"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever!"- Psalm 107:1
This verse is just the first in a chapter overflowing with thanks for the Lord and all He has done. Verse 8 calls it "unfailing love"... I'm mighty grateful for that unfailing love!
Thanksgiving is in one day and although Christmas seems to be stealing a bit of the limelight, I wanted to pause and reflect on what I am thankful for.
I am thankful first and foremost for life. Life that is a gift and ultimately not my own. I have a creator and a sustainer... a Savior. I have forgiveness... again and again. UNFAILING LOVE. I often forget what a precious gift just waking up to enjoy yet another day is... how? I don't know. Beauty is all around me... in the air that fills my lungs, in the trees and flowers, in the people I meet. Life is precious and sweet and so short. Having a baby taught me that... I only wish I'd quit forgetting!!!
I am thankful for family... both near and far. I pray we can all enjoy many more years together. I am grateful for a patient, wise, humble and wonderful man named Dan. He is a great husband and best friend... a great provider and father! Austin is truly blessed. Speaking of... I am grateful for the blessing that he has brought into my life through all of the ups and downs! His little life is the clearest testament to God's goodness I know. He reassured my belief in a Creator and all things miraculous. He is my miracle- a beautiful, sweet, fun and perfect miracle! I am thankful and grateful to have my parents and my brothers and my new sister in law! Though they are far from my home, they are close in my heart. And I'm even grateful for in the in-lawed folks in my life... I wish them nothing but happiness and health...
I am thankful for friends... both new and old, near and far. Life's just better with friends!!!! And I appreciate the true ones... you know who you are.
I am thankful to our military... Active, Reserve, Retired, Deployed, In-training, MIA, POW... ALL branches, not just the mighty USMC- ooh rah!- I know firsthand what types of sacrifices are made so that they can protect our freedoms and nation. I admire their honor, courage, commitment, and sacrifice.
I am thankful for the families of the military... the wives, husbands, children, parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews... they are personally affected by their loved ones' service and the sacrifices THEY make do not go unnoticed- at least, not by me. I know firsthand too what it is like being "married to the military."
I am thankful for my house, for chocolate, for scales that lie, for wet Austin kisses, for pillow talk, for new milestones, for familiar songs, that baking is still fun, for Facebook connections, for coffee drinks, for symmetry, for swings, for friendly mailmen/waiters/cashiers, for family hugs, goodnight prayers, books read with Austin, and books read after he goes to bed, for bargain shopping deals, that taking out the garbage is "man's" work, for belly laughs and good times with friends, for finding cool and cheap things on craigslist, for inside jokes, for jewelry, that I was able to reference Facebook and Craigslist in my list of thanks, for days with naps, and............ much, much, much more!!!
I just wrote a super long weblog about Austin's birthday and I lost it, so I'm not going to write it again today, sorry!
So everyone have a great day,
Austin's birthday was yesterday,
My little boy is 2!
awww! I'm glad you enjoyed it - I sure did! I just got back from the grocery store; Chris' family is coming to our house this year, so I get to cook! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
So this year on Veteran's day we went as a family with our best friends out here to visit the USS Alabama in Mobile. The park was gorgeous, and the ship was amazing! It always amazes me the power of our military--I mean this ship was used for WWII, and they don't even have battleships any more (they aren't needed). When we were in VA a Colonel told us about how when we go in to a country we lose lives because we hold back the power of our full force, because if we unleashed the full force of our military on a country we would demolish it. We hold back for the innocent lives and structures within the warzone. This never surprised me, but it is amazing to see how far we have come, and the power that we had at our fingertips years ago.
Anyway, after we left I decided that it was the perfect thing to do on Veteran's Day, so I have decided that I want to do something every year as a family on Veteran's day to remember the veterans of this great country. Even if we are just baking things and bringing them to the vets in the nursing homes, it is something that I think is worth doing on a yearly basis to instill the importance of what these men have done for all of us in my son. Anyway, I will post the pics of our trip to the USS Alabama soon, so go check it out in a few days.
~KJS
Have you ever seen Band of Brothers? I love how they have the Real men talk after each one and they talk about it in their own words! Makes me cry every time.
I am bored out of mind, but at the same time have a million things to do that I don't want to do. So I am surfing the net to waste time until I have to start cleaning. I am not looking forward to the rest of this day! Part because of all the cleaning I need to do, and also because Dan has duty tonight, so I have to spend yet another night at home without my husband, and also getting Austin to church without Dan. I love church, but somehow it just drains me when I have to go alone with Austin. Anyway, I really need to make myself clean now--maybe the ipod will motivate me enough to get though the cleaning!
Have a great day everybody!
Isn't it funny the way that works...my laundry is calling, too. Josh works third shift (and has for 6 yrs now) so I end up putting it all off until he's at work!
So I don't know if I have ever written about this on here, but it probably about time if I haven't. I have been very worried for about a year now, about Austin's speech progression. He would say a word a lot for a while and then drop it for another word. He had about 5 words he had done this with, and after he would drop a word--he didn't speak it again. It was like he forgot it--because at times it seemed like he wastrying, but he just couldn't get it--even after he had already had it for so long! So I was obviously frustrated. The doctor's were giving us until his 2nd birthday to see if he progressed and if not we would look into therapy. There have been so many times that I have just wanted to give up on caring about this and give it to a therapist to deal with, but I just couldn't let it go. So needless to say after we have done tons of work on this--we have read to Austin everyday since he was born, but we read even more now, we sing and talk to him all the time--even in the car, we look for trucks,cars, or airplanes and talk about all the things we see, because normal kids his age are usually asking, "what that?" about everything, so I just act like he is saying it all the time. Needless to say, this week we hit a milestone! Austin said clearly, "go car," A two word phrase! This was the first time I heard him clearly put two words together that he uses. I was so excited, and then tonight he said "I did it.", when he closed the garage door and then again and again, when he turned on the lights! I feel like we are finally making progress. Yesterday it sounded like Austin was saying something that sounded similar to the ABCs, but I am never sure. He is starting to get closer to where he needs to be, but I feel better knowing that even if we get the therapy, that he is getting it! Anyway, I just wanted to share that--to me (a stay at home mom/wife) this is the biggest news around!
~KJS
Seems like kids start these sorts of things when they feel like it - glad to hear that he is busting out the words and sentences! My nephew who is nearly two doesn't say any words at all.
That is wonderful, Kara! Keep on working with him. Mark had speech problems as a kid, Juleah had some and Tyler has had some (I think). So, keep it up!
Don't let the doctors worry you just yet. My dad didn't say anything until he was 3! And Kevin is just now starting to say a little more that we can understand...not too much and he will be 3 in April. Bryce started about 1 and a half and my niece started at 4 months! Everyone is different :o) Sounds like you are doing your part for sure and that he is going to turn out great!
