First and foremost, I am thankful for Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. He saved me, loves me unconditionally, never gives up on me, is always with me, and fills my life with so much joy. I can't imagine what my life would be like without Him. Even when I don't take time to spend with Him as I should, still he loves me. I see reflections of his love constantly, in the way I love my children. To think, God loves his children far more than I love my girls. How can that even be possible, I wonder? But miraculously, it is true! Wow, thank you Lord! I am also reminded constantly as I discipline my children, what patience God has with his children. Over and over, we try to teach them...over and over, they disobey, simply because they are human. We laugh that Madison definitely has a sinful nature within her...don't we all, and yes, it does begin at birth. In the same way, time and time again we fall short, but still He is there, waiting for us to turn back to Him. What a wonderful God we serve!
I never would have dreamed that God would bring my future husband into my life at the age of 13. That thought is very scary to me now that we have a 4 year old...if God has the same plan for her life, that is only 9 years away. Unimaginable! No wonder my parents weren't overly thrilled at the idea of me having such a serious boyfriend at that age. I was just a baby! Nevertheless, I have been blessed with the most wonderful husband, who loves the Lord with all his heart and who treats me like a Queen. We have been together for more of our lives' than we have been apart. We literally grew up together, and I love that! I couldn't ask for a better husband and father for my children. Specifically, I am thankful that he is a spiritual leader for our family, he plays with the girls, helps with bathtime, irons his own clothes, never complains if the laundry and dishes aren't done, gets up to heat my beanbag that I sleep with every night (I know, I am super spoiled!), he makes me feel safe, he compliments me often, he is okay with eating pb&j's for dinner, etc. etc. etc! Really, Brian is wonderful, he takes care of our family and I am so thankful for him!
After 19 1/2 hours of labor, and a c-section, I experienced love in a whole new way when I held Mackenzie for the first time. There are no words to explain it. From the time I was a little girl, I loved playing with baby dolls and always dreamed of having a baby of my own. When I was pregnant with Mackenzie, I kind of thought she would be a boy. I didn't even realize how badly I wanted a girl until I knew I was having one. Mackenzie Grace has filled my heart with so much joy and love. I am so thankful to be her Momma! I am thankful that she is a healthy, happy, loved little girl. I pray every day that God will continue to pour out his blessings on her and keep her safe. I could probably write a whole book about her and Madison, but obviously I won't do that here.
2 Years and 5 months later, I got to experience falling in love with another baby girl when Madison Joy entered the world at 6:25 in the morning! Before she was born, I remember wondering how I would love another child as much as I loved Mackenzie. When I think about that now, it seems so silly. It was just instantaneous...it happened without any effort at all. I love her to pieces! She is the sweetest, orneriest little thing I have ever seen. All of a sudden, she seems like such a big girl to me and that makes me a little sad. I love watching them grow up, but I wish it didn't happen so fast. As with Mackenzie, I am so thankful that Madison is healthy, happy and loved by so many. I pray also for her that God would continue to have His hand upon her precious little life every day!
I am thankful that I get to stay home and take care of my babies. I love that Mackenzie crawls in bed with me every morning and we spend time cuddling. Then, Madison joins in the fun! Oh, how I would hate to rush out the door for work and miss out on those precious moments. We may not always have everything we want, but God always meets our needs and it is more than enough and definitely worth the sacrifice so that I can stay at home with our girls.
I have the world's best mom...but she is so much more than that to me! She is my best friend. I really don't know what I would do without her! I have always been a momma's girl, but I think we are closer now than ever, even though we live nearly 2 hours away from each other. We talk several times every day! There are no words to express how thankful I am for her. She has taught me how to be a mother and I will always be grateful for that. Love you mom!
My dad...he may be the toughest man I know. Seriously, he has had so many health issues, and yet he presses on and very rarely complains. Praise God that his cancer is in remission! I am so thankful for him, and the influence he has had on my life. He is a wonderful father, and "Pa" to our girls.
I am thankful for my brother, Clint and his fiancee, Abigail. I am getting a wonderful sister-in-law! It is so neat that they live here in Tulsa. Just a few days ago I was going through the drive-thru at Chick-fil-a and noticed someone waving at me...it was my brother! How fun is that, to run into my brother at lunchtime in Tulsa?! I am thankful that God chose to put us in the same city, at least for now.
