Counting my Blessings cont.

Last year I posted a list of things I am thankful for.  You can find the list HERE.  Just wanted to add some to the list.  Since I am still thankful for the first 32 things on my list, I'll just pick up where I left off.  :)

33.  My husband and I decided, through a lot of prayer and tears, that he would take his early retirement from the paper mill after 34 years and three transfers and come home.  Of course, early retirement is not as much as full, so he had to get another job.  Fortunately, when we bought this house it came with amazing, Christian neighbors and one of them offered him a job at his company two weeks before he returned home.  So Larry came home on a Saturday and started his job on Monday.  God is good!

34.  I LOVE my school I teach at and am so very thankful I get to stay.  I couldn't ask for a more Christian environment to work in~ and it is a public school.  It also has insurance benefits that helped make Larry giving up his job a lot easier and possible.  :)

35.  My mom had hernia surgery this year and did amazing~ she hardly even took pain medicine after.  My stepdaughter, Stephanie, had major surgery this year and God brought her through that as well.  :)

36.  My "baby" graduated high school in May with honors.  She received three scholarships to a Christian college only an hour and a half from home.  She comes home almost every weekend, so our "empty nest" hasn't been totally emptied yet.  Also, her going to college after struggling with Selective Mutism for years, still amazes me.  I am stilled awed by the miracles God performed in her life.

37.  I am thankful that I get to spend holidays with our daughters and grandchildren.  Three will be here for Thanksgiving and four Christmas Day.  The other two will be in after Christmas.  This year we might have a day with all six girls and all six grands at one time.  That will be the first time to have all six girls together since Christmas two years ago when Sarah was seven months pregnant with Leon.  I also can't remember when I had all six grandchildren here together.  Yay!

38.  My niece, Lindsey, had her first child (my brother's first grandchild) this January.  She, Marley, is absolutely beautiful.  I wish my brother were alive to see her, but am so thankful he lives on in a new generation.

39.  Being a teacher, I get every holiday off.  I am VERY thankful for that.  :)

40.  I have the best friend and friend-in-law in the world!  While Larry was working and living in Texas, my ten year old van gave up the ghost and we could not afford to purchase a vehicle while supporting two households.  Cristi and Todd not only loaned me their extra vehicle, they signed it over to us!  I never expected them to be so generous!  When Larry came home, I found a used car at a really great price.  We were able to let Larry's mom have his work car so she'd have a way to take her 96 year old mom back and forth to doctor visits.  Then, Larry got a great deal on a truck he bought from his uncle.  We loaned Sarah the van from our friends after her transmission went out in her vehicle, so she could continue her college classes.  A LOT of blessings were shared because of our friends' generosity.  As soon as Sarah can afford another vehicle, we will pass the van to another in need.  Thanks again, Todd and Cristi.  We love you two!

Guess that's it for today.  As soon as I can get my pictures transferred from my cantankerous laptop, I'll post the pictures of the grands in their Trick or Treat costumes.  Until then, I wish all my blogger friends a wonderful Thanksgiving.  :)

What are you especially thankful for this year?

Count Your Blessings, Literally

Since hearing that Larry's job will be ending soon, I've really been overwhelmed with all the decisions we are facing regarding our future. So much is up in the air. Still, I have much to be grateful for. I also made a promise to praise Him through the storm and that's what I intend to do. I decided to make a list of my blessings, some new and some old, that I am so very thankful for.

** Disclaimer** They are NOT listed in order of importance or value. :)

1. My salvation at ten years old (well, this one IS number one.) More importantly, I'm thankful for, and to, the one that made salvation possible. He who first loved me.
2. My husband who is willing to sacrifice what he wants in order to provide for us. The fact that he is a great father--- and his children realize it.
3. Our six amazing, beautiful, brilliant daughters.
4. My mother and sisters that have ALWAYS been there for me.
5. Our sons-in-law that we love and, more importantly, that love our daughters.
6. Our six amazing, gorgeous, brilliant grandchildren. =)
7. My awesome network of extended family. I love my aunts, uncles, and cousins. And my stepmother, father, and nieces and nephews. And most of my in-laws. ;)
8. That I grew up surrounded by six loving grandparents. They gave me roots and also sowed the first seeds of faith in my life.
9. Our church family. I've never been to any other church where everyone genuinely loves each other. And they will know you by the love you have for one another.
10. My job, especially now. ;-) And the awesome women I work with.
11. Babies! (enough said)
12. Leon's sweet disposition and his precious belly laugh. I'm thankful that I can have him the whole week of Thanksgiving. Yay for me!
13. Yesterday, when my husband was asked if he hunted, he replied that he doesn't have time because his family is his hobby. :)
14. I love that Harlee says she loves her Poppa the best. Aww.
15. I love that Mason says he loves Mimi the best. Still melts my heart. :)
16. I love that Noah says he loves Poppa and Mimi. Such a diplomat. lol
17. I love that Becca looks for houses with for sale signs (and reports to us when she finds one)because she wants us to live near her.
18. I love that Lauren is comically quirky.
19. I am SO thankful that God completely delivered Shelbi from Selective Mutism this year!
20. My little sister's MS is in remission! Yay!
21. Larry's job offer, even if he decides to turn it down. It's good just to know you're wanted. I know that from experience.
22. My house is warm in the winter, cool in the summer. I have food in the cabinets and the fridge and when I don't, Wal-Mart is .4 miles away.
23. I have the means (right now :) to sponsor two Compassion children, Latifa and John Dave.
24. Every month, when I put my St. Jude withdrawal in the checkbook, I'm grateful Shelbi did not have leukemia 16 years ago.
25. I have friends that know me and still love/tolerate me anyway. =) Mind boggling, I know.
26. Grants, scholarships, and even the loans that helped me return to school 12 years ago.
27. Computers, Internet, and cell phones that keep us connected to our loved ones.
28. Cameras that capture beautiful, treasured memories.
29. Seeing my daughters in gorgeous wedding gowns/bridesmaid/prom dresses. =)
30. Watching my husband in his tux when he gave four of them away.
31. My grandchildren are my favorite little people on the planet. I hope we are best friends when they grow up like my Nannie and I were. I hope they never stop missing and loving me, even after I'm gone.
32. I own old black and white (and more recent) pictures of family members that are gone.

I love that things are going to pop into my head later and I'll have to add to this list. I am trusting that this list will get longer each year.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Don't forget to GIVE THANKS! =)