Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!!
Showing posts with label Thankfulness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thankfulness. Show all posts
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
A heart full of praise
Just thinking about thankfulness tonight...
I am thankful that God has blessed me with the gift of being the kind of person who is thankful by nature. I normally don't have to fight against taking things for granted. I am continually thanking the Lord for the sunshine, the rain, the scents of nature, animals and trees, the beauty in everything around me...
My beautiful family and the blessings I enjoy every day simply because of them...
My home, our full cupboards, our full closets, and even full toy boxes...
Conveniences that are so helpful like automatic dishwashers, washing machines and dryers, cars, telephones, computers...
Digital cameras and video cameras, Craigslist....(some of my very favorite things)
People-----and especially the ones who make this world a better place. You know the kind I am talking about...
Advancements in medical care...hospitals, doctors, nurses, volunteers, researchers, generous givers...
Children and the joy they bring...
Blogs, and Facebook... : )
People who give their lives for the cause of Christ...missionaries here and abroad, pastors, Sunday School teachers, food pantry workers, foster parents and children's home workers...
Friends... Isn't friendship one of God's greatest blessings?
Mercy...Grace...Forgiveness...
Mercy...Grace...Forgiveness...
I am thankful that even though we are blessed with so many "things" here in America and other well-off countries around the world, true joy does not come from these things. If they all went away tomorrow--and someday, many of them honestly could..... in Jesus we would still have perfect peace.
I am thankful most of all for Him. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is truly all we need.
My heart overflows with praise to Him.
Happy Thanksgiving, friends. God bless you!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Family...the most precious gift God's given to us
I mentioned in my last post that we just returned from Family Camp up at Fort Faith Camp where my brother-in-law is the director.
So Spiritually filling, the weather was perfect, and it was fun!
And it was treasured time with our family--Mom, Dad, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunt, uncle, grandparents and special friends. Valuable... Priceless, really... Time.
Dear friends...Cherish your family!
So Spiritually filling, the weather was perfect, and it was fun!
And it was treasured time with our family--Mom, Dad, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunt, uncle, grandparents and special friends. Valuable... Priceless, really... Time.
The boys slept in a tent, and loved it. : )
Dear friends...Cherish your family!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
ONE YEAR LATER!
Dear friends,
Today we had a typical school day, the kids played outside, I did laundry, Sarah jumped on the trampoline, we ate left-overs........
In short, we had a very normal day. And a really beautiful one, I might add.
But to our family, June 1 will forever be etched in our memories. One year ago this evening, we were told that Sarah had cancer, and our world seemed to stop spinning. My mind continally goes back to these days just last year. Beginning a few days earlier, Sarah had started crying a lot. By June 1, she was absolutely miserable. I remember her lying on the couch, just sobbing nonstop. When she wasn't crying, she was sleeping. I had never seen anything like it. I guess her body would just shut down, and she slept for hours, only waking to cry again. So, we knew we had to take her in for that cat scan the doctor had said she would need, even though we had planned on taking her later in the week. The doctor was thinking they would find that the problem was glaucoma, or something like that. We were shocked when the diagnosis was cancer. And not only in the one eye where it was quite visible, but there were tiny tumors in her good eye as well.
The large tumor was growing so quickly. Day by day we would watch it changing, and within just a few days that eye that had been tiny and blind had grown so much, it looked downright scary to me. The tumor filled up her entire eyeball.
And that was the beginning of our cancer journey. You can read the whole story over on the right if you haven't been with me long. Just scroll down in the archives to the very beginning--June 2010. It's a good story. A really good story! God did AMAZING things for Sarah and for us!
Today we had a typical school day, the kids played outside, I did laundry, Sarah jumped on the trampoline, we ate left-overs........
In short, we had a very normal day. And a really beautiful one, I might add.
But to our family, June 1 will forever be etched in our memories. One year ago this evening, we were told that Sarah had cancer, and our world seemed to stop spinning. My mind continally goes back to these days just last year. Beginning a few days earlier, Sarah had started crying a lot. By June 1, she was absolutely miserable. I remember her lying on the couch, just sobbing nonstop. When she wasn't crying, she was sleeping. I had never seen anything like it. I guess her body would just shut down, and she slept for hours, only waking to cry again. So, we knew we had to take her in for that cat scan the doctor had said she would need, even though we had planned on taking her later in the week. The doctor was thinking they would find that the problem was glaucoma, or something like that. We were shocked when the diagnosis was cancer. And not only in the one eye where it was quite visible, but there were tiny tumors in her good eye as well.
The large tumor was growing so quickly. Day by day we would watch it changing, and within just a few days that eye that had been tiny and blind had grown so much, it looked downright scary to me. The tumor filled up her entire eyeball.
