Give Thanks Day 5

Today I want to GIVE THANKS for my in-laws, Joann & Grady. I have the best in-laws ever!! PERIOD! They are always there for us and go above and beyond anything you could ever imagine.

Grady & Joann, I love them!!

The other night when it was time for us to do our "thankful time" Benny was thankful for his parents. He said, "they always prayed for me. I can remember hearing them praying at night and they prayed for us kids. I know they were praying for my salvation and as I got older and far away from God, there was no doubt their prayers continued. It took many years, but God did answer their prayers. I may not be here today if it weren't for my parents  constant prayers."

That touched me in a way that I had never thought of before. Never in all of our 19 years of marriage, had he ever told me that. WOW, I am loving our family thankful time!! (I will share some of the things that all of us are thankful for at some point during this month)

I know that they continue to pray for our family. They love with an unconditional love and they go out of their way for others. 

I love you Joann & Grady!!

I am thankful to that we have our parents. They too have had many health problems. Grady has lots of health issues and some days are better than others. And Joann, God has healed her of Leukemia. She was diagnosed, 2 weeks after I found out I was pregnant with Keaton. We were devastated. But GOD had another plan, and with medication, she has been leukemia free for over 7 years!! I praise HIM for allowing her much more time than the medical world says!!  She has some other problems she deals with, but I have realized that will come with age (already seeing some of that myself!!)

Thank you Father, for Joann & Grady, how awesome it is to have Godly in-laws that pray for you daily. That are the most wonderful grandparents in the world. You have truly blessed me, beyond anything I could have ever asked!

Give Thanks Day 4

Today I want to GIVE THANKS for my parents. God blessed them with me,  bahhaa I know that's just plain wrong, lol!! No, really I  have been blessed by having then as parents!! My parents divorced when I was 5 years old. But, I have to thank God for never feeling like either didn't love me and I don't remember them fighting in front of me. I see so many children that are in this same situation and the parents use them against each other. I am soooo thankful that was not my case. Even to this day, we can all get together and my parents still get along, (with the exception of Mom reminding Daddy that he is older than she is ~ by 4  months, lol) and I am thankful that my children can see their grandparents together at the same time. God used this situation in my life because He knew that one day I would be married to Benny and I would have to know, how Am felt as she grew up. He made good out of bad. Bringing Romans 8:28 to life.

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

My mother and Poppy!!

This is my Mom and my other Dad, I don't consider him my step dad. He has been in my life since I was 11 years old. They have been married, I think 35-36 years, so he has been in my life a long time. And I don't feel bad about saying this, because when I married Benny, my Daddy came to me right before the wedding started and said, "I want you to ask Tom to walk you down the aisle, too. He has been your Dad, too" WOW. I was already a bit emotional, but that was HUGE for any father to do. Talk about love and respect. As an adult, I learned a lesson that day about putting others before yourself. My mom has always been there for me and she has loved me and helped me through so much in my life. As grandparents, "Poppy & Grannie Q" they love our children very much. These two have taught me much about love and life, I owe them a lot!! Pray for them as they try to sell their house and battle some health problems they are facing.

Mimi & my Daddy!

This is my Daddy and my other Mom. They have been married 23 years. My dad, taught me the importance of hard work. Then he made me do it, lol. I worked for him for 7 years and it was tough not seeing him almost every day when I quit. We have a special bond that I am very thankful for! Even though I don't see him very often I know that he loves me! I may be "old" but I am still "daddy's little girl".  These are always there when you need them, they love with an unconditional love. I am so thankful that the Lord brought Mimi into his life. He had gone through some hard years and by God's grace and mercy He placed, her in his life. Please pray for my Daddy, he has had some health issues recently (he is very stubborn!! ) and he will be having surgery next week. Pray also for Mimi she fights health issues and she will need prayer to deal with this wonderful patient!!

As I get older, so do my parents, and I have friends that parents have gone onto meet the Lord. I am thankful that I still have my parents! When my daddy was so sick several weeks back, I realized that I am entering a new season in my life, one that will bring trials with health issues and that will require me to have faith that God has got them and me in the palm of HIS hand. 

Heavenly, Father, thank you for my parents. Thank you for allowing me to have parents that love me and that are there for me. Hold them close to you. Work healing in their health problems, and all areas of their lives. Lord, you know what they need!! May you do a mighty work in them and through them. May their hearts and lives be focused on you!!