I am thankful to still have my Poppa Jim and Grandma Shaw. They both mean so much to me. It is sad to think about all of the grandparents I have lost...Poppa Beets, Pop Shaw, Grandma Jean, and G.G. I have been so blessed to have them in my life for as long as I did. Sometimes when we pray at bedtime, Mackenzie wants to pray for G.G. and Grandma Jean in heaven. She probably won't remember getting to know them, but we will always pass along stories of them and keep their memories alive.
I am thankful for my in-law's, Tom and Lyn. (aka Grandpa and Grandma Baldwin!) They love their kids and grandkids so much and support us in all we do. Our girls are so blessed to have wonderful Grandparents on both sides of our family. We are thankful for Danny and Amy and their family, Stephen and Tamara, and Tomi and Jason and their family as well. Mackenzie loves her cousins so much! It is fun to watch them grow up together.
I am thankful that God has called us to serve him in ministry, and has placed us at South Tulsa Baptist Church. What a wonderful place to serve the Lord! When we left Woodland Hills several years ago, I wasn't sure that another place could really ever feel like "home," but somewhere along the road that has happened here. We have a Pastor, Ted Kersh, who is truly a shepherd to his church. We love him, and his wife Jerri, and are so thankful to serve with them. It is neat to think that Ted's dad, Bill Kersh, baptized me as a little girl. God is doing great things in the Student Ministry! I will not say that every step along the way has been easy, but God is at work and for that we are grateful and we will continue to serve Him. We have been blessed by some wonderful friends at STBC...the Romosers', the Cupps', the Rabers', the Easterwoods', the Peronas', the Smiths', the Wilkinsons'...just to name a few. (Please don't be offended if you are reading this and your name isn't listed. It is very late, and I am probably leaving out so many. We love our entire church family!)
I am thankful for the freedom we have in the U.S., my warm and cozy home, my health and the health of my loved ones, the list just goes on and on. When I think about all that the Lord has done for me, and all of the ways He has blessed my life, I am overwhelmed. It is almost a little scary, because I know that at some point in my life, bad things may happen. I just have to trust that when they do, God will walk with me through them.
On a lighter note, tonight I am thankful for hot chocolate, my warm bean bag, and our fireplace. It is COLD outside! I know I am probably leaving out important things that I am thankful for, so I will wrap it up with this scripture:
"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thess. 5:18
To God be the glory, great things He hath done!
We got to spend the weekend after Thanksgiving in Newcastle with G-Ma while Brian and my dad were hunting. G-Ma has a tv set up in her bedroom now, and the girls love to watch tv back there. She sets up their little table and they color & lay in her bed and watch shows. Madison loves sitting at the table and coloring too. She likes to color on anything besides paper...the wall, the couch, our kitchen cabinets...she keeps us on our toes! When we came home from shopping, we carried all of the presents into Clint's room, and told the girls to watch tv for a few minutes while we sorted through some things. We shut the door and right away they started knocking...before we knew it, Mackenzie slid a note under the door for us! It was so funny. These are just some fun pictures I wanted to post!
Wal-Mart had $4 pajamas, and Mackenzie really wanted the CARS ones...who says these are just for boys?! They are her new favorite pj's! The pants are just a little baggy in the front. =0) Mackenzie is 100% girl, but she loves Lightning McQueen too!
After lunch in Newcastle, we headed to Lake Eufaula for Thanksgiving dinner with the Baldwin side of the family. We got there at around 4:00, the kids played, we ate dinner and visited just a little bit, and then we headed back to Newcastle around 7:00. I really wish we could have been there longer. Mackenzie was having so much fun playing with her cousins, and wasn't happy to leave at all. We really need to get together more often for them to play together. I just love taking picture of all the "little" cousins sitting around the kitchen table eating! This was the first time that Madison was big enough to sit there with them. She's such a big girl now! I think most of her food ended up on the floor instead of in her mouth, but she tried! It is next to impossible to get them all to look at the camera at the same time, but at least they are all in the pictures! Thankfully, Stephen and Tamara were driving back to OKC too, so I got to follow them. I really don't like driving after dark by myself. I was shocked that the girls stayed awake the entire way home...even without our DVD players in the car. (They broke again...yes, the new ones we bought 4 months ago...aarrrgghhh!!!) Brian stayed and spent the night and then got up very early to hunt at the lease. As soon as we got back to Pa & G-Ma's house, the girls and I headed to bed...mom and I got up at 4:00 the next morning to go shopping! Poppa Jim came over and spent the day with the girls while we shopped. It was so much fun! We came back later that afternoon, picked up the girls, and went shopping again...we realized after about 10 minutes of shopping with them why that wasn't such a good idea. It is almost cruel to take little ones shopping like that...I don't know who was more miserable...them or us! When all was said and done, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!
