacred. It was just before Thanksgiving last year that I found out I was pregnant, and I could barely contain myself!! And now look at my big ol' Chunky Monkey!! She had a bit of a rough start, and I worried at first that she'd always be skinny and orange, but my, how things have changed!! She is the sweetest, happiest baby I know! She can kick her chubby legs like nobody's business. She loves her big sister and snuggling on Momma's shoulder. She can light up a room with her dimpled smile. She eats green beans and squash like they're going out of style. She gives me sugar even without me asking, and she loves playing peek-a-boo with her Daddy. She is my baby girl, my snuggle bug, my princess. I love her with my whole heart.

I am thankful for so many other things in my life. I have been blessed beyond measure. I am thankful for my family, who has raised me and stood by me through thick and thin. I am thankful for my Momma, who will forever be my role model and inspiration. She taught me what it means to be a good Momma and showed me how to love. I miss her everyday. I am thankful for my Daddy. We have come a long way, and nothing warms my heart more than to see him playing with his girls. He is such a wonderful PawPaw. I am thankful for my sister. She is one of the very best people I know on this earth. She is patient and kind, gives of herself constantly, and is so very smart. She makes me so proud. She is the best sister, friend, and MyMy that anyone could ask for. I don't know what I'd ever do without her. I am thankful for the family I inherited when I married Justin. I am thankful for in-laws who love me and treat me as their own. I am thankful for friends made at different times in my life who will always be my family. I am thankful for my church family, who lifts me up and cares for me, and misses me when I'm away. I'm thankful for our little house, cramped though it is, because it keeps us dry and warm. I am thankful that I live in a tiny little place called Cole Central, where it's quiet and peaceful and safe. I will choose (at least for today!) to be thankful for my job, as hard as things may be right now, and as rough as they're still gonna get, because it helps put food on the table and clothes on our backs. I am very fortunate to have a job that pays well enough to have everything I need and many things I want, and I am blessed to work with some good people who can make the tough days a little easier. I am thankful for vehicles that get us where we need to go. I am thankful for a freezer full of meat and a refrigerator full of fresh eggs! I am thankful for the job Justin has and the family that we have gained there. I am thankful for bacon, Ranch dressing, chicken and dumplings, and sweet tea. I am thankful for flat irons, baggy pants, and ponytail holders. (See, there's always something to be thankful for!) I'm thankful for the trials that I have been through, because without the dark days, the sun wouldn't shine as bright. I am thankful for my freedom, and for all of those who sacrifice so that I can have all of these things to be thankful for. I am thankful for each of you who took the time to read this novel of thankfulness. It's certainly not an all-encompassing list, but it's after 3am, and I'd like to get a little more sleep before I have to get up for real and cook! I'm thankful that I am going to be rushing around today, because it means that I have more than one Thanksgiving to go to, and lots of family to visit with! I don't like that Justin's working, but I'm thankful for the holiday pay on next week's check.

Okay, okay, enough. But it's really hard to stop once you start being thankful. Counting your blessings is always a good way to lift your spirits, and maybe someone else's. I pray that each of you have a blessed Thanksgiving, and get to enjoy a day of family, food, and friends.

Lots of love from our home to yours!

4 months old!!

Brand New!

Four months old!!

Hard to believe that my skinny, orange baby is now a pasty, chubby 4 month old!! She is just the sweetest, happiest baby ever!! She had her 4 month checkup today, and she got an A+!! She weighs a whopping 14 lbs and 3.3 oz and is 24 inches long/tall!! I am so proud of my big girl!! She had a rough start, but she's doing so well now!! Still pukes all the time, but it's not holding her back, that's for sure!! I am so proud of my big little girl!!

