It's Day 6 since we climbed in the car and left Georgia for Thanksgiving with Terri's side of the family. It's Day 5 since we picked Jon and Chantay up from the airport. It's Day 4 since we drover an hour to watch my middle school nieces play basketball. It's Day 3 since we went to the movies together and I was reminded how much I love and miss my "other son," Andre, who isn't with us on this trip. It's Day two since I was able to cook for the family, on the promise that if I made Chantay blueberry pancakes she would "love me forever."
I have so much to be Thankful for. But my family is right at the top of the list. I have an ever faithful and loving wife. I have a smart good looking son who makes me proud every day as he serves his country. I have a well grounded, creative daughter who has me tightly wrapped around her little finger. Even Terri's family is a great blessing to me. My six-year-old niece made a Verteran's Day card and saved it for my soon-to-be-deployed soldier son until he got here. The card says, "
Be careful in Iraq. I hope you win. Love Kiley".
When you cram people who are used to living their own lives their own ways into a house together for a week, there are bound to be things that they do that irritate one another. I'm sure that I'm irritating everyone here in some way or other. But the little irritations are well worth the opportunities to bond and make memories.
I'm so thankful that everyone in the family is healthy. My predecessor at First Baptist Lovejoy is spending the Holiday in a hospital, suffering with Leukemia, and recovering from a bone marrow transplant that doesn't seem to be going well. When I think of how tough this holiday is for him and his family, I can't help but think how blessed we are that none of us is in pain, nor seriously ill. We've certainly been down that road, having lost my father and both of Terri's parents to cancer. Having walked that road just gives us greater compassion for those who are there this year, and an appreciation for our current blessings.
I'm also thankful for the family I will not see today. I will miss my mother and brother, and his wife and kids. I am blessed to live in a day and time that I can be a thousand miles away from them, and still as close as a telephone call. I'm thankful that none of them will spend this day alone. I'm thankful for my church family who loves and provides for my immediate family. They are so good to us. I am thankful that they have allowed us this time away to be with Terri's family. I can't wait for Sunday to come so that I can be with them again.
Thank you God for all your many blessings. They remind me of your loving kindness. Thank you God for the trials that come our way, they teach me to trust in you with all my heart, and not to lean on my own understanding.
