a thankful woman

i sit here tonight in curled up in my chair indulging in some homeade hot chocolate, my mind wanders and stops on all the things 2008 has brought us a family, all the things i am thankful for, and all the things i'm anxious for in 2009.

with the new year came new adventures, february we traveled to michigan to visit our families, since 2007 was our first christmas away :( that was when jenna {insert: darling sister} found out she was one of two finalists in the big fat grand blanc wedding cake dive. and as a must, i flew home a week later to watch her dive into a 6 foot wedding cake, only to come out triumphantly holding two of the most amazing rings ever. i have never been so excited, my heart was racing as I dove into congratulate her. congrats jenna! you deserve it :) bring on the $50,000 wedding.

april/may our families arrived (long overdue) to spend some time with us in the peach state....we ate, hung out at the beach, traveled to savannah and just enjoyed the company of family. a privilege we dont take for granted living so far away from them

july brought me back to the mitten state to celebrate jenna's bridal shower. when deciding on a location for her shower i chose frankenmuth for the occassion. it is a place that holds so much joy and so many memories for my family. i can only pray that as jenna looks back it will hold as many for her as well.

also that weekend (july 20) we found out our lives were going to change, baby abraham would arrive in 8 months :) at jennas bachlorette party i kept getting sick and i knew {just had that feeling} . and i was so blessed to be in michigan to share the news with our families.

october was the long awaited wedding of the haight/natzke's: absolutely gorgeous...

november brought the news of another member in our family embarking on a baby adventure of her own. jenna and scott are expecting, july 10, our babies will be 4 months apart. i cant wait to see my sister with her motherly glow and watch as she starts a family of her own.

and now December wraps up the year, holding in its hand so many priceless memories. many, many baby doctor visits, a birthday party brandon had for me with friends from church that involved games and fondue, the singing christmas tree and walk-thru-bethlehem with the moore's, and christmas.

i am just so thankful:

...for the gift of life, just being able to witness such a miracle, every time i feel baby abraham move in me i am reminded of the scripture jeremiah 1:5 "before i formed you in the womb i knew you, before you were born i set you apart".

...I have a husband who i love and who, i know, loves me just as much, being able to watch him become a father and see the excitement on his face every time he hears the baby's heartbeat. and the feeling of security that only he brings.

... for our jobs, yes they are trying, exhausting, and daily i feel like quiting, however its a job that god has provided and prospered us at, so until he moves us, I am grateful that we have health insurance, a paycheck, and the opportunity to go to work everyday.

... that we have family who love us and miss us.

...and for the friends we have left behind in michigan and for the amazing ones that we have down here.