I choose Thankfulness

November seems to gently remind me about giving thanks.  I love that.  This past year especially I have really tried to live in a spirit of thankfulness. It has been a very strange year.  It started out with Tom being diagnosed with Neuphrotic Syndrome with focal and segmental glumaralsclerosis.( I know it's a mouthful).  In short his kidneys are not working properly, they spill protein and as a result he has been on countless meds and doctor visits.  He's had to change his diet and can't do all the things he used to.
  
Then in March we welcomed another grandson Nolan Burgess.  What joy in the middle of all that health mess.
  
Our family from overseas came home for a rest in September and we have enjoyed being with grandchildren. It's like heaven on earth to Tom and I. 

Then in all that joy we have been praying and seeking God about the adoption of our little Bulgarian granddaughter and for her to be officially a Stover.  It seemed at times this would never happen, but God has been working behind the scenes as He does. God is working it all out for our good and His glory.  If all goes according to schedule we will meet Sofia Yana on December 16th.  What a great Christmas present!

Tom also started a new job after 20 years of prison ministry.  Everyone knows how stressful a big change like that can be.  

There are other unspoken struggles we have cried over too, while we wait and trust God.

Sickness, birth, grandchildren, giggles, travel, family, farm fun, hospitals, airports, 5k's, yard work, broken appliances, prison revivals, new jobs, death, routine, scripture, mountain beauty, anniversary trips, beaches, good food, tears....... in all of it I am thankful. God is whispering to me,"everything does not have to be good in your eyes for it to be good".  God is always present.  He's challenging me to trust Him because He loves me and all that comes to my life is not a surprise to Him. God has a plan and it's always to draw me closer and teach me that He IS good and that's enough. My life is a mess, it's not the journey I would choose but I choose to be thankful.