Give Thanks Day 3

Today I want to GIVE THANKS for MY CHILDREN!!! I wanted to give each one a day of their own, (see that would be 4 days...easy days!lol!!) but as I thought about each one, I was reminded what a gift it is to be a mother........

You see, my first marriage was very short, and let me just say that I wasn't in the Lord's will at all. Anyway, while I was married I had to have surgery for scar tissue that involved an ovary. It was pretty bad,  and long story short I was told I may never be able to have children. What can I say, BUT GOD knows more than any doctors.!!! Praise HIS NAME!!!!

God BLESSED me with a child by marriage and 3 children of my own. How do you like that BUT GOD story??!!!

I am giving thanks today for Am!! She may not be my birth child, but God placed her in my life when I met Benny. I was soooo scared that I wouldn't be a good stepmother to her. BUT God, gave me what I needed to get through some hard, tough and special times. Thinking I may never have a child, God allowed me to help in raising a child was an opportunity I did not want to take lightly. I thank HIM for blessing  my life with her. I am a better mother because of her. She has grown into a beautiful young lady, loving wife and a GREAT mom!! (saving the grandblessing for another day!!) I am so thankful for her and what she means to me. I DO NOT consider her my step-daughter. She is my daughter!!

My beautiful daughters!!

I am giving thanks today for Sis!! Oh, the excitement when I found out I was pregnant!!! So thankful God's ways are higher than mine, the doctors or any diagnosis! The day she was born, I was filled with a love that I had never known. Our lives were changed that day. She has always been the sweet spirited quiet one, very smart girly girl that loves shoes, pocketbooks and anything pink!!  Today she is a lovely young woman, who has a special spirit about her that is very rare. Now a college student, her life is full speed ahead. Yet, she knows the ONE that is in control and she walks the walk!! She loves the Lord and wants to serve Him. She is beautiful inside and out. I am loving the time she & I spend together! I want to be just like her when I grow up!!

Doing what he loves!!

I am giving thanks today for Bub!! Oh my, again I was sooo excited when I found out God was blessing us with another child!! To be told, you may never have a child and then God blessing you with TWO!! It was awesome. I know that deep down Benny wanted a boy...I mean hey I did too. We had two precious girls so a boy would be great!!! But, we really didn't care. We didn't know what Kaitlyn was going to be and we didn't want to know this pregnancy either..... How's that for those of you who know how IMPATIENT I am? WOW when he was born, everyone's attention was on this little boy!! If not, he made sure of it...

I have to confess, I had been praying that the Lord would help me in the patience department...well, warning. DO NOT PRAY FOR PATIENCE! Because I got him to worketh patience in my life, lol!! He loved me & his daddy so much that he didn't let us have a full night's sleep until he was about 6!! He has always been ALL BOY!!! Any kind of ball, he absolutely loved. And from the time he was 2, he has been about some drums!!! He has always been Daddy's boy unless he was sick or hungry. A busy, funny, athletic, loving little boy is turning into an awesome young man. He is using his talent, by playing drums for the youth praise band & he sings too!!. He plays several sports and sets a great example of determination, sportsmanship and teamwork, not to mention he is a Godly young man in the midst of those of the world. I am so proud of what God is doing in his life!!

Looking tough on the outside....but heart of gold on the inside!

I am giving thanks today for Kea!!! OH MY!! For those that know me, you know I was in denial for months. When I thought that I may be pregnant at my age(that I was), I was scared to death!! I was much older. We were done. I could not go through 6 more years of sleepless nights, I mean really, I was older, I  needed more sleep!! Our kids were, 19, 12 & 8!!  We didn't know why? and again... BUT GOD knew best!! What a blessing this rambunctious boy is!! We could not imagine life without him. My pregnancy was smooth, otehr than the fact he decided to come 2 weeks late, it was all good!! Hey, by the time I accepted the fact I was really pregnant, we found out he was coming, several  months later he was born!!  He is loving, smart, funny, serious, inquisitive and very grown up. He keeps us on our toes. In ALL areas of our lives. God knew what HE was doing when he blessed our family with him. I only have one issue, he is growing up way too fast!!

Oh Lord, I want to give you thanks for the awesome opportunity to be a MOTHER!! Thank you for my wonderful children!!