So much to be thankful for

This year, even more than ever before, I am overwhelmed by the realization of just how much I have to be thankful for. Adam, Jayci and I enjoyed Thanksgiving with my parents (and my oma was visiting too) this year. They were kind enough to invite three of the kids that they sponsor from downtown to join us for our meal. Adam and I drove down to the projects to pick them up that morning - it was sad to realize how few of these kids had a thanksgiving meal (something I've always just taken for granted). Anyways, having some of our kiddos from downtown join us for our meal only amplified my realization of how much I have to be thankful for.

So here, in no particular order, are just a few of the things I'm thankful for today:

I'm thankful for my husband, who is an amazing dad (even better than I thought he'd be!) and an even better friend.

I'm thankful for my family, for how they support what we're doing downtown and are behind us 100% as the Lord leads us, even when it's to some uncertain and scary places.

I'm thankful for parents (on both sides) who love watching Jayci, even when she screams, poops and spits up all over them

I'm thankful for friends who have babies and can answer all my stupid questions like "how do you get it to stop crying?"

I'm thankful for DVR - a lifesaver when I'm stuck feeding Jayci at all hours of the day and night

I'm thankful that Jayci is healthy and growing so well (10 lbs!)

I'm thankful for online shopping, because Jayci will not let me put her in the car seat to drive to the mall or any other shopping center . . .

I'm thankful for the kids downtown and how much they teach me - about myself, about Jesus and about justice

I'm thankful for the home I grew up in, and that I wasn't born into the poverty, violence and lack of opportunity that the kids downtown have to face.

I'm thankful for my small group - such amazing friends!

I'm thankful for Mexican food (yum!) and El Jinete in particular, especially on Thursday nights with Sarah!

I'm thankful for breakfast with Danielle

I'm thankful for Christmas (for obvious reasons such as Jesus' birth, as well as other reasons like decorations, hot chocolate, the smell of Christmas tree, Christmas music and movies etc etc)

I'm thankful for friends like Gini and Jennifer who will scrapbook with me even when I look like a dork because of my big suitcase

I'm thankful for Vision Atlanta and Metro Kidz and the way these ministries not only transform the lives of kids in the inner city, but also have transformed our lives

I'm thankful that we have a beautiful house and two cars and two crazy dogs (although usually I'm more thankful for Maverick than Charli)

I'm thankful for my sisters who are two of my very best friends, even though I wasn't always very nice to them

But most of all, I'm thankful for a Savior who loves me regardless of how much of a mess I am, who teaches me new things about love and forgiveness daily and who has blessed me with a life that is abundantly more than anything I could have asked for or imagined!