Sick House :(

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, the busy season has begun around our house!! It seems like all we've been doing lately is running. I remarked to Justin the other day about how much trash we had this week, since I had brought several bags out to the trash can. He semi-jokingly said, "We've finally been home long enough to make some trash!" We've made up for that the last few days, though. I took off a little early last Friday, and we all went out to CM Farms to play around, walk through the corn maze, etc. Then I was off on Monday for Justin's birthday--Happy 31st Birthday, Honey!! And then we all got sick!! Well, actually we started getting sick before that, but it all came to a head Monday night/Tuesday morning. Poor Abigail seems to have had the worst of it, with a horrible cough and a fever that comes and goes. I've felt worse today than yesterday, but Justin seems to be better today. We're hoping and praying sweet Julianne doesn't get sick, but so far she's been her normal pukey, happy self!! She's just the best baby, always smiling and laughing. I think she's going to be more laid back than Abigail, but we'll see! She's gonna be tough for sure, I can tell you that! Abigail flipped her out of her swing the other day (it's a little travel sized swing) and she hardly even flinched!! Poor kid!! And as I type this, Abigail is going to town on her feet with the Ped Egg. God love her!! Never a dull moment around this house, even when we're ailing!!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Abigail!!

Happy, Happy Birthday to Miss Abigail!!

I can't believe she is three years old today!! Time sure flies when you're chasing a princess!! Since her party isn't until next Saturday, we took her to the park today so she could play and enjoy this wonderful day!!

Here are a few pics:

She loves to kiss all over Sister! (We all do, really!)

Poor Julianne was worn out from all that playing!!

AWANA!!

I might've mentioned it before, but this is Abigail's first year of AWANA at church.

In case you aren't familiar, AWANA is a Bible club where the children memorize scripture and learn about Jesus. It's still pretty basic at Abigail's age, but they are learning a lot!! She's so excited to go and say her verse (and play with her friends and eat!)!!

Here are a few pics of tonight's activities:

Saying the pledges!

(It was "Crazy Hair" night tonight--hence the getups!)

Cheering for her friends as they got their vests and bags!

Putting on her vest!

My big girl all decked out in her AWANA uniform!! Isn't she precious?!

Happy Birthday, PawPaw Jerry!

Happy Birthday, PawPaw Jerry!!

We hope you enjoyed your lunch and your sprinkle cupcakes!!

We love you bunches!!

I remember...

I had just graduated from Tech and promptly moved to San Antonio in hopes of finding my way. We'd just lost Momma not even a year before, and I knew I couldn't go home just then. I was still crashing on Em's couch, looking for jobs and getting to know my way around the big ol' city. I had slept late that morning and Em had left for work earlier. The phone rang, and she said, "Turn on the TV!! The world's going to hell in a hand basket!!" She briefly explained what had happened, that a plane had hit one of the towers of the World Trade Center. I quickly turned on the TV, just in time to see the second plane hit. I don't remember what we said or when we hung up, but I know she came home shortly after that. We didn't talk much, just watched the news in shock. I think I called home to check on my family, even though I knew they were fine, just to tell them I loved them. The rest of the day was a blur. I remember going to church the following night with thousands of others, praying for the victims, their families, the first responders...all the while hoping and praying that whoever did this would be caught quickly and punished. Little did we all know what the next ten years would hold.

Ten years ago, I hadn't even met Justin, let alone dreamed that I would ever marry a fire fighter/EMT. (Pretty sure he didn't think that's what he'd be doing at that time, either!) I'm certainly not trying to suggest that being a fireman in DeRidder, LA, is exactly the same as being a fireman in New York City, but the risks are ultimately the same. As a firefighter's wife, I worry about my husband from time to time, even though I don't usually know about the calls until afterwards. I've been in the station once when the tones have gone off, and my heart dropped a little watching him drive off in the truck. I also worry about the things he has seen, especially the medical calls involving children. Those bother him the most, and stay with him long after the incident is over. I am so proud of him for who he is and what he does. He goes in when everyone else goes out. It's as simple as that. He is truly a Hero.

I hope and pray that my children don't ever have to experience anything like what happened on September 11, 2001, though I know the reality of that is not likely. When they're older, I'll tell them about it, about how horrible and scary it was, and about how men and women just like their Daddy gave their lives to save others. I'll tell them how, at least for a little while, the whole nation came together, to grieve and cry, and to help and support.

Today I pray again for all of those directly affected by the attacks of 9/11, those who lost family and friends, those who gave their lives trying to save others, those who tried to stop the hijackers...

I pray for our nation, that we will get it together and do the RIGHT things.

I pray for our military and their families, for all of the sacrifices that they make to keep the fight away from our homes.

I pray for the first responders, the men and women who keep us safe here at home.

I'm thankful today and every day for my family, my friends, and my freedom.

And I'm thankful that God still blesses America.