I am thankful for my daughter Tara

She was 4 years old when I met her.  The first day I met her she jumped right up into her dads truck and was ready to conquer the world...... or at least the boys that she'd be spending the weekend with.  :)  Being the oldest of 2 boys at the age of 4 was a pretty big responsibility and one that if ANYONE could handle, TARA could. 

Assuming the position of being a parental figure but not crossing the line and trying to take the "Mom" spot in a child's life can be somewhat of a tough rope to balance in itself.  Add to that, the fact you are 22 years old and have spent your last 3 years learning how to parent a son and now need to be able to apply that to a 4 year old little girl, it can be even a bit tougher.  I am very thankful that Tara wasn't to much of a girly girl and even at the age of 4 could show me some grace for not always knowing exactly what I was doing. 

I am thankful for Tara's desire to just jump in and have a good time.  I am thankful for the older sister role she played in the boys life when she was younger and her desire to be helpful.  At the age of 9 she had 4 younger brothers and she could be very helpful.  I am thankful for her adventurous spirit and her desire to try new things in life. 

I am thankful for the areas in Tara's life that she has made room for me to get to be part of some of the "mother/ daughter" things that you just dont get to do with boys.  Although I love my boys to pieces, I am thankful I was able to be part of some of the girl things with Tara as well.  I am thankful for her including me on lots of boy talk when she was in middle school and high school, I am thankful for getting to help her pick out a few dresses for the school dances and for getting to be part of helping her with her wedding.  Sitting around the table with her as we made her flowers for her wedding is a memory I will always be thankful for.  I do cherish the memories I have with Tara and I am thankful I have her as a daughter. 

Thankful for my son Aaron

He was 2 and half years old when I met him. I fell in love with his father at the age of 22 and instantly went from having my own 3 year old son to an additional 2 children.  My now-daughter Tara who was 4 and Aaron.  I remember when I first met him, we were riding in his dad's work truck and he being just a little guy put one hand on his dads lap and said "My Daddy", then he placed his hand on my lap and said as a question "Mommy?"  We both told him that I was Becky.    Aaron had his Mommy and there was no reason to confuse him nor did I ever plan to take her place, Aaron seemed content with our answer.  However, little did I know on that day many years ago, that regardless if I wasn't the "Mommy" and never would be the "Mommy" because in all fairness, he had one..... I would grow to love him just like any Mommy loves her son. 

I am very thankful for my relationship with Aaron.  Due to the circumstances, things were not always the easiest and to be honest there were a few times we down right struggled with our place in each others lives. I am so thankful for Aaron's willingness to keep moving forward.  I am thankful for his down to earth outlook on things and his ability to try to understand how the other person is feeling.  I am thankful for the way Aaron pays attention to other people and has a genuine interest in how other people are doing in their lives.  Aaron is a supportive person of other people and the goals that person has in their lives and he shares in other peoples excitement when they have accomplished something. 

I am thankful for Aaron's enthusiasm, he is always up to trying new things and trys to keep a positive outlook on what we are doing.  I am also thankful for his even temper and how he is slow to anger and carefully considers different perspectives.  He is the person who likes to try to calm the storms.   He is also  a good guy to have around when trying to get something accomplished.  He doesn't give up easily and is good at encouraging those around him that if there is a will there is a way.  An example of that would be his ability to be handed a tent he has never seen before, that is probably missing half the poles and no instructions, yet he still puts forward his best effort and can usually set the thing up.  To me this is a testament of keeping a good attitude toward all possibilities.

I am most thankful for Aaron's heart, his willingness to see things for what they are instead of what things may seem to be.  I am thankful for the many conversations we have had and the many times we have been able to work thru difficult situations.  I am very proud of Aaron and the way he treats the people in his life and the respect he displays for himself.  I consider it a blessing to have gotten to play in some sort of parental role in his life and become good friends thru the years.  Although I know and respect the fact that I will never be Aaron's "Mommy" he will always be my son, whom I love dearly and am very thankful for.  I love you Aaron and am glad we have the relationship we have, you are a blessing in my life.

Thankful for my son Mark

When I look back at how young I was when I had my oldest son Mark, it amazes me.  I was barely 19 years old the day he was born.  I am so thankful that God's grace was over me and helped me.  I am so thankful that although I was so young he blessed me with such a wonderful son.

