Thankful

I’m sitting here in my pajamas with pruny hands from cleaning bathrooms.  The rest of the house is still neglected, but the apple crisp is in the oven, Mini is napping, and Mike and Max are playing flag football with church friends.  The house is quiet.

An hour ago, it was not.  Mini was standing at my legs crying for my attention, Max was running around wild in excitement about playing football with the big kids, and Mike and I were “discussing” how poor the timing it was that yesterday was his last day at the office.  For the sole reason that yesterday was the day he brought home boxes upon boxes of stuff – engineering textbooks, pictures, stick figure drawings and scribbles (Max’s, not his), coffee mugs by the thousands, and odds and ends of his just-short-of-13 years in the software career field.

Lots of stuff.  Here in my house.

*sigh*

Still, I am filled to the brim with thanksgiving this year.  What a year it has been.

Finding out that we were chosen for adoption.  Frantically flying out to Colorado on busy winter holiday weekend to meet and hold Mini for the first time.  Hearing someone call me her mommy for the first time.  Blogging about all those firsts.  Sharing laughs, memories, tears with A. and J.  Saying goodbye to birth family.  Unbelievable homecoming with friends and relatives waiting for us.  Taking it all in, this wonder of how God created our little family.  Perfectly knit together.

Joyful memories of babyhood, seeing Max light up when Mini is around and vice versa.  Falling head over heels in love with my daughter.  Starting school.  Growing in patience.  Loving my tender-hearted son, seeing the gifts that God gave him.  Surviving (and enjoying) crime solving, spooky story telling, bug exploring, earning swimming merits, smashed fingers, staples in the head, and Lego obsession.

A strong marriage, getting to share life with my best friend, spiritual growth, deepened relationships with friends, spending time on our knees for each other.  Challenged to live differently, not as safe, with greater purpose.  To be more merciful.  More hospitable.  More loving.  More knowledgeable.  More concerned about what the world thinks is okay these days.  More prayerful.  Humbled to be called into full-time ministry.  Amazed and thankful for good counsel.  For support and prayer.  For these new eyes and this new heart.  For dependence on God, who is way bigger than me.

For a great year.  Thank you, Lord.

Added: Also, I am so thankful for you.  Your comments.  Your blogs.  Your sense of humor. Your insight.  Your sharing.  You mean a lot to me and I can’t say it enough; thank you!