Abounding in thanksgiving

Colossians 2:6-7

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Wow, WHAT a year.  Looking back to Thanksgiving 2010, it almost seems like another lifetime.  Back then, I was teaching full time and loving it (though totally overwhelmed with nearly double the number of students I "should" have had - and I wore the stress to show it!), dreaming of when to start training for my next marathon, and getting bitten by the baby bug (and trying to plant said bug on Danny, though at that point it wasn't biting him quite as hard as I'd have liked...).  Danny and I were living in a moldy basement apartment and brainstorming about where to move next (as in, what different town or state to move to), and Danny was still fighting quite a bit of chronic pain leftover from bilateral hernia surgery the previous winter and subsequent complications that came as a result.

Last year, we had so much to be thankful for.  This year, I feel at a loss of where to even begin!

Let's bulletize for the sake of brevity.  This year I'm thankful for:

1.  My awesome husband and father to our daughter - Danny is an amazing dad, period.  He's also an amazing husband, coach and cheerleader to me as I navigate these uncharted waters becoming a mom.  Multiple times, he has been holding a crying Addison and comforting a crying Meredith at the same time.  Plus he's just adorable.  On the health front, he has been feeling better and better - there's still a ways until he's 100%, but man, it's good for him to be closer to pain-free.









2.  Our sweet Addison.  See previous gushing posts.  She is amazing, beautiful, and we can't wait to see God's plan for her life unfold.  "Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise." (Matthew 21:16).  I'm thankful that she's so healthy, that she sleeps so well at night, and that she forgives the million mistakes I make with her every day.  We can't believe God has entrusted her to us.












3.  Our wonderful support system - parents and grandparents and sisters and brothers, and self-proclaimed aunts and uncles to Addie.  I haven't cooked a meal yet, and everyone's presence (from as far away as Florida and Texas) the last few weeks has been a huge help to us in many ways.  Thank you!!

4.  Our dog Aslan.  Don't call me silly - he's just awesome, is adjusting so well to the baby, and I don't think we could ever have found a better dog to fit our personalities and lifestyle.  He brings so many smiles to us every day!  He's a great babysitter, too.

5.  Danny's schooling prospects.  Danny has officially been accepted to study for his PhD at Virginia Tech!  This is a big deal, but was made official 2 days after Addison was born, and therefore has been completely overshadowed and Danny hasn't received the accolades he deserves for such an honor.  Danny is so smart; often I'm nodding and smiling and only half understanding what he's actually talking about.  While there's still some decisions to be made and plans to finalize, his acceptance is a huge blessing! (and he's doing great in his class this semester!  Go D!)

6.  Our house.  I have longed for a house for quite some time now - both for the physical structure, as well as for the stability it would represent - and only after I came to grips with not having one, and surrendered that desire, did God open the door (literally) for us to purchase our first home 2 months ago.  We really really like it here.  Our neighbors are awesome, we are blessed with tons of space, and the neighborhood is top-notch.

7.  My mini-job at VT, and my main job at home.  I am so thrilled to be a stay at home mom.  I wouldn't have it any other way right now.  God has provided for us to make it possible, and while things are tight, it is so worth it.  On the side, my job teaching one class a week at Tech has been so flexible and fun, and I'm so grateful for the chance to do it.

8.  My friends.  I've got some real keepers, both here in Blacksburg and farther away.  I could list them all by name, but if you're reading this, I'm probably really thankful for you, because each plays such a specific, encouraging role in my life.

9.  God's grace and sovereignty over our lives.  One year ago, I would never have pictured where we are now.  Never.  Yet He had it all working out in his perfect plan, and even the rough stretches were part of that.  None of the above would even be without His word directing it.  Thanks be to Him!

Psalm 23:5

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.