I am thankful for Mark and the way he stands up for everything he believes in.  I am thankful for his loyalty to the people he loves and his willingness to stand behind people and support people.  Mark is one of the most loyal people you are ever going to meet.  Hes that one guy that most people who know him would quickly say his name if they were asked, "If you were in a position you needed someone to have your back, who would you choose?"  I am thankful for Mark's heart and his willingness to consider how other people might be feeling.   You may not always see it, but he is always taking in what is being said and he is open to considering the other side.  I am thankful for this quality because it opens his heart to different ideas.

I am thankful for what great care Mark takes of the things he has and how much he appreciates things that are given to him or done for him.  I am thankful for the friendship I have with Mark and the fact that he is part of our life not just because hes our child and we are his parents, but he truly shows interest in our lives and wanting to spend time with us.  We have had so many great memories that alot of parents may not get the opportunity to have with their adult children.

I am thankful for Marks love for the Lord and his desire to learn more about him and have a closer relationship with him.  I am thankful for his willingness to wittness about the Love Jesus has for us even at times that its not the easiest to do so.  I am very proud and thankful for how encouraging Mark has been to other family members with their music and Marks desire to help people sound the best they can.  Mark has a wonderful spirit that cares for and loves other people and I have felt so blessed to be able to be his mother.  I am thankful for his grace he has had for me as his Mom.  I remember talking to him once about me questioning if I was as good of a Mom to him at 19 and my early 20s as I was to Derek in my late 20s and 30s  His response was full of love and compassion when he said "Mom when someone does something, year to year they should definitely get BETTER at whatever they are doing, so I EXPECT you to be better now then you were that many years ago"  He has an awesome heart and I am honored that I have been given the blessing of being his Mother. 

I am thankful for my son Daniel

I am thankful for my son Daniel.   Daniel is my 2nd child I gave birth to and I was 23 years old when he was born.  Since he is going to be turning 19 years old not much past the turn of the new year, it seems like so long ago but yet it also seems like just yesterday when he came into this world.

I am very thankful for his way of getting people to look at the 'other' side of things.  He is one of those people you can sit and talk to for hours about anything from the Bible to why people behave in different ways.  I am very thankful for the many conversations I have had with Daniel and the different ideas that he brings to the table. 

I am thankful for Daniel's love for God and his willingness to try to follow him and live his life for God and not of the world.  As Daniel has grown up I watched how his love he has had for the Lord has sometimes separated him from other people.  I have watched as he has learned and grown from these experiences and although he may have at different times wandered down the path of trying to figure out what the world is about, he has always come back to the roots and foundation of what God has planned for his life.  I am thankful for my relationship with Daniel and his willingness to be open and honest with me and allowed me to share in his life regardless of where he is at.  I am thankful for his transparency and willingness to allow people to see his heart and who he is. 

I am thankful for Daniel's funny side that makes me laugh, his sweet side that is generous with compliments for other people, his love for people and his ability to see the good in people. I appreciate the way Daniel treats his family. I am thankful for his work ethic and his willingness to work hard with his schooling.  I am thankful for his attentiveness and the thoughtful way that he asks me how things are in my life.  Daniel is a joy to have as a son and I think I have learned as much from him as what I have taught him.  I am thankful that the Lord decided to bless me with being his mother and am thankful for the friendship we are building now that he has become an adult.  I cannot imagine my life without having Daniel in it.  Thank you God for allowing me to be Daniel's mother. 

Friendships are a reason to be thankful

I am very thankful for my friendships with other women. I absolutely love spending time with other women and learning about their passions and their hearts.  Healthy friendships with other women can be so encouraging and supportive and I thank God for the friendships I have with these women.  I am especially thankful for my friendships with Christian women that have helped me in my walk with the Lord. 

I am very thankful for all of my friendships with other women however I'd like to give special thanks for my friendship with Michele.  Michele and I have known eachother since we were 18 and 19 years old and its a friendship that has grown to be where she is more like a sister to me.   I met Michele because she is actually my first husband's cousin.  I like to joke that I got Michele in the divorce.  :)  Truth is she had a huge soft spot for my oldest son Mark and then when I remarried and 4 other children came into the picture that huge soft spot she had for Mark just grew bigger and it was for all of my children.  She has been there for so many of my children's events and important milestones in their lives.  She is actually their Godmother as well.  :) Thru the years we have developed a very close friendship. 

