Happy Thanksgiving

I am so thankful for a God who loves me. I'm thankful that he died on a cross so that I get to go to Heaven and live with him forever. I'm so thankful that God knows my needs better than I do myself. I'm so thankful He works out the small intricate details of my life in such huge ways, even when I don't take time to notice. I'm so thankful he takes time to make our world so beautiful and breath taking, He doesn't have to do it that way ya know. I'm so thankful he sends people into my life all the time who make me laugh, make me smile, teach me new things and change my life for the better. I'm so thankful he blesses us through jobs that feel secure and allows me to work part time in something I love so much. I'm thankful he picked my husband just for me, truly a match made in Heaven and I couldn't love him more than I do! I'm so thankful God gave me my family who loves me no matter what and puts up with my crazies. I'm so thankful God gave me friends who have been there through it all and friends who are new in my life. I'm so thankful God takes care of my tomorrows before I even get there. I'm so thankful that he knew he was going to bless us with a baby all those years ago when I worried so much we'd never be parents, why is it hard to just trust him. I'm thankful he knows even now how many children will end up in our little Tanner family here, even as we watch it all unfold!

I am blessed, may God get all the glory for all that I have and all that I am!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

So much to be thankful for........

A random list of things pop into my mind today. Obviously not in the order of importance!

I'm so thankful for...

My husband who makes me laugh and smile every day! I wont gush on and on, but this man is my heart!

My family, all of 'em. Close, extended, by blood, by marriage, by pure choosing, whatever. Those we see all the time, those I haven't seen in years. They all have their spot in my heart & I love 'em all.

My friends, all of 'em. Old, new, school, work, down the road, across the country, love 'em all. They make ya laugh, make ya cry, put up with ya and help mold you into who you are.

My job, I love my job. Sometimes it's not easy to get up in the morning and get there, but I absolutely love what I do! I can't imagine doing anything else and I love my babies (past, present and future) more than they know!! Preschool is what I was designed for!!! :)

My church and church family. Though we left awhile and returned, they are always church family to us. I'm also thankful for the church family @ Legacy that we really were blessed to be a part of for the few years we were gone from FBC. They are awesome and were so good to us. I'm thankful for the memories of growing up in a church surrounded by people who I know loved me through it all. What a blessing!

The ability to travel. I'm so thankful we can spare a few dollars now and then to get away. I think we both live for countdowns to traveling and I'm so blessed we're both able to do it and love it so much. With family, friends and just us. Not far from home, thousands of miles away. Mountains, beach, cruise ship, hotel, cabin, camper, lake, theme park, we love it all. Such a great time to regroup, relax and spend time together without the "everyday". It's so important to us!

Books to read. I'm such a reading addict and I'm so thankful I picked that up from my Mom. It's great to "get away" in a story and spend a few hours "somewhere else". I think it's a pretty good hobby to have.

My "beastie". If you know me, you know I've had a TON of vehicles in the last 20 years. (14 I think) I had a car before I could drive for Pete's sake. Of course, that totally comes b/c my Dad owned a car lot. I married a man who is as bad as me. We both trade at least every 2 years. I have had cars I love and still, in two years, I'm ready for something different. Strangely enough, I am so in love with my Durango. (Funny if you were there with me having the emotional breakdown when I cried trading the bug for it. Tracey & Holly might rememeber that, I think I rambled to yall) It's the most comfortable thing I've ever driven or riden in. It holds all the crap I travel with and transport to and from school. I really, really, really love that thing. And.... after 2 years, I'm not even LOOKING at other vehicles. Impressive huh?

I love my laptop (the 3rd). How would I survive without being connected to the web? I have no idea!! I'm addicted for communication, entertainment, questions answered, immediate information, school, travel, games, you name it and I'm online for it. I'm thankful for my laptop and for smart people who improve technology all the time.

The nursery, I can't tell you how much I love to go in there and sit among the baby stuff. I look through the clothes (in the PACKED closet), I pick up and touch the toys & stuffed animals. I love the future it holds and can't wait!! I'm so thankful we started it last year. I'm thankful for my parents who've helped so much. I'm thankful for those who've given me things to add over the last months, it's so exciting!!


....and I'm thankful for..... piles of fall leaves (don't tell Andy, he hates 'em and is fighting with 'em right now!) I really think there is something that makes me smile to see them piled up so high in the yard and driveway......stores that have all the Christmas displays, though Halloween is a little early, I love love love it all out there now.......radio stations that play Christmas music all the time, I can't wait until The Fish starts.......a fire in the fireplace, it gives me the "warm fuzzies"........ doggies, nothing like the faithful love and devotion of your pets ........ cartoons, seriously I love them...... mushy and funny chick flicks, where would I be without them....... a house that I really do love so much ......... channels on the TV that play music, any kind, all the time, whatever you want, commercial free......... dvr, why did it take us so long to get that and now how would we live without it?????......... indoor plumbing, seriously, can you imagine living in a third world country that doesn't have it, we don't know how blessed we are.........

And.... this amazing and surprise blessing that God has sent us. Someday I am going to be able to blog about it. For some reason I am able to ramble on and on about the silly and day to day things in my life. I just can't sit down and write in words how I'm feeling about actually being pregnant. I'm overwhelmed with feelings and other than saying, we are so blessed and so thankful.... what more can I say right now?

There ya go, a peek in my head this morning!

So much to be thankful for ...

I am so thankful for doctors, nurses and their staffs who assist.

I am not good with hospitals or sickness. I am so very thankful that God gives the compassion, patience, wisdom and amazing hearts to those who do these kinds of jobs.