And that was the beginning of our cancer journey. You can read the whole story over on the right if you haven't been with me long. Just scroll down in the archives to the very beginning--June 2010. It's a good story. A really good story! God did AMAZING things for Sarah and for us!
Memorial Day weekend last year...
Memorial Day weekend this year!
Then...
Now!
First days in the hospital...
Not in the hospital anymore!
She was such a trooper. We were amazed at how well she did.
Playing at the park after her first round of chemo..
And loving life today. : )
We are so thankful every day for our sweet and wonderful girl! How blessed we are! Thank you everyone who prayed for us during Sarah's cancer journey. What Satan intended for evil, God intended for good, and we are rejoicing today. : )
Praise the Lord!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Memorial Day blessings...
It was Memorial Day weekend!
We spent the weekend at one of our very favorite places...Fort Faith Camp! My brother-in-law and his family direct the camp, and my wonderful second parents live and help out there, and we just get the biggest blessings out of being there, enjoying God, His creation, and being with the greatest gift of all--our family.
The Saturday before Memorial Day is always work day up there. People come and help clean, fix, paint, plant, rake, and anything else that needs to be done. Some of us planted flowers...
And some of us helped make this boardwalk through some swampy trails! (The boys helped Daddy and Uncle Greg. They worked hard.)
We caught snakes! (Well, Josh did. He is fearless, that boy...)
And some caught frogs!
And we thanked God for simple gifts...and for those who served and gave their lives for our freedom.
We enjoyed precious time with Grandma and Grandpa,
each other...
and cousins.
We praised God for Sarah's good health. She is a treasure!
We rowed boats,
fished,
hunted for critters,
and played in the water.
We praised God...for He is good...
The cousins slept on the porch!
We laughed...
and we loved.
We had a wonderful time. We are so very blessed.
Last year, Memorial Day weekend was the very last time we enjoyed together before Sarah's diagnosis of cancer. She was in so much pain and we had no idea why. What a difference a year makes! Join me tomorrow night as we remember the day that changed our lives, and celebrate His goodness.
Have a blessed day, friends. Enjoy your family and be thankful for them, even the little things that might drive you crazy. Life is an adventure, and every day is a gift.
And most of all, remember to thank the One who is worthy to be praised!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Because of Cancer
I have a few quiet moments as I sit with a sleeping little girl in our hospital room. We are only here because Sarah's central line tubes broke, and they were repaired. I don't have much time at home to just be still and reflect, since there is always something to keep me busy, or my mind occupied. But when I am here I appreciate the quiet times, and my mind so often returns to thoughts of gratitude to God.
Because of cancer in our Sarah's life, I am so grateful to have had so many uninterrupted hours with her that would have seemed impossible to find in our normal home life. I have learned more about her amazing little personality, and enjoyed her so much. I have discovered precious gems about her such as her endurance and strength--her ability to trust and let go of all fear. The way she laughs and enjoys life no matter what the circumstance. I never would have known the extent of the strength of Sarah's spirit if we had not traveled down this road. I would not have known my little girl the way I know her now.
Because of cancer, I have learned about God, and I have come to know Him better than I ever could have apart from it. I have learned in completely new ways that His promises are true. When He says He will give us peace if we trust Him, He really means that. I have questioned Him and trusted Him, and I know whatever the outcome of all of this, I would trust Him still. He has shown Himself so real to me. So real, that at times I have felt completely and totally surrounded and filled by Him. I have learned that the worst, most scary things we can imagine are not so scary when God is walking with you through them. We can't ever fully understand that until something like this happens. I am thankful for cancer because of this.
Because of cancer, I have learned more about myself. I was surprised to find that I have more faith than I thought I had. (I know that was from Him.) I have also learned that that faith could so quickly disappear, and that God loves me either way. I have learned that when I am weak, He strengthens me. I have learned that I really do love adopted children every bit as much as any of my biological children, and that love is fierce. I can survive on less sleep than I thought I could. I appreciate my children and husband more. I have grown as a person in so many ways.
Because my daughter had cancer, I have been made aware at the deepest level that childhood cancer is really here, and it is actually all around us, not some far away thing. Sometimes every room on this floor is full. I have gotten to know some of the children and their parents. I have developed sincere love and empathy when before I could only offer a helpless sympathy. I am now able to reach these hurting families in ways I never could have before we walked this path ourselves, and I hope God allows me to use this throughout my life.
Because of cancer, I have met some of the most wonderful people I have ever known. My life is richer just because I know them. I watch these doctors, nurses and other staff come to work every day giving everything they have to these children and families. They can't have a bad day. They always have to keep smiling and loving because they know that their problems are really nothing compared to what these kids go through. I am in awe of their energy. They are not only nurses and doctors--they are counselors and friends, and everyone here knows that most if not all do what they do by choice out of love.
