Thankful Thursdays

Today I want to do a post about "Thankful Thursdays".  This week I want to discuss 5 things I am thankful for. 

1)  My husband and children:  I have been truly blessed since my husband came into my life.  He is my best friend and the love of my life.  He is a wonderful head of our house.  He is a spiritual leader for us.  He is strong and consistent in his faith.  Our children are also such a blessing.  They bring such joy and excitement to our lives.  My sons have taken us on quite the adventure.  And our daughter just adds to that adventure in only the way a baby sister can.  There is never a dull moment in our home


2)  My Faith:  I am thankful to know that I have a personal Lord and Savior.  I am glad to know that He died on the cross for our sins.  

3) Homeschooling:  I am thankful I am able to homeschool our children.  The relationships between my children and us as well as between them is fantastic to watch.  It is nice having them around the house and getting to actively participate in their learning instead of simply battling to get homework completed.

4) I am thankful for our friends:  Even though we have moved twice in the past 6 years, we have made some really good friends (some of whom I consider to be family.  

5)  I am thankful that our family has spent almost the past six years living places that have 4 seasons.  It can be so peaceful to watch the snow fall on a quiet evening surrounded by our family.  Then in the spring, everything comes to life and becomes green.  That is followed by summer - even though there may be hot days, there are also cooler days mixed in as well.  Finally in fall the see the trees change to all different magnificent colors is such a wonderful experience.

So what are you thankful for today?

Nathan's Birthday

So today is my youngest son's birthday.  Fourteen years ago today, he came into the world.   He was my one child whom I actually believed might enter this world with out any coaxing or intervention.  For a couple of weeks before he was born, I felt like he was on his way.  But that was not to be the case.

Instead on Friday, October 20, 2000, we went to the hospital to be induced.  We went in to the room.  My husband and his sister-in-law (his brother's wife -aka my coach for all four children) and I settled in.  It was typical labor for me in that I spent most of it on my side because of my blood pressure.  At some point during the morning the nurse wanted to check how far along I was, so my husband stepped outside of the room.  To our surprise, he found two of his aunts there because the daughter of one of the aunt's was in the room directly beside me.  Talk about interesting.  The nurses began taking bets on which one of us would deliver first (me on number 3 or her with her first).  He was my one child who made us nervous prior to delivery -well other than my first who did not seem interested in being born).  

This son came into the world and brightened our world.  There was not too much he was afraid of.  He would be on the opposite side of a hotel swimming pool and jump in having absolute faith that his father or I would be there to catch him.  He is also the son that required our first trip to the ER for stitches. 

He is best friends with his baby sister, well for the most part.  He is also our first child to fracture a bone, which was quite the adventure for me.  He is full of hugs and love.  He has a heart of gold.  

So happy 14th birthday to my wonderful son Nathan!