Today is a very bittersweet day... It's Thanksgiving Day, a time to give thanks to the Lord for all we have been given and all He has done for us. It's a day that comes every year, but we should be giving thanks to God every day, because He's given Jesus Christ His Son and so much more to us than we deserve. Psalm 100:4-5 says, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations." It's clear that we should be thankful to Him and bless His name, because He's so good to us, and it's clear that we should be doing this all the time, not just on Thanksgiving Day. This Thanksgiving (and always) I have SO much to be thankful for, and I praise the Lord for His many provisions in my life. He has given me salvation through His death on the cross for my sins, and because of my faith and trust in Him alone, I will live forever with Him in eternity someday. I'm thankful for that. I'm also thankful for my family, and my husband who love me unconditionally,for Addison Lynn, our first precious blessing,and for our second precious blessing, Landon Michael who we prayed for and the Lord granted our request and gave him to us, and friends,a place to live,food,a car, and all the things the Lord has given to me. He is so good, and I don't deserve what He's given me. Thank-you Lord for what you have done for me, and continue to do. You have given me so much, and I am thankful.
Today also marks 7 months since our precious Addison was born, so she turns 7 months old in heaven today. I can't believe how fast the months have gone by...sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday that we heard our sweet girl was in distress and seems like yesterday that she was here and then gone 6 short days later... but other times it seems like it's been years, because it's so hard without her here. It's so hard, because I miss her so much, but I'm so thankful for what I do have at the same time. Those two emotions at once are hard to deal with... I ache and hurt all over today, because she's not here, and I miss her so terribly much, yet I have a peace in knowing I will see her again. I'm so thankful for that, and I'm giving thanks for my blessings today, even in the midst of the pain and hurt I'm feeling. Addison was such a precious little miracle baby, and I just can't get over how beautiful she was, and that the Lord chose Stephen and I to be her Mommy and Daddy. We are blessed beyond measure to have had her for the 6 short days that we did, but also the 9 months we had her in my womb. We are still grieving her death, but we are also looking forward to our future, and what God has in store for us. Not that we forget her, and move on, but we press on knowing that the Lord will be with us, and has more blessings for us. We are looking forward to Landon Michael being with us, and we are so thankful and blessed to know we have a son on the way! He is already so special to us, in fact he was special to us from the moment we found out we were having another baby, and then when we found out he was a boy, we we were even more thrilled. God is good to us. I'm looking forward to holding him in my arms and taking him home to love forever and ever.. What an amazing time we have ahead of us. I know Addison is safe in heaven with Jesus, but especially on days like today, I just wish I could "borrow" her for a little bit, and have her here with me, but I know she is doing much better with her heavenly Father. I'm sure they are having a blast today, and I can only imagine how my Jesus is loving on my daughter. That thought blesses my heart and comforts me. Thank-you for your continued prayers for us. We really appreciate it! You are a blessing! I would like to share a short 32 second video that I found (that I forgot I had) of us with Addison. Stephen is holding her, and I'm putting a bow on her, and Auntie Beth was trying to take a picture but was actually recording instead..so we get this precious video. I will cherish it forever, because it's one of three short,short videos we have of her.. I only wish I would have taken more video of her short, sweet life. I'm just thankful for the time we had with her, and we will always remember her through the memories and pictures we have of her. She was one special baby girl, and she is whole and perfect in heaven with Jesus. Praise the Lord. "I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter His courts with praise. I will say this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice for He has made me glad.."