Because of cancer, I have seen the very best in people. Friends we know well, less well, and even strangers have encouraged us, strengthened us, given of their time, money and resources to show us love. My boys have learned through experiencing this what God's love in action really looks and feels like. I am so grateful to every person who has had a part in our lives through this time.
Our precious Sarah is the one who had cancer. She has lived it beautifully. Probably more patiently and joyfully than most people, or even anyone I know could have. God has shown Himself amazingly gracious and powerful in her life through this, and even before that. She already has an amazing life story, and she is not even three years old. I truly hate cancer. But I am grateful for it in so many ways. I can only hope and pray that she will be able to see as she grows that even though it was not fair that she got sick , God is good through it all. I have heard the quote, "Don't waste your cancer." I made it my goal at the beginning to make that my goal. To live each day with my eyes and ears open, waiting to experience what God wanted me to learn and gain through this. I am thankful that I did just that, and that He poured His abundance out on me and really all of us, the whole time. My prayer is that Sarah will know God and that same abundance He gives as well.
This list really only scratches the surface of everything I could say about this. I would never, ever hope for someone else's family to hear the news that cancer is in their family, but I want to encourage you that if it ever does happen, do not be afraid! God is so good and loving. He can and will use it for our good if we let Him.
I can honestly say that because of cancer... I am thankful.
Because of cancer in our Sarah's life, I am so grateful to have had so many uninterrupted hours with her that would have seemed impossible to find in our normal home life. I have learned more about her amazing little personality, and enjoyed her so much. I have discovered precious gems about her such as her endurance and strength--her ability to trust and let go of all fear. The way she laughs and enjoys life no matter what the circumstance. I never would have known the extent of the strength of Sarah's spirit if we had not traveled down this road. I would not have known my little girl the way I know her now.
Because of cancer, I have learned about God, and I have come to know Him better than I ever could have apart from it. I have learned in completely new ways that His promises are true. When He says He will give us peace if we trust Him, He really means that. I have questioned Him and trusted Him, and I know whatever the outcome of all of this, I would trust Him still. He has shown Himself so real to me. So real, that at times I have felt completely and totally surrounded and filled by Him. I have learned that the worst, most scary things we can imagine are not so scary when God is walking with you through them. We can't ever fully understand that until something like this happens. I am thankful for cancer because of this.
Because of cancer, I have learned more about myself. I was surprised to find that I have more faith than I thought I had. (I know that was from Him.) I have also learned that that faith could so quickly disappear, and that God loves me either way. I have learned that when I am weak, He strengthens me. I have learned that I really do love adopted children every bit as much as any of my biological children, and that love is fierce. I can survive on less sleep than I thought I could. I appreciate my children and husband more. I have grown as a person in so many ways.
Because my daughter had cancer, I have been made aware at the deepest level that childhood cancer is really here, and it is actually all around us, not some far away thing. Sometimes every room on this floor is full. I have gotten to know some of the children and their parents. I have developed sincere love and empathy when before I could only offer a helpless sympathy. I am now able to reach these hurting families in ways I never could have before we walked this path ourselves, and I hope God allows me to use this throughout my life.
Because of cancer, I have met some of the most wonderful people I have ever known. My life is richer just because I know them. I watch these doctors, nurses and other staff come to work every day giving everything they have to these children and families. They can't have a bad day. They always have to keep smiling and loving because they know that their problems are really nothing compared to what these kids go through. I am in awe of their energy. They are not only nurses and doctors--they are counselors and friends, and everyone here knows that most if not all do what they do by choice out of love.
Because of cancer, I have seen the very best in people. Friends we know well, less well, and even strangers have encouraged us, strengthened us, given of their time, money and resources to show us love. My boys have learned through experiencing this what God's love in action really looks and feels like. I am so grateful to every person who has had a part in our lives through this time.
Our precious Sarah is the one who had cancer. She has lived it beautifully. Probably more patiently and joyfully than most people, or even anyone I know could have. God has shown Himself amazingly gracious and powerful in her life through this, and even before that. She already has an amazing life story, and she is not even three years old. I truly hate cancer. But I am grateful for it in so many ways. I can only hope and pray that she will be able to see as she grows that even though it was not fair that she got sick , God is good through it all. I have heard the quote, "Don't waste your cancer." I made it my goal at the beginning to make that my goal. To live each day with my eyes and ears open, waiting to experience what God wanted me to learn and gain through this. I am thankful that I did just that, and that He poured His abundance out on me and really all of us, the whole time. My prayer is that Sarah will know God and that same abundance He gives as well.
This list really only scratches the surface of everything I could say about this. I would never, ever hope for someone else's family to hear the news that cancer is in their family, but I want to encourage you that if it ever does happen, do not be afraid! God is so good and loving. He can and will use it for our good if we let Him.
I can honestly say that because of cancer... I am thankful.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
About baths and diapers....
