So much to be thankful for!

On this special Thanksgiving day, 

as we pray for healing, prosperity, and God’s mighty hand to ease our suffering, one of our favorite songs by Laura Story comes to mind:

“Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops,
What if your healing comes through tears,
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near.
What if our greatest disappointments, or the aching of this life,
Is the revealing of a 'greater thirst' this world can't satisfy.
What if trials of this life:  the rain, the storms, the hardest nights,
Are Your mercies in disguise.”

We believe all of that.  That's why it's so easy to be thankful today. 

This was right after Caleb got out of the hospital, after being diagnosed with leukemia.  I am so thankful for this child.

Every November, our family comes up with a “What we’re thankful for” list.  Caleb’s list is obviously A LOT different than usual.  Of course, it’s usually a private list, but this year, I felt it was worthy of sharing.   

What Caleb is Thankful For:  His Top 10 List got stretched to a “baker’s dozen” this year.

1.  God and Jesus 

2.  My family and friends (he individually named EVERYONE... this took a while.)  :)

3.  My nanny Nicole

This was an adventurous outing with Nicole this week.  No chemo the past two weeks, means he felt like playing for the first time in months. 

 4.  My doctor

Very loving Oncologist Dr. ZoAnn Dreyer

          5.  My homeschool teacher, Mrs. McDonald & my teacher at school, Mrs. Elrod, who sends me cards from her and my friends 

Caleb got to be in Mrs. Elrod's class just a few weeks, before he got sick

      6.  I didn’t lose all of my hair & now Maggie looks like me.  (So far, miraculously, Cal has only lost about half of his hair & his once VERY fluffy dog is now sporting a crew cut 

Maggie's new look

      7.  Chicken (So much for turkey)
      8.  The Candlelighters (Childhood Cancer Family Alliance) for sending me to cancer camp & to the Texans Tunnel to high-five the players 

Caleb & Zach loved seeing the Houston Texans players, coaches, and owner up close & personal

        9.  Charlie Brown movies 

      10.  My ipad.

      11.  Google, so I can see what blood cells & platelets look like under a microscope  (wow)

      12.  Cards, crafts, & fun treasures from people to cheer me up

      13.  The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

     We're thankful Caleb got the break from chemotherapy, so that he was able to come up with his list with lots of giggles & stories about why he chose them.  We hope you find blessings in learning from this Kindergartner, who has turned into a little man overnight.