Giving Thanks

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I'm thankful on a daily basis - even on the tough days there are blessings to count. 

As this year's Thanksgiving approached, I couldn't help but think about where I was last year. Physically and mentally. 

I was laying in a mildly comfortable hospital bed - only able to get up to shower every other day and to use the restroom as needed (in a plastic bucket attached to a walker located two steps from my bed). Convenient, yes; modest, not so much. 

Laying in that bed, my mind easily became a mess when I (daily) lost focus of Who was in control. At times I considered my worse fear at 20 weeks gestation and I felt horrible that I pulled family members out of their daily and holiday schedules because they wanted to be with me - which, if you've ever experienced something like this, you know it's overwhelmingly humbling. 

My mom, my sweet, loving mom, spent the day prior making all our favorite Thanksgiving day dishes: over-night apple cider for the parade viewing and then turkey, gravy, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, collards, and pecan pie for our meal. She packaged it all up in containers and we had a complete Thanksgiving day meal around my hospital bed. It was as perfect as it could be. A tiny taste and feel of being at home instead of in a L&D room. 

A year later, this last Thursday in November, things are quite different. I'm home in North Carolina and there are countless blessings very present in my life. And today, I'm not just thankful; it's not just something I say or list below. When I write and recount these things, I give thanks to the One who has provided them all. I thank God for everything, big and small - even small blessing play a significant role. 

Today, this year, I thank God for:

Being able to stand up, walk around, and only be in a bed when I want. 

Being able to help my mom prepare dishes and pies for today's dinner. 

To be completely surrounded by my  own little family as well as my parents, brother, cousins, uncles, and aunts. 

To have this beautiful surprise, miracle of life growing inside of me. 

And at almost 15 weeks to have a non-eventful pregnancy this far.  

Most importantly, I'm incredibly thankful to be able to hold, play with, and bring my perfectly healthy miracle baby back to my hometown and to the house I grew up in. That's she's able to meet and be loved on by the people I love the most. That she laughs and plays; and can see and breathe. She's happy and doesn't remember even one of the 115 days she spent fighting for her life. 

Today is simply overflowing with blessings and for all of them, I give thanks. 

Thankful

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As I lay in my hospital bed this Thanksgiving morning, my perspective is a bit different compared to previous years. I'm not distracted by the hustle and bustle of traveling, cooking, setting tables, entertaining, shopping, or visiting. Being confined to a bed with lots of times to just think has made this a different holiday. I always take time to be thankful for the family I've been blessed with as well as sweet friends, good food, and many other trivial things; however, this year is much different in a great way.

I could never count the blessings and miracles we've been given in the past month alone. My eyes have really been open to the day to day blessing received that I typically take for granted. I'm also extremely aware of the larger blessing given to us in recent weeks. Blessing through the Lord's hands, blessings of compassion and love from family and friends, and blessings of prayer from people we may never meet.

For all of that, I am overwhelmingly thankful.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

A Little Update on Life

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This picture just makes me laugh. 

So I know a few weeks ago I posted a couple times claiming I would be posting more. And here we are now, three weeks later, and still lacking a regular posting schedule. Let me explain. 

So my first week of work went well. It was four long days of computer-based orientation. So you can imagine that after spending eight hours in front of a computer, I didn't feel like coming home and sitting in front of another computer. Sorry. 

The next week.... Early Monday morning (Dec 18th) around 1:30am central time, I received a phone call from my mother saying my grandmother (her mom) had suffered a heart attack, coded, and was now on a ventilator. I broke into tears and immediately began to pray. I prayed for her to be strong and pull through, but it didn't feel right. So I then began to pray that the Lord take her if it's her time and I prayed for her to not be in any pain. About fifteen minutes later I received a phone call from my dad saying she didn't make it. I cried a cry I had never cried before. 

I've been so fortunate in my 29 years on this earth to have not have to deal with too many deaths. This was my first. Through it I learned many things, but the most important thing I learned (or really realized) is how thankful I am for my faith. Through my faith I know my granny is in heaven with the Lord. She has eyes that see perfectly, she can run around with perfectly working legs, and she's happier than any of us can ever imagine. And that right there gives me a peace that I hold tightly to. 

Needless to say, we packed up and headed to NC for the rest of the week. Her funeral service was that Thursday. The service was perfect. Beautiful words were spoken that made us all laugh and cry. And although I wish the circumstances were different, I was thankful to see friends and family that I had not seen in months - and some in years. 

Last week, Thanksgiving week, I worked three days and my parents came down to spend the holiday with us. So I spent all my free time cooking and spending time with them. The time always goes by too quickly, but it was wonderful having them here. 

This week I am back to work. Finally getting out of orientation and getting out in the field, going to peoples' homes, and doing therapy. So, let me get adjusted to this new job and I will be back. I promise. I always come back - it may not be in the timeliest manner, but I do always come back. It's hard managing a job and a blog - especially when there're not related or intertwined. 

How many of you work a full time job and are able to blog regularly? How do you do it?

Thankful

It's been so nice coming home for Thanksgiving. I've enjoyed seeing lots of family and friends that I haven't seen in almost a year. One of my favorite things about coming home is the food. Both of my parent are amazing cooks and we've been enjoying every second of it! The food below wasn't even a fourth of what we had on Thanksgiving day. It was a great day!

Boiling collards 

Dad grilled about 70 Boston Butts on Wednesday for people who wanted one for the holiday. 

 

The best part about grilling butts... pulling the crispy pieces off the grill!

Dad's homemade bbq sauce that is amazing. 

It's so good we packaged it into 200+ mason jars for our wedding favors last year! 

Mom's homemade pecan pies

My aunt made me homemade apple cider - my favorite! And it makes the house smell amazing.

Sadie making the dressing!

The turkey going in the fryer. 

happy thanksgiving!

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hope you all have a wonderful thanksgiving day. enjoy your family, friends, and a big fat turkey (i prefer mine fried). some things i love on this special day: the obnoxious amount of food that is placed in front of me, the best parade of the year, the iron bowl - especially this year since i am living in abalama (it's more fun to say it that way), the shopping that will soon take place, the leftovers, the memories, and the official "ok" to blast christmas jingles as loud and as often as I choose.

whatever it may be, enjoy all that you love about this special day. most of all, enjoy all that you are thankful for.