I am thankful for my friendship with Michele and the blessing she has been to our family.  She is very loving and always willing to be there for the people in our family.  Michele is one of those friends that I know absolutely without ANY doubt at all, she has my best interest at heart.  I know that anything I tell her is safe and she would never use anything to hurt me or share private things about me with anyone else.  She is a TRUE friend by every definition of the word and I am so thankful that I have a friend like her.  Michele is fun to be around, she accepts me just the way I am.  I know how blessed I am to have a friend like Michele Lerch and am thankful that we have shared so much together.  I love you tons Michele and I thank you for being such an awesome friend to me. 

I am thankful for my son Derek

As I am finally getting ready to wind down after a wonderful weekend I would like to give thanks for my son Derek Quinby.  We just got done spending the weekend celebrating his 15th birthday and for the life of me I cannot figure out where the years have went. 
I am so thankful for Derek and the joy he brings to our family.  Derek is just one of those guys that can make you smile no matter whats going on and he is always true to himself in the way that what you see is what you get.  He doesn't change to please other people or act a certain way so he can fit in with the crowd.  He is true to himself and what he believes in.  Unfortunately being true to yourself at 15 years old and not giving in to act the way many 15 year old feel its necessary to act and talk to win others over, isn't always the most popular route but one I am glad Derek has chosen to take.

I am thankful for the way Derek treats other people.  Anyone who has had Derek for a friend knows he is one of those friends that is going to be there for you no matter what.  He has always been good to other people and treats them with respect.  I have gotten so many compliments from teachers etc, over the years that are so amazed with how good Derek is to his classmates and anyone he comes in contact with.  I am thankful that I can be proud of the way he treats other people. 

I am thankful for Dereks attitude and the way he looks at things in life, thankful for his character and the way it shines in his actions, thankful for his love to his family, his loyalty to those who love him, thankful for his love for God and willingness to follow God and not follow the crowd.  I am thankful for his integrity, his cheerful personality, his AMAZING sense of humor, his willingness to try new things and give it 100%, thankful that he never gives up on himself or others and most importantly I am soooo thankful that Derek Andrew-Scott Quinby is my son.  I love him so much and can't imagine even for a micro bit of a insty bitsy second, what my life would have been like, had I not had Derek for a son.  He has added so much to my life and I am forever thankful to God for choosing ME to be his mother.   Another birthday has past and I am looking forward to celebrating each year with Derek, his birthday WEEK, Derek EVE and his Birthday.  :) 

Thankful for my Food, Clothing and Shelter

I am giving thanks for 3 things in this blog.  Although it sounds like the typical thing to say........ food, clothing and shelter.... honestly its something many of us take for granted. 

Unfortunately when most people think of the 'starving' they think of only people in other countries.  I am aware that there is a huge crisis of starvation in other countries but  there is also starvation right here in our backyards.  If you ate even one meal today, you are more blessed then billions of people in this world.  My husband and I went out today, to purchase items for some food bags, as part of a Love Wins campaign our church is doing.  The campaign is assisting families with getting the fixins for a Thanksgiving meal.  This is our 3rd year participating in this and what we do is so small yet will be such a blessing to someone else.  We have a place in Cedar Rapids called Mission of Hope that I was able to volunteer at a couple of times and hope to spend more time there in the future.  This place accepts food year round and feeds people year round.  I am thankful for the food that is donated there and challenge everyone to make a contribution at a place such as this, not just for the holidays but year round.

I am thankful also for clothing and honestly I have way more then I should have.  Another thing that we could all do to help others is quit hanging onto clothes we will never wear and donate them to a local goodwill or shelter.  My husband and I challenged  eachother to this today to donate some of our clothes and for us this will be something that someone else needs to hold us accountable for.  :)  We are totally bad at hanging onto clothes way past the time we should.   If you are reading this, please feel free to hold us accountable in this area.

I am thankful for my home and know that I am so blessed to have the things I have.  My home is beautiful and way more then I ever dreamed of having.  I will always remember my father standing on my four seasons porch and looking out onto our acres of land and saying to me "Sweetheart, this is the most beautiful place, you have no reason to ever want for any more then this"  :)  My dad liked to keep things in perspective and he was as usual right about my home.  Its beautiful and I am so thankful for the time I have spent here.   I dont hang onto it real tightly because you always have to be prepared to move in the direction God wants you to in life, but I do treasure the time we have spent here.  I am very thankful for my home and all the things God has blessed me with.