Well, last night and today began to get more interesting.
Sarah had to start taking a chemo drug that excretes through the skin, so she has to take baths every 4 hours during the day, and once in the middle in the night. Good news: she likes baths. Bad news: she has to take lots of them. She also has to wear nothing but roomy, cotton shirts, and nothing that can irritate the skin. So, one of the nurses last night told us that she would have to wear----CLOTH DIAPERS!
She brings in this huge pile of them, and that was a good thing because I quickly discovered you have to change those things like every few minutes. Overnight it wasn't too big of a deal, at least for me, because the nurses had to do all the changing of the diapers and the bedding. (Well, the cloth diapers were their idea!) But this morning when my poor, tired baby woke up after having been disturbed half the night, and taking a bath to boot, she still had to wear these crazy diapers that don't actually work, and take another bath. : ( Mommy was tired too, of course, and in no mood to deal with having soaked pants from holding my cuddly baby on my lap. Also, there was no way she could be up and around in those things, since they would never stay the way you put them, and she couldn't even walk right. It was ridiculous. (Yes, I know there are nicer ones out there that have velcroes and do dads, and fit children nicely, but we did not have those. I'm pretty sure the size Sarah had on was an infant size!)
Finally, a different nurse came in who saw our plight and said we could use disposables, but ones a couple sizes too big so that they wouldn't be too tight. I was praising the Lord for sure! But I was also a bit worried since the other nurse had said it was imperative she wear cloth ones. Oh, the things we have to leave in the Lord's hands. So many things.
She had a pretty good day today still. We can tell she gets tired much sooner than usual, but still she was her happy self most of the day. The doctor told us that most kids have stopped eating already at this point in the treatment, and Sarah still eats some, and he was happy that she hadn't started getting mouth sores yet. She enjoyed most of her baths, except when she was getting really tired at night.
That little girl is a trooper, that's for sure.
I was starting to get really tired myself, so I was so, so happy when Cassandra came early in the day and let me have the rest of the day off! Scott and I went out to lunch, and then he went to the hospital, and I stayed home!!! It felt so good to snuggle with my boys on the couch watching a movie, and my bed is going to feel like pure paradise. : ) There is no place like home!
These pics are from yesterday before she started wearing her white t-shirts...
And these are of the view out our 7th floor window.
Blessings to all of you! Be thankful for everything, including little things like full nights of sleep, comfy beds, only having to take one bath a day, and the convenience of Pampers. : )
Sarah had to start taking a chemo drug that excretes through the skin, so she has to take baths every 4 hours during the day, and once in the middle in the night. Good news: she likes baths. Bad news: she has to take lots of them. She also has to wear nothing but roomy, cotton shirts, and nothing that can irritate the skin. So, one of the nurses last night told us that she would have to wear----CLOTH DIAPERS!
She brings in this huge pile of them, and that was a good thing because I quickly discovered you have to change those things like every few minutes. Overnight it wasn't too big of a deal, at least for me, because the nurses had to do all the changing of the diapers and the bedding. (Well, the cloth diapers were their idea!) But this morning when my poor, tired baby woke up after having been disturbed half the night, and taking a bath to boot, she still had to wear these crazy diapers that don't actually work, and take another bath. : ( Mommy was tired too, of course, and in no mood to deal with having soaked pants from holding my cuddly baby on my lap. Also, there was no way she could be up and around in those things, since they would never stay the way you put them, and she couldn't even walk right. It was ridiculous. (Yes, I know there are nicer ones out there that have velcroes and do dads, and fit children nicely, but we did not have those. I'm pretty sure the size Sarah had on was an infant size!)
Finally, a different nurse came in who saw our plight and said we could use disposables, but ones a couple sizes too big so that they wouldn't be too tight. I was praising the Lord for sure! But I was also a bit worried since the other nurse had said it was imperative she wear cloth ones. Oh, the things we have to leave in the Lord's hands. So many things.
She had a pretty good day today still. We can tell she gets tired much sooner than usual, but still she was her happy self most of the day. The doctor told us that most kids have stopped eating already at this point in the treatment, and Sarah still eats some, and he was happy that she hadn't started getting mouth sores yet. She enjoyed most of her baths, except when she was getting really tired at night.
That little girl is a trooper, that's for sure.
I was starting to get really tired myself, so I was so, so happy when Cassandra came early in the day and let me have the rest of the day off! Scott and I went out to lunch, and then he went to the hospital, and I stayed home!!! It felt so good to snuggle with my boys on the couch watching a movie, and my bed is going to feel like pure paradise. : ) There is no place like home!
These pics are from yesterday before she started wearing her white t-shirts...
And these are of the view out our 7th floor window.
Blessings to all of you! Be thankful for everything, including little things like full nights of sleep, comfy beds, only having to take one bath a day, and the convenience of Pampers. : )
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