Thankful

I woke up Thursday morning not even knowing it was Thanksgiving until Brett mentioned it after reading emails. Thursday was a long and crazy day at the hospital. We did have a Thanksgiving meal as a team on Friday.

One of the things I love most about Thanksgiving is sitting down and thanking the Lord for anything and everything I can think of. I leave with a sense of immense gratitude for His work and blessings in my life.

I'm thankful, of course, for my Lord and Savior. For his faithfulness and patience with me. I'm thankful for his grace and the hope He gives. I'm thankful for His Spirit that lives in me.

I'm thankful for Brett, my soul mate, and to be able to walk through life with him. I'm thankful for my boys. They are full of personality and energy but they are sweet, sweet boys. They make me feel loved each and every day. They are simply wonderful.

I'm thankful for my extended family that supports us and loves us. I'm thankful for our church families who love us as well. I'm thankful for my friends who are with us in Mali and those who are in other places. I'm thankful for those the Lord has brought into my life.

I'm thankful for the hospital and for all the people that has brought into our lives. I'm thankful for the opportunity to be here in Mali.

This year more than others I was really struck by the amazing gift that God gives to us as His Spirit lives in us. Wow. God in us. Simply amazing. I was also impressed with how He calls people to Himself. I thought about Mamine and how He spoke to her and called her to Him even as she was suffering. He opened her eyes to see truth. He does that time and time again. He makes the blind see. The deaf hear. He opens hearts to see His truth. So thankful for a God that is not distant but very present. He is loving and wants others to know Him. He gently calls His children and shows grace a mercy to everyone. Simply amazing. Thankful that he doesn't leave us on our own but loves each of us so much that He grows to great lengths for us to know Him.