Giving Thanks

It's 11:33pm... way past my bedtime. But, it's my own fault. I just HAD to have that Dr. Pepper this afternoon, didn't I? Oh well. Perhaps it will wear off in time for me to get a few hours of sleep before the crazy man wakes up at 6am on the dot. :)

....in the meantime...

I've been scrolling through the last year of photos, and I just can't help but overflow with thankfulness to God. I am so grateful for Jesus, for the life I get to have in Christ, and for the hope we get to enjoy every single day because of His work on the cross. I'm so grateful that God has not given up on me, but that He continues to graciously transform me from sin-dead to more fully alive in Him. I know I'm not alone in giving thanks here. Isn't it the most amazing thing ever that the God of this Universe has taken our measly, sin-stained lives and turned them into reflections of his glory through Jesus? Amazing. Happy Thanksgiving to us!!!

Along with the amazing grace of Jesus, here are some of His gifts that I am so thankful for....

Thank you, God, for my Baby Buddies and the precious children you have entrusted to us while we are on this earth.

Thank you, God, for raising Nate in a God-centered, loving home. Thank you for in-laws (and now granparents :) who are totally FOR us and praying with us every single day. We love you, Jill and Nolan!

Thank you, Father, for an earthly father who has always instilled in me to "Keep the MAIN thing, the MAIN thing," and that being Jesus. I'm so grateful for a dad that never left me wondering if I was worthy of being loved. So grateful.

Thank you, Jesus, for my dear friend Heidi. Thank you for letting us do life together for so many years, and thank you for teaching me your Truth through her on so many levels.

Thank you, God, for my sweet Missouri friends. Thank you that distance has not severed our friendships but only made them stronger. Thank you for answering our prayers, specifically with new little (itty-bitty) lives! :)

Thank you, Jesus, for a mom that is 120% committed to her family. Thank you for her generosity, her compassion, her mercy, her spirit of adventure. :) Thank you for raising me in a home where my mom showered me with loving words and backed her words up with action . . . and still does. I am so grateful for her.

Thank you that our children are so spiritual. :) And... thank you for our sweet friends, the Bowmans, who walked (and are still walking) this amazing journey with us. And to our friend Silas in Atlanta, thank you for keeping Jordan company for several months while we waited to meet him and bring him home. We miss you (and your mommy and daddy, too)!

God, thank you for giving me a sister that rocks. Not only does she have super-awesome hair styling abilities, but she is also one of my best friends. I am so thankful for her example of how to be a God-centered, loving, consistent mommy!

Jesus, thank you for this sweet boy, Jordan Bezuneh Head. Thank you for choosing him for our family. Thank you for your divine care over his life since his very first days. Thank you for the story that you have written for him, and thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of it. Thank you, God, for the joy that Jordan brings each day, the kind of joy that I don't even have words for.

Thank you, God, for this man (the big one). I guess it's okay if I cry on this one, because I'm blogging, so no one can see my ugly crying face. Father God, I am so grateful for Nathan and for his love for you. I am so humbled that you would let me get to be his wife. Thank you so much for keeping his heart so loyal to you, from work, to home, to whatever other role he may play, thank you so much for a husband of integrity. Thank you for his constant example to me of unconditional love, mercies that are new everyday, and a deeply rooted joy that cannot be shaken or competed with because it is founded in you, Jesus. What a gift you have given me in this 7-year marriage. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

And thank you, Jesus, for filling the desire of my heart. I knew being a mom would be incredible, but I didn't know how incredible. Thank you so much for entrusting this little (big) man to me while we are on this earth. Thank you for the wisdom you are giving me each day, as we both know I haven't a clue without you. :)

Wow. There is so much to be thankful for!!! I think I understand the psalmist a little bit more right now when he said, "Satisfy us in the morning (or at 11:30pm) with your unfailing love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all of our days!"

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!