Thankful Thursday

First, I am thankful for a special birthday girl this week. My friend Lisa celebrates another beautiful year of her life and the entrance of a year that I pray will be filled with the most wonderful of surprises. Lisa and I have never officially met. We have exchanged cards and kindnesses, telephone conversations that have touched my soul and somehow a friendship has been formed, not a simple little relationship, but a union; An understanding that bears no need for explanations or formalities. I am thankful for people like Lisa who have the unique gift of encouragement and bless others in rich and tangible ways. Happy Birthday, Lis!


Then, I was most thankful for this little sweetie. We waited over two hours for a labwork appointment yesterday, as a result of the hospital's error. By the time we were finally called in, I had lost most of my fragment of patience that I had begun with and was feeling slightly frazzled. Our last appointment for bloodwork was very difficult. Hannah is tiny and her veins are incredibly difficult to find. In our pathway through international adoption, we have accepted it is a necessary evil to frequently test and ensure all her initial labwork was spot-on. So, this was a maintenence procedure, but I was dreading it. She was a champion in every single way. She gave her blood, received her pretty pink bandage and prize (a whistle) and walked out telling me, "Hannah fine, I fine - I walk myself." We turned the corner and she stopped suddenly, grabbed my leg, hugged me and said "Tank you for de whitsil Mommy. I lub it." (Thank you for the whistle, Mommy. I love it.) The resilence of children amazes me. This teeny tiny powerhouse rendered me speechless and glassy-eyed. Thank you, Hannah, thank for the gift you are to us.


Finally, there were countless other entries I could make today, but upon viewing the Chapman family don their armour and speak out about hope and faith in the midst of grief, I am thankful that I have a relationship with Jesus. Their honesty and candor is refreshing. The loss of their daughter is tragic. I have no words for this, but I do pray for them and for all struggling through attacks of the enemy. So, I choose to honor the very spirit of Maria Chapman...I will hold our little ladybugs a little closer, speak with them a little sweeter and love them in the fashion God designed, unconditionally. Thank you Chapman family for allowing us into the most personal of all places, for reminding us of the goal, the truth and for reminding us that proof of a living, loving God comes in the questions as well as the faith.