Thankful - Day Three

Day Three

 Today I am thankful for my husband.  For his strength - both physical and emotional.  For his ability to make me laugh and smile, even when life brings me down.  For his patience, understanding, and compassion.   We have grown together beyond what I could have imagined in the last 8 years and this man just "gets" me.   See back to Number 1 for the crazy place I met him - my St. Patrick's Day lover ;)

When people tell me how lucky I am to have Kevin, I try to remember to say thank you instead of "I know".  I do know that I am lucky to have him, but I also think that it was necessary that I have Kevin.  See, when I picture myself going through the trials, devastation, and sadness of the last 4 years without him - I see myself literally crying on the floor.   I won't say that there has not been some on the floor crying, but having Kevin by my side to pick me up and dry my tears; that is what gets me through each day. 

Thank you Kevin, for every day and every moment with you.  Thank you for putting up with "in sickness and in health" more than I ever thought we would experience.  Thank you for being both my rock and testing my patience all the same.  Thank you for putting the pieces back together when I never thought I would be whole again.  Thank you for forgiving me when I spend our Eating Out budget on candy and toys for Boy Wonder.  Thank you for making dinner, cleaning the house, and paying the bills on days when I just can't do anything more than sit.  Thank you for loving me better than I ever knew I deserved. 

Thankful - Day Two

And I fell off the bandwagon after just one day - does that really surprise anyone?! 

Day Two 

I am thankful that I am able.  I am so thankful (this week especially) that I am able to do so many things, specifically those that help others.  I had an experience like none other this week, getting to meet a friend's little boy just hours after being born and getting to hold him, spend time with family and friends, and pray over him as he went home to the Lord.  

I am thankful that I was able to take time off work, that I was able to share the emotions, joys, and sorrows with new and old friends, and that I am able to continue to support them.  I am financially and physically able to help clean their house, do their laundry, and cook meals for them - to help ease their burden during this time.  These are all things that not everyone can do - and I am so thankful for my ability to do so! 
 

Holly, Joe, and Cullen Tusing - you are in my thoughts and prayers every minute of every day <3 font="">

Thankful - Day One

Yes, I am jumping on the "oh so cliche" bandwagon and hopefully posting something I am thankful for each day in November.  I am going to make a prediction here that I'll miss at least one day; that my thankful on actual Thanksgiving Day will be something food related; and that my thankful on the 30th will be Tylenol (we have a wedding on the 29th).  Please don't expect something deep and philosophical each day - I'm taking this with the idea that honesty and "being me" should come through here. 

Day One

I am thankful for IUP.  While it was the school known as 'I Usually Party", and where I was a member of the track team - neither of those are the real reason I am thankful for it.  IUP was the place where friends became family over the course of 4 years.  I'm thankful that Kevin and I both chose this school 250+ miles from our homes, for the time we spent there, the people we met there, and the adults we've become as a result of 2003 - 2008.  IUP - thanks for teaching me more than a few lessons about parties, snowy winters, and how not to be arrested by the mounted police.  IUP - thanks for introducing me to some of the most influential friends in my life.  IUP - thanks for being within my budget, having the "right" major, and a kick-ass track team too. 

And because no post is really complete without a photo - here is an IUP classic.  

Prayers, Please

I have thought for weeks about what I could write that would have enough meaning for the situation at hand.   Some of you may remember that back in June, a friend's baby was diagnosed with a fatal defect known as Anencephaly. 

Yesterday, Holly delivered a beautiful baby boy named Cullen Joseph Tusing.  Experiencing the emotions, faith, and love yesterday was without a doubt one of the most meaningful days of my life.  I hope to post on the emotions and impact of the day soon, but for now - I'm asking for your prayers.  You see, Cullen's birthday was a day filled with support, love, friends, and family.  But I know firsthand how quickly that support can stop.  I understand as well as anyone that life is busy, we get caught up in day to day strife, and for YOU life will move on.  Today and everyday forward, the most I can hope for Holly is that she finds the support she needs and wants.  

Mommy & Cullen

Holly's and her friend Kelly have done an absolutely beautiful job of keeping the blog "Carrying Cullen" up to date throughout the journey.  If you would like to learn more about Cullen, the Tusings, and see an example of super-human emotional strength and faith - please visit www.CarryingCullen.com

Where I've Been?

Not that my little spot is the most popular place on the Internet, but I feel like after 28 days of radio silence you all deserved some sort of explanation.  I wish I had an exciting announcement, something fun to share with you all, but I don't.  

I've spent many evenings being thoughtful. About my soldier who is finally home, about my relationships with friends & family, and myself too.  There have been several days of working outside, working inside, and making strides in this little home of ours.  There have also been days of great sadness.  I had one of the most difficult days on the anniversary of my mommy's passing, and while I am thankful I had amazing family to spend the evening with, it was hard.  

There are a few blog posts waiting to be edited, and I hope that I'll be back with some kind of regular posting schedule soon.  For now, I hope you'll stick around to hear more about this little house and what is going on with our life this fall. 

xoxo