Thankfulness

So, it's early Thanksgiving morning, and I've made a few random 'thankful' posts this month on my Facebook wall this month, but before this day gets crazy on me, I'm feeling the need to spend a few quiet moments here thinking about the many, many things I have to be thankful for. 

1. So first, I am thankful for God, the source of all of our blessings and our creator and savior.
2.  My parents, who I'm blessed to still have with me, and who are still happily married after 53 years.  They have become dear friends, and precious allies, who I know would still walk though fire for any of us. 

3. My husband, who still manages to love me in spite of my many, many flaws.  He is an amazing, loving, silly, wonderful dad to our kids.  He works incredibly hard to provide for our family.  And he doesn't roll his eyes(much) when I scream for him to come kill a bug.  

4. My daughter, Lindsey, who is still my princess girly-girl, who still fills my world with all things sparkly and pink.  She is quiet, thoughtful, sweet, and loving, and I couldn't be prouder of her.  Even when she is angry with her brother(almost hourly), she still adores him, and would do anything for him. 

5.  Which brings me to Justin, who introduced us all to the world of Fragile X Syndrome.  How boring would my life be without this one?  He is hilarious, sweet, loving, occasionally really exasperating, but a joy every day.  He teaches me patience every day.  He teaches me to throw out the standard parenting books, and constantly be on my toes.  He teaches me to pray.  And he has brought a whole new assortment of amazing friends into my life. 

6. I am thankful for other parents of kids with FXS.  It is a great blessing having people who truly relate, and who I can share all of the craziness of this with.  They laugh with me, pray with me, cheer for his accomplishments, and give me new ideas and inspiration daily.  Thanks for sharing this journey with me. 

7. I cant leave out all of my other friends - I am blessed with great friends from throughout my life.  I've always struggled with shyness, social anxiety, and well, just always thought I was just a little too weird, for lack of a better word.  But somehow, certain people have come into my life, who seem to overlook my flaws (or maybe they are just a little weird too? LOL) - anyway, I'm thankful for each of you, and for the love, encouragement, and laughter you bring to my life.   

8.  My in-laws - you don't have to look far(especially today) to find people complaining about their crazy, mean, horrific in-laws.  I am blessed that I truly love and get along well with all of my husband's family.  I couldn't ask to have married into a better family.  

9. My own extended family.  My grandparents are no longer with us, but I am thankful to have had them in my life for as long as I did.  I was blessed with only a few first-cousins and aunts and uncles, but more second-cousins, and great-aunts and uncles than I can count on my dad's side.  I am thankful for the yearly reunions, and times in-between, and for the rich heritage of my Young and Thomas families.  My mom's family is mostly unknown to me, but I am thankful to them, for raising an amazing woman - they must have done something just right. 

10.  Knowing so many who are struggling financially, or out of work, I have to be thankful for my husband's job.  He gets to do something he enjoys, with people he likes, and provide well for our family in doing so.   His job has allowed me to continue being a stay-at-home mom, which I love and am grateful for. 

11. The doctors, researchers, therapists, and other experts, who are devoting so much of their professional lives to FXS.  They are constantly searching for new treaments, new therapies, to enrich the lives of those with FXS, and those who care for them. 

12.  Great teachers.  My kids have been blessed with many outstanding teachers, who love and encourage them, who take the time to understand their learning styles, who continue to ask about them even years later.  You know who you are, and I hope you know I adore you. 

13. My country.  Even with the many things currently wrong with our country, I still can't imagine living anywhere else.  I am so very thankful for the freedoms we have and for the men and women who have served to secure those freedoms and to protect our nation and people.

14.  My church family.  We are blessed with great friends, great music, solid teaching, beautiful worship, many missions opportunities, and a fantasically helpful special needs ministry. 

15. My brothers.  Scott, who taught us about FXS before we knew what it was called, is still as funny and sweet and cantankerous as ever.  And Mark, who is now in remission from Lymphoma, and I pray he will stay that way.
16. I'm thankful for those who will share a table with me today, and I pray safe travels for each of them.  I'm looking forward to the fun and laughter even more than the food (and you know I'm looking forward to the food!). 
I guess I will break here and go get started with the day, but I'm sure I will be back with more. 

I'm thankful to have so much to be thankful for.