thankful

my life has not been perfect, easy or ideal... at times

divorce

teen pregnancy

juvenile delinquency

drug abuse

loss of my young nephew in a car accident 

major life dibilitating stroke for my dad at age 56

12 year prison sentence for my brother

infertility

my brother being shot and paralyzed 

yup i've seen it all

been around it all

experienced hurt, witnessed great suffering

grief

loss

pain

but through it all

 i still have faith
 in god's plans

i am blessed to know i have eternal life in heaven to look forward too

a day when none of this hurt or suffering or grief will matter anymore

praise GOD

and even though life hasn't always been easy

i still have MUCH to be thankful for

RIGHT?! 

don't we all

i remember my days in africa last summer

i would say out loud over and over "we have so much"

they have nothing

i am blessed to be an american

i am blessed to have a beautiful family to love and care for

a roof over our head and a means to feed our big family of 4+ 2 dogs + 1 guinea pig

abundance, favor

we have it

we have a church family that is a dream come true

 total GOD thing

and i have a wonderful group of christian girlfriends who are the funnest people i know

these girls are so great

and their husbands are equally amazing and all friends with adam

like family friends

i have the privilege to work now while the boys are in school

and another blessing came in to our life when we found our adorable nanny, Celina

she cares for the boys and pets 3.5 hours a day

in a very calm, nurturing, engaging manner

a total gift from God

we have these amazingly loveable and smart and complex and FUN twin boys

who are a total MIRACLE

and the reason we get up everyday

they are our everything

we worry and pray and cry and fret and research to do it right by them

it's harder than anything we've faced thus far in life

the importance of getting it right feels overwhelming

we aren't perfect parents

but thank god we have each other
we aren't alone
we have tools and determination to always try harder
intentional parenting

i am beyond blessed to have a committed husband
who is a great partner

who is completely devoted to his family

so wise beyond his years

he is the best problem solver

offers solutions for me A LOT

i am challenged by him

and aggravated by him

and i know i am loved

i would never want to do this without him

he puts up with me

i am lucky

and our furry kids are such a happy part of our days as a family

feed, water, hug, walk, brush, pet, snuggle, play

they offer us so much unconditional love and attention

coach and mocha are so loved

life is good

through it all we grow and change and adapt and learn

it's all good