My Blessings for 2013


My daily thanks is given to God because I have a happy home, a good job, and I am pretty healthy. This Thanksgiving I am grateful for my family, friends, job, health and home.    


 

thank·ful (THaNGkfəl)  

adjective: thankful

1.     pleased and relieved

Sometimes it may be difficult to see what we are thankful for. Pleasures can come from simple things like a piece of dark chocolate and relief can often be something that makes you take a deep breath after fearing for the worse. In any case, it is God that I am thankful for in giving me these pleasures and reliefs.

Psalm 30:11-12 (NAS) Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; Thou hast loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness; That [my] soul may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to Thee forever.

God brought me many joyful blessings during 2013! The blessings in which I am most thankful for come to me through people…

In April and accidental phone call brought Love into my life. I believe that with prayer and angels watching over us we were called together and we were openly invited into each other lives, accepted by family and friends. We were married on Sept 6th and now I have a larger, loving family! Thank you, Lord, for placing such a wonderful, caring and adoring man into my life. I love you Gene Grinde!

Moving to Sierra Vista brought me closer to my ‘baby’ boy, Brian, and the delightful granddaughter that brings me such joy. I am thankful that I can be a part of their daily lives and it’s a great joy being closer to Melissa and Jean, too! My father, Kevin and his wife along with my uncle Joe and Aunt Delia are also closer and it is a blessing to see them more often.

The addition of 6 ‘adult’ children, Monica, Mike, Tiffany, Brandon, Krystal and Kris has blessed my life with more family and grandchildren! I am thankful that ShaeLynn, Kaelynn, and Kelsey who come over to grandma and grandpa’s house in which we share laughter and love! I am anxious to meet Mikey and Gracie in December and hope that they too will accept my love. And the blessing of a precious newborn, Harper, which we were able to hold just a few months ago.

We are thankful for other family members who also fill our home with laughter like, my niece Jessica, with Chance and Jaida and my nephew Michael Jr. who invites us to his wild parties! Shane, Brently, Kathryn and Dakota add to our family with their smiles when we get together.

I truly feel blessed to be back into a life of Walt and LaDonna; thank you for caring for me the way you do! And it has been easy to rekindle a relationship with Kendra and her husband, Paul. I feel so accepted into this family. I am thankful that everyone feels that me being a part of Gene’s life was a natural fit.

And… being the ‘baby’ sister of Dawnmarie and Troy is a great blessing; they spoil me rotten! There is a great joy taking place as my nephew, Cory has met and will be marrying a beautiful young lady. And having Cassie back home and watching her grow into adulthood is a beautiful thing. Chelsea, you are my protégé… we are so much alike and I love you, for just being you!

There is also the relief to know that my friends in Tucson will always be there for me. It feels like going home for a visit when we see them. Lori, Dave, Gisella, Jeff, and Denyce… Kimmee too! You all are accepted as family in such a delightful way and I thank God that you are my friends! Ginger, you are my mother in many ways and I will always be grateful that you have helped me with motherly love which I cannot have with my own mother anymore. Thank you.  

And of course, Vicki! My BFF! The one person who knows my deepest and darkest secrets and loves me just the same as when we lived next door to each other. The distance and time never keeps us apart in our hearts and minds.

Hebrews 12:28-29 Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God.

It is with great pleasure to share my worship with my Desert Valley Family! I have not been forgotten, only embraced and an extension of love is always extended to Gene and me with a warm welcome. I could not imagine being at any other church on Sabbath!

Colossians 3:15  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

It is because of the peace my Father in Heaven has given me that I can be thankful. Peace from losing great loves in my life: Melody Carolan and Todd Stansbury. I am thankful that God has given me the strength and courage that relieves me from such great sorrow. The tears and heart aches still come, but His love for mom and Todd are what encourages me to carry on. Thank you, Lord for the gifts you have given me. My faith in you allows me to be an inspiration to others.

Peace has also been extended to me through my work at Voicetrak. I am thankful for a boss, Scott Segal, who has let me move back home and continue my work in Sierra Vista. Andrea’s help and support and co-workmanship brings me great joy. And I love the dedication given by Christie Moat, Kim Charlot, Kris Chapman, and Jessica Rich. Along with the work that Sandy and Michelle provide. May God continue to bless us in our endeavors.

The Lord has provided Gene and I with a lovely home. A home which we can fill with family that brings joy and laughter into our hearts. A home that brings the convenience of supporting family members who live next door. A home with 3 good doggies and 2 loving cats (… well 1 loving cat, but we are working on that). And a home which we have been happy blending to make it ‘ours’.

The greatest blessing is the walk I have with Jesus. It is because of Him that I had been able to face uncertainty, fear, and sorrow. It is His love and friendship that I carry with me every day, knowing that I can face whatever comes my way. Thank you, Lord, for your love and comfort.

Timothy 2:1 (RSV) First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men.


It is my wish that everyone will be able to count many blessings this Thanksgiving day and that the heartaches and pains can be set aside so that warmth and joy can be filled in their hearts. My thoughts go out to the 3