I spent time in hospitals when I was little, I was a sickly kiddo and had been in the hospital 4 times by the time I was four years old. I had 3 surgeries when I was little and I think part of my fear comes from there. I get absolutely completely out of sorts when going to visit someone in the hospital wether they've had surgery or have a new baby. I feel sick on the way there, my hands get shaky and sweaty and by the time I walk in the doors ... I'm fit to be tied. I can even get myself into the same tizzy state by just going for a doctor's visit. I can work myself into a tizzy just thinking about giving birth myself and staying in a hospital again. Terrifying! I am so very thankful for the staff there that are gifted with the ability to take care of those in need. I'm also so thankful for friends and family who are gifted with the ability to visit with and give comfort to those in need. They are truly blessed with a gift from God!!

Today I am especially thankful for those who have been taking care of my Grandmother for the past 6 days while she's been in the hopsital awaiting hip surgery. I am thankful for the surgeon and nurses who will assist in her surgery today. I am thankful for the staff that will continue to take care of her in rehab for the coming weeks. She, like many elderly patients, has become very disoriented, confused and often angry in her current situation. Those who are taking care of her are my heros!

So much to be thankful for ....

The country we live in, the ability we do all have to vote and the free will decisions God gives us.

My candidate didn't win. I am disappointed. I have been sad to the point of tears. I worry about the future. I'm worried about sharing our money with people who don't work as hard or as many hours as my husband does. I worry about the lack of desire for small business' to thrive and prosper. I worry about the military families and their futures, our family included. I worry about what sort of pushover nation we may look like in the near future to those who hate us. I worry about a man leading our country who I still feel has strong beliefs in Muslim traditions, some of which aren't so peaceful. I worry about someone who doesn't value life before birth, though I've seen the heartbeat of our baby when he or she was just 6 weeks from conception.

All of my worry gets me nowhere, it does nothing for me or the causes I support. I must continually, daily, hourly remind myself that God is in control. He gives us free will, he already knows what we'll choose though my friends. He already knows the path and he already knows how to make it work for HIS good. (For all things work together for good, for those who love God and are called according to HIS purpose. Rom. 8:28)

There are so many things going on right now, not just in our country, but right here in our own home. Things to worry about and make me nervous. As a Christian I have to pray and then let God have control, let him take the worry, let him do his will and then I know I've done the right thing. I don't like not being in control, but I sure don't know enough to be in full control either. I have to trust God because He is the only one who sees the whole picture. He's blessed us so far beyond our wildest dreams!! He will continue to, if only we let him. No matter who is the President, no matter what choices others make for us, no matter what policies are passed or not passed. We must trust God is still on THE THRONE and he is in ULTIMATE control. Then, and only then, I can breathe a sigh of relief.....

So much to be thankful for ...
My parents and their ability to build their house just like they want.

(For November I am going to blog along with my current title, so much to be thankful for! Hopefully we all remember to be thankful for God's many blessings year 'round and not just at Thanksgiving.)

I am thankful for my Christian, wonderful, amazing, generous, loving, kind, strong willed, smart and fun parents. I am thankful that they are able to build a house that they want, just like they want. God blessed 'em with the perfect piece of land just a mile from their previous home, in the exact area where they wanted. (Though I told them that God wasn't going to make MORE land in the area, they were going to have to get over it. Turns out, God is bigger than I.) I am thankful the land is gorgeous with turkey & deer roaming all the time. The wonderful neighbors that stop by ALL the time, they are a blessing. The fact there is a house on the property where they've lived the past 6 months and where eventually we will probably call home. It's all a bigger blessing than anyone could have dreamed up!!!

Here are a few current pictures.

Here's the front of the house, from really close and an odd angle. The top front isn't painted yet, neither is the trim. The rock hasn't even come in yet, so there is lots of blank areas as well. Columns for the porch, lots of things still in the works.


Here is the hallway, looking through the kitchen. The cabinets are going in today, they are gorgeous. There's an island that will have seating as well.


The living room is so darn tall. The entire wall there is going to be an entertainment center. Talk about storage, I'm so jealous. The cabinets on the bottom are finished, but they are also going up up up up on that wall......




My Mom's room, green walls, very pretty. The color isn't showing up good here, doesn't do it justice. ((Yes, I said my Mom's room. That's another story for another blog.... ;) After I moved out, they got their own rooms. They love it and it works, whatever...))




My Mom's bathroom, the cabinets..... she has 2 sets, Dad has one set. I asked her if she felt bad. She said "no, he had the master bed & bath for the past 15 years (after I moved out) it was her turn." LOL!! The door there goes to the potty. Her closet is in the hallway, totally on it's own and the size of our baby's nursery!!!!



The shower & tub.... the tile work is done, but the doors & glass and all aren't up for the shower yet.




One view from the back porch/pool side, Dad's on the tractor. He's got his mask on too, his allergies are terrible, he's had sinus surgery twice! He now tries to remember to wear the mask on the tractor so it doesn't send him into a tizzy, he loves being out there on it so much. I wish I'd have taken a picture of the actual back deck, it's very pretty. This is just one look at the yard in one direction.

The sides of the hill are all covered with those sheets of grass seed like you see on the sides of the road or something. Then they added more grass seed and more hay. Dad waters daily with the well, so it's already coming up very good!

And as a side note, government involvement is insane. After the nightmare of almost 4 months to get the building permit, they now have to have a variance hearing for the pool. Why? B/C it's going on the end of the house, instead of behind. Why does it matter? Who cares? It's their property. Still, government wont give the permit and they can't start on it until January after a hearing for it. Craziness..... (more government involvement, think before you vote)