Madison really tries to use silverware, but most of the time she just gives up and uses her hands! Grandma Baldwin bought each of the kids a special plate to eat on...the girls got Tinkerbell and the boys got Toys Story, I think. She is so good to do special little things like this for them!
The Boys!
The Girls! (Mackenzie adores Bailey!)
That is a table full of cute kids right there!
Madison really thought she was big stuff, sitting at the table with the big kids.
I have so much to be thankful for this year. God has certainly blessed me! It was wonderful to be able to spend time with both of our families this year. It made for a long day of traveling, but it was worth it! We had lunch in Newcastle, and then headed to Lake Eufaula for dinner. Then, I loaded the girls' back up and we headed back to Newcastle. They are such good little travelers! Brian spent the weekend hunting, and mom and I went shopping, of course! I enjoy shopping after Thanksgiving almost as much as I enjoy Thanksgiving itself! I am so thankful for all of my family! This was our first year without G.G., and she was certainly missed. It was strange not to have taboli and orange salad this year. Even though I don't like either one! Her chicken and dumplin's will be missed as well. I had a great time cooking with my mom. And of course, I ate WAY too much! I am going to have to go on a serious diet after the holidays! Here are some pictures of our Thanksgiving in Newcastle.
This girl loves her blanket that G-Ma made her!
I am so thankful for Mackenzie Grace! Such a beautiful, sweet girl she is. One of the loves of my life! I am honored and blessed to be called her momma! She is growing up far too fast.
My sweet, sweet Madi Joy! I am so thankful that God blessed me with not one, but two beautiful girls! We picked the perfect middle name for Madison, because she does bring such Joy to our lives!
We figured out how to get her to smile for pictures...tickle her!
Madi loves her Pa! I am so thankful that my dad doesn't have cancer this Thanksgiving. The holidays were hard last year. He wasn't feeling very well on this day, but we praise God that he is cancer-free, and pray that his health will continue to improve. 
The girls both love their Uncle Clint, and soon to be "Aunt" Abigail!
Madison is crazy about G-Ma and is starting to fight for her attention! When I try to take her from G-Ma, she says, "Noooo!" and holds on tighter!
While we cooked, Mack sat at the computer and played games. She is a little artist...we looked over and she was drawing this picture of Care Bears freehanded! I couldn't believe how well she did! And yes, she was using a huge black permanent marker...what can I say, we were really busy and just wanted her to be preoccupied, so we let her use whatever she wanted! Glad nothing was destroyed in the process.
Thankful to have Grandma Shaw, Poppa Jim, Jimmy & Sara, Jake, Levi, and Tara with us this year!
Before we ate, Mackenzie dressed in her turkey costume, and sang (very quietly) a few of her Thanksgiving songs. She got very shy, which isn't really like her. I have noticed recently that she is more aware of things, and is becoming a little more reserved. Everyone loved her outfit and her songs! She was our dinner entertainment!
How fun...a Thanksgiving Feast at ELP! Of course I went to take pictures. I was the only mom there...I think I heard someone laughing at me when I took this picture of Mackenzie's plate, but I didn't care...this was her first Thanksgiving Feast, and I needed a picture of what she DIDN'T eat. Which was pretty much her entire plate of food. She picked at her roll, and ate maybe one green bean! She is a picky eater...she doesn't like mashed potatoes, turkey without ketchup (I know, that's gross but that's how I get her to eat it!), or carrots without ranch. She did love her turkey cookie and was so proud that I made them. The turkey cookies may be my favorite...they are so cute! It was fun to put each of their names on them! I am thankful for each child in Mackenzie's class, and especially for Ms. Nancy and Ms. Amy!
"Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock, Now it's time to pray. We fold our hands, and bow our heads, and this is what we say...God is Great, God is Good, Let us thank Him for this food. Amen." Mackenzie loves saying this prayer every time we eat. So thankful that she is in an environment where she gets to pray before eating lunch each day!
Mackenzie & Abby
