Thursday, December 3, 2009

Thankful

I know it is after Thanksgiving and all but it has been a busy few weeks and I haven't been able to post this yet.

This has been a challenging year for us, and every year we make it a point to sit down and think about what we are Thankful and grateful for. To say it was easy this year would be a big fat lie. We have had so many ups and downs and challenges to overcome that it has made us a little jaded.

With that being said when we sat down and started thinking about it, and made an effort to really look at things in a positive light it got easier, so here is our list!

We are thankful for...

Our families, we never would have gotten through all of this without them, and knowing that they support us, love us, and are there for us every step of the way has been a comfort on our tough days.

Our amazing and beautiful daughter, she is the light in our lives, our greatest, and most amazing blessing and miracle. I look at her everyday and and fall more and more in love. I cannot imagine our lives without her in it, or what our life was like before as it pales in comparison. To be able to watch a child grow and learn and change is the greatest gift anyone could ever be given.

Our marriage, we have struggled as of late but we are better because of it, if this year has shown us anything it has shown how much love can really change you and soften you. Even on our hardest days, if all we had to come back to was our love for each other that was enough to pull us through.

The changes we have gone though, yes they have been difficult and this year will be full of more changes but, the ones we have faced and taken on have been an amazing transformation for us. We have learned to live with less, and make due when needed, but we have also realized how full our life really is and that material possesions are not what matters, rather love, compassion, family, and a relationship with God are what save you from your hardest times.

So even though we look around and see how much we have had to endure, how much change we have gone through and how much change is to come; we are thankful, even for the smallest things, like food on the table and a roof still over our head, family to celebrate with and cry with, a community of faith that came together in our hard times and helped to pull us through, and the fact that no matter how far gone things can get there is always a light. No matter how far off it seems it is there, you just have to go through hell sometimes to get to the end, but what matters is that you keep on going, right through it and in the end you won't look back with regret but with thankfulness that you had to struggle to get where you are, so you could be evermore grateful for the things you will have.



“But there is suffering in life, and there are defeats. No one can avoid them. But it's better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you're fighting for.”

~ Paul Coelho



Moving on, below are some new pictures of our little miracle and from the holidays...Enjoy!!


So thankful to have such a beautiful table to come together at
(thanks to Tess and Aunt Mary Fran)


First Thanksgiving


All ready for Turkey


Gammie and Abby, and of course Abby made her stinker face right on cue for the picture


Grandpa H and Abby all ready for the Holly Days Parade



All Bundled up at Holly Days

Hitchin a ride with Dad

As you can tell it was pretty cold that night :)

Love,

Christie, Donnie, and Abby

7 comments:

Sandy said...

It amazes me that even through the toughest times, we can always find something to be thankful for! Happy New Year and welcome to SITS! It's great to have you in the SITStahood!

Just Lisa said...

Wonderful things to be thankful for!

I came by to welcome you to SITS! We're happy to have you with us! You haven't posted in a month-- I hope you haven't given up on blogging!

Carma Sez said...

Sorry to hear that 2009 was not the best of years - you've got a great perspective though - and a lot to look forward to in 2010! You have a lovely family.

Welcome to SITS! I know that you will enjoy being a part of this vibrant community of bloggers :-)

Ann On and On... said...

I looks like you haven't posted in a while....just in case you look....

Welcome to SITS..the best SITSerhood around! When you have a minute come on over to my blog and enter my apron giveaway.

Ash said...

I'm so very sorry it has been some time of struggle. I'm hoping that since this is an older post, things are just so wonderfully busy you can't find the time to blog. Your daughter is absolutely gorgeous!! I hope 2010 brings more laughter than tears, more joy than sorrow, more enjoyment than stress.

Stopping by via SiTS to welcome you to the gang!!

Anonymous said...

Christie, Your Abby is a dear! I'm guessing that she is having a birthday any time now:) I hope you had a wonderful holiday and that the season has been kind to you and your family. Hope to see you post an update, soon!!

Dropping in to welcome you to SITS and to wish you a very Happy & Healthy New Year!! ;)

said...

What a darling baby girl you have.

Welcome to the SITS community!


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