Thankful Beyond Imagination

I am truly thankful. The above pictures are the girls enjoying a ride with Grandpa, my daddy. My daddy is the best! He was the daddy who would bring his girls treats home from work, spend time looking for them in their regular hiding place as if he had no idea where they were in our 10 x 50 foot mobile home. Daddy was such a good daddy, and then, after much prayer he found Jesus at the age of 53. Now he is the best! How many grandpas will push their granddaughters in a motorized vehicle using a mop? (The battery was dead.) This grandpa will drive to Tampa with me anytime Stan has to work. This grandpa was over at our house yesterday evening checking on our pipes because the season's first freeze was on its way, and Stan was still at work. This daddy told me when I was still a teenager, "You are never too old to kiss your daddy." Believe me, I knew he meant business, and I still kiss my daddy regularly.

I have always loved the beginning of the holiday season, and this year is no different. The news of Ellie having to remain in her brace really upset me more than I thought it would. But, I am so thankful that His mercies are new every morning.

Ellie took the news with the same resilience she's always had in life. Her spirit is not dampened. (All of the pictures with this post were taken on the day we learned she would stay in the brace. See any difference in that smile?)She still makes the biggest messes, causes the most laughs, and pitches the biggest "fits." Tonight, she asked Whitney, "Why do your pajamas have doggies?" Whitney said, "Because that's what Santa brought me last year, and that most be what he thought I would like." Ellie said, "So, so, so, so, so...so, so....so, so Santa Clause didn't want you to wear Dora?"

We've had a difficult 2 days, following Ellie's news...some frustrations for me at work, an "incident" at work for Stan that made he had to work 1 1/2 hours late, worried wife...where is he?.....teenager's issues with girlfriends, and, like others in our country, some financial worries. I was getting down, and, thank you, Jesus, the spirit of Thanksgiving floods my soul.

Look where we are today. Look where we were last year. When Stan was losing his job last year, I didn't know if we would make it on less salary. It's not been easy, but we're 2 weeks away from making it on $4,000 less salary this year. Last Thanksgiving, we were looking at legal proceedings to make Brandon ours. God made the crooked paths straight, and he is ours!!!! I get to hear my girls laugh everyday. I get to hear Brandon and Caleb laugh everyday, and know that Brandon is NOT going to have to go back. Tonight, my husband cooked supper so I could take a break. This week has brought the kind of weather than makes it FEEL like Thanksgiving. We have an entire week off for Thanksgiving holidays, and this year, I can really enjoy watching Ellie enjoy all the festivities.

Friday is Josie-Tatum's referral day, and, oh my how different life is now FIVE years later. Wow, 5 years ago, I was the mother of 2!

God is so good. His mercies are new every morning, so let me wake with the dawn.