Happy New Year, and thankful thoughts

Happy New Year, y'all... it's right around the corner! Even though it's a man-made divide, somehow January 1 seems so squeaky clean and fresh. And 2008... a bit dingy and frayed around the edges, to say the least. But, I wanted to look back at the bright spots from the year, and as I went through my photos, I was surprised and pleased to realize just how many thankful things I found. Since this blog is mainly here to preserve memories (unlike the 2 tons or so of scrapbook stuff that lurks in my dining room, taunting me with it's uselessness), I want to remember "the good stuff". Philippians 4:8 says "Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse." (The Message). And I think that just may be my resolution for the New Year; to follow that verse as closely as I can. So here is the best of 2008.. the things for which I am thankful.


First of all is my handsome husband and funny, bug-hunting boy. I love them both so much, and I feel blessed to be able to share my life with them.







The addition of Blackie to our family this year was a very bright spot for us. She is sweet, loving, kind, and (mostly) obedient. She does have powerful jaws and the urge to chew anything that isn't nailed down, but she's learning to channel that urge towards her toys, and for that, I am truly grateful!



Next comes my mom and my brother; I am thankful that they are holding down the fort in Tennessee. They are my roots, and I love it when we're able to get together.











Then, there are the neighbors. We are SO blessed to live next door to people who love us like family and who walk beside us in faith.



Being able to participate in The Lighthouse Family Retreat again this summer was a blessing. I'm thankful for all of my friends, who donated in support of our efforts, and I'm very thankful for Melinda and her staff. We took away so much more than we brought.


I'm thankful for the Cub Scouts and all the wonderful opportunities that scouting provides for service for my boy. The values that are a part of scouting are timeless, and the fun that we have with our den is priceless!











I am thankful for our friends, Glenn and Cile Borders , who are serving in the mission field in central and eastern Europe. We love them dearly! On their last visit to the States, Cile brought us some very cool gifts from their travels, to include a magnet collection for me (which is on the front of my fridge), and a very special gift for the bug hunter. See all those white envelopes? Cile collected money from each of the countries that they've visited over the past few months and put it in envelopes for my boy. And since their blog is better than any travel book, we can take Cile's notes and pictures, the money, and a map, and have an enjoyable, personal view of places we'd never know about otherwise. If you have a minute or twenty, drop by their site and read about all that God is doing through them. And then leave 'em a little love...



I'm thankful for the snow we had last January. It's the first real snow we've had since the bug hunter was a baby, and oh, how we played! I'm hoping for another good one before THIS winter is over, but I won't get too greedy.




I'm thankful for the wonderful care provided to the bug hunter by his pediatrician, Dr. G. This pic was taken on our last office visit; Dr. G. is moving to another practice, and we will miss him. I'm praying that we'll be able to find someone else in the practice who "gets" my boy even half as much as he did.






I'm thankful for the bug hunter's treehouse. I have a feeling that, in years to come, it will be a safe haven for my boy; a place to dream and to get away. What's not to love about a refuge in the trees?












And then, there's TELLUS, the new science museum opening in Cartersville on January 12. We've been able to take a couple of hard hat tours as the building progressed, and we can't wait to see the finished museum in a couple of weeks!




I could keep going, but just looking at what I've already written amazes me. Am I a lucky girl or what? I didn't even really touch on the bug hunter's school, which has been such a blessing in so many ways, or our church, which feeds our souls so well. There are hundreds of other blessings that won't be mentioned and yet sustained us through the year. It makes it easier to lay 2008 to rest when I can do so with gratitude, and I'm looking forward to the blessings that 2009 will bring.