Thanksgiving Blessings

This Thanksgiving was truly a blessed one. During this weekend, the holiday has been given new meaning. I am very aware of my many blessings - most of which I'm sure that I take for granted most of the time. This year, I took some time to reflect on what is most important to me and how grateful I am to have been blessed with these important things.

I am thankful for my husband. Jon and I have been married for 7 1/2 years now, and what a journey so far! The great and exciting thing is that the journey isn't anywhere near the finishline and we have so much more to experience together. The happenings of the last month have given me a newly rediscovered respect and love for my husband. It's very endearing to see how much he cares for and takes care of me. Not once during the last month has he complained about all the help and support I've needed. He's just been there ready to give it.

I am thankful for my children. Each one of my children has brought something special to our family. I am so grateful for the dynamics of their personalities and how they interact with each other and our family as a whole. They are special spirits who are teaching me new things every day. How lucky I am to be their mother, and to be entrusted to their care. I am very grateful that they chose to come to Jon and me.

I am grateful for my family, friends, and loved ones. If it were not for each of you, the road we are travelling would be much harder to walk. It is because of you that we do not have to walk alone. I am grateful to each of you for your love and support.

I am thankful for the small things that we really take for granted - a roof over our heads, food in our pantry, and clothes for our backs. I have realized many times during the last month how lucky we are to not need to worry about these basic essentials.

And finally, I am thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and its role in my life. I feel humbled to hear of how our blog has inspired and lifted each of you. I am grateful that I have a way to share my testimony with so many. I pray that I will be able to continue to be inspired in my writings and musings so that each of you might be blessed with the same feelings of peace and comfort from the Holy Ghost.

We were able to travel to Stark City on Wednesday to spend Thanksgiving Day with Jon's family. We arrived that evening and were thrilled to find out that there would be quite a large crowd for dinner the next day. As a matter of fact, there was such a large crowd that we had dinner in the cultural hall of the local LDS church. And the food was fabulous!!

Josephine was a major hit, of course. As soon as we got there, we introduced her to Grandma Lenore who was quickly escorted to the couch to hold her. And so the precedence was set. I'm not sure Josephine's back touched a bed or a couch more than just to change her diaper. :) But, seriously, I am so thrilled that so many of Jon's family were able to meet her this week. Depending on how Miss Josephine is doing in the next couple of weeks, we will hopefully be able to have some more time to spend with them.

Josephine is doing very, very well, and as I've said before, it's during these times that I almost forget she is sick. We have upped her feedings again to 48 mL, and she's taking those very well with little to no residuals right before each feeding. Just to look at her, you can tell that she is growing. Her preemie clothes are beginning to fit well, and her face is really beginning to fill out. Her next pediatrician's appointment is next Friday, so we'll be able to find out then how much weight she has put on. I'm going to put in my guess at 4 lbs. 7 oz. Any other takers...?

Hope all of you had as marvelous a Thanksgiving as we did. Blessings to each of you....