thankful...

I understand that this is a bit late for a 'Thanksgiving post', but we've been a bit busy. So, what am I thankful for?...

MY KIDS!!! ...and a bit of snow.

My adult and not so adult kids are the best in the world and we're blessed to have them. Over the past 6 weeks they have gone over and above the call of duty and really proven their unselfish love of their family.

At the beginning of November we started the process of a knee replacement for my mom. It started with a class she and I had to attend to educate us about this process. I wondered at why I had to go since she was having the surgery. Now I understand...it was to prepare us for the endurance race that has followed. Mom has done the difficult work of recovery, but the rest of us have buzzed around like bees keeping the logistics in line.

From that first class in November through the end of December we will have logged 39 doctor appointments. Granted they are not all for mom. We have had my physical therapy, mom's physical therapy, a back shot for Brian, a few appts for my dad, a cracked tooth, a broken tooth, ortho appts for Braden, and a few misc appts thrown in, with every appointment being at least 40 min from home. I knew it was getting wild when I ripped off the December calendar page and started carrying it around with me. You get funny looks when you pull out a full size calendar page to schedule a PT appt three weeks out. But for us it has been survival.

So why does all this make me thankful for my kids? They have been immeasurably helpful in attitude and actions through it all. They have cared for Grandma, been diligent in their studies when mom isn't home, cooked, cleaned, ran errands, made emergency pick-ups at the airport (thank you Chels!!), and got through it all with out too many meltdowns.

And the snow?...Well in the middle of it all, when I thought I was at the end of what I could manage, God said, "I understand. Take a few days off" We had 4 inches of snow with and inch of ice at the beginning of Thanksgiving week, which cancelled all appts for two days and I sat in perfect peace and rest on the couch, knitting.

God is good indeed and I'm very thankful!