Spurred by reading the book 1,000 Gifts (wonderful if you haven't read it!), it seems like a lot of my thoughts and quiet time lately have been centered around thanksgiving. I am truly embracing a sense of being truly thankful, for everything in my life, the good and the bad. That ties in so well to the reason I started this blog. I began typing these posts out for myself, as a way to sort of journal my thoughts and feelings about this journey and to remember all the ways God was showing Himself and His goodness in our lives. What kept coming to mind for me was how much more I appreciate the simple little gifts God gives us, and since Brayden was born I have really tried to embrace this and take time to enjoy those everyday moments, hence the Stop and Smell the Roses theme. (If you don't know what 65 Roses is all about see that tab above).
This week I was feeling a little lonely with us all being sick and Brayden and I couped up in the house trying to get rested and well. I was thinking how it would be nice to have my Mom and Donita here to help watch Brayden so I could get some housework done or just go to the grocery. Then I realized how thankful I am just to have that wish, to have that desire to want them here. So many people aren't close to their parents or in-laws and don't think twice about not having them around. There are so many broken homes and heart wrenching stories about things that tear families apart. I am so thankful that we have the family and friends that we do to miss. How blessed Jeff and I both are with wonderful parents, siblings, and extended families and friends. God has placed such amazing people in our lives, and he continues to do so in Charleston.
The very first CF Mom I met here is an example of God's handiwork. I asked Brayden's respiratory therapist (who is awesome by the way, we love her) for some ideas to get involved in the local CF community and meet other parents. She gave me the name of one Mom who has chaired Great Strides and is very involved. Her name is Peg, and she has a 27 year old son, Tommy who has CF. I emailed Peg right away and she wasted no time in setting up a lunch to meet me and introduce me to another Mom.
The other Mom couldn't make it at the last minute so Brayden and I had lunch with Peg and her husband Tom. Through our conversation we discovered that we were both University of Illinois alumni, we had both been in sororities there, and that sorority just happened to be Alpha Gamma Delta! Another U of I Alpha Gam whose first born son has Cystic Fibrosis, this was not an accidental meeting. Peg and Tom are such gracious and wonderful people and I am so thankful that I am going to be able to get to know them and partner with them to fight for a cure here in Charleston. God continues to bring other wonderful people into our lives here as well, and we know in time we will have the same sense of thankfulness for our Charleston family as we do for our Fort Wayne/Midwest family and friends.
I give thanks to Him Who has granted me strength and made me able, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He has judged and counted me faithful and trustworthy, appointing me to the ministry. 1 Timothy 1: 12
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 6-7
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