Thankful

This is a season for counting your blessings. . .

I am thankful for Toe Prints. There are some toe prints on the windshield of my car. Lexa was sitting in the front seat this summer when we were coming home from swimming lessons. She put her bare feet on the windshield. I was so mad at her for doing it at the time...but I can't bring myself to wash those toe prints off.

When she was 5 years old, Lexa was tested for cancer. Her knee had grown unusually large and the doctors suspected a tumor. I remember painting her toenails and wondering if it would get to the point where she might lose her leg. Thank goodness that she did not have a tumor. She does have one leg that grows faster than the other, causing her bones on one side to thicken. I'm still painting those pretty little toenails and smiling about toe prints.

I am thankful for Tender Mercies. Have you ever watched a loved one receive a tender mercy? I have. My brother Dan has lived a hard life. His health isn't good and his marriage has ended. But right when I thought he couldn't hold on any longer, Heavenly Father sent him a tender mercy. Isn't she beautiful? I love this picture of him holding her because you can see how rough his hands are. He is a hard worker of the blue collar kind. I think the contrast between his skin and hers says more than I can about how much he needed this sweet little daughter. She'll be 2 soon and she gets prettier every day!

I am thankful for Mrs. E. (Jet's 1st grade teacher). She moved up a grade and he has her again this year for 2nd grade. I will never be able to repay her for the difference she has made in my son's life. Brady went on two military deployments during the last school year and it was hard on Jet. He didn't progress academically from the time Brady left until the end of 1st grade.

I can't tell you how hard it is to see your child suffering because of something that is out of your control. He cried so much that sometimes I thought my heart would break. And of course, after he finally went to sleep, I would go to my room and cry. Thank goodness, Mrs. E. was on the case. She pulled strings and got Jet into a tutoring program at another school over the summer.

When we met with her for testing at the first of this school year, she was absolutely beaming. She told me Jet had jumped several reading levels over the summer. She actually started to cry and then she hugged him tight. She told him how proud she was of him and how happy she was to have him in her class again this year. On the way home, Jet turned to me and said, "Mom, Mrs. E. Loves Me!" We live in a world where people don't hug. Sincere praise is hard to come by. I am very grateful to know a rare and wonderful person named Mrs. E.

I am thankful for my Freedom. I am proud to live in this great country. Of course, we know that freedom isn't free. I love the men and women who dedicate their lives to this country. Yes, I'm talking about soldiers. . . But also about the men and women who keep our nation running. I'm not going to start any political debates. But I want you to know that I am thankful for the leaders of our nation. I support our current president and will support our president elect as well. These men are not perfect but we owe them much gratitude. And I'm also thankful for the men and women who do their part by going to the polls and believing in the power of one.

So many more blessings. . . so little time. . . such a long post already!!!

Don't forget to count your blessings today!

xoMJ