I am most thankful for my relationship with my Lord and savior and my salvation and his undying GRACE. I know that it is because of him that I so thankful and blessed.
I am thankful for my wonderful marriage of 11 years. Being married to my best friend is an awesome feeling. I am thankful for his constant support and love, for always making me laugh even when I want to cry, his devotion to me and our children, and for just being the outstanding man that he is- LOVE my husband!
I am thankful for my two outstanding children.
I am truly thankful for their health and well being and their individual personalities that make me smile and proud to be their mother on a daily basis. They are AMAZING children and make my job as their mom an easy one.
I am thankful for my parents.
I was blessed by having two incredible parents growing up and they now have turned into friends and there isn't anything better than that. I talk to my mom almost every single day and I am thankful for that friendship and her support and for dad's listening ear and advice whenever I need it. More than that, I am thankful for the examples they gave to me of parenting, marriage and struggles that were life lessons for me that have molded me into the person that I am today.
I am thankful for my brother and his wife (my sister n' law) and the baby that they will have here in the next month or so.
I am already an aunt to many nieces and nephews on Tim's side whom I love dearly, but am SO incredibly excited to meet my first blood nephew for the very first time. I hope a lot of babysitting is in my near future, I desperately need a baby fix!
I am thankful for my extended family. Tim is one of seven children and that is a lot of family, nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters in law and parents n' law, or as my mother n' law puts it "Mother n' Love, not law". They are wonderful to me and have always excepted me into their family as one of their own and for that I am truly thankful. (there are so MANY of them, I chose one picture of Tim's mom with Lauren to represent the whole crew below):
I am thankful for all of the friends that I have, the old and the very new. It is funny how with time friends change because your interests change and how some stay true and how you cherish those relationships. We have made very new friendships this past year and it has been wonderful watching those develop and I am truly thankful for what they have already become and how much they will grow in years to come.
I am thankful for the wonderful children that the Lord has blessed me to work with on a daily basis. I am not going to lie, being a special education teacher is a STRUGGLE on a daily basis and takes a every single bit of my time and energy at work every day but I LOVE those children with all of my heart. I know the Lord blessed me with a gift and I am thankful for that. I am thankful for my staff that works with me every day - they are not paid much and they are the most dedicated bunch of women I know and I love them for that and am truly thankful for their hard work daily!
I am thankful for our home, shelter, Christmas presents that are purchased and ready to be given downstairs, our family pets who bring me joy (and headaches at time) I do love them so! Thankful for our cars to drive, money in our bank account and job security.
I am extremely thankful the various trips we have been able to take this past year and have planned to take in the upcoming year.
Disney:
Gatlinburg:
Kiawah Island:
Grand Haven Michigan:
Disney for Halloween:
It boggles my mind every time I think about it.
So yes, I have a LOT to be thankful for in 2009. Thank you for being a part of our lives. I pray that you have a wonderful, magical, memorable Thanksgiving this year and that you take time to remember everything you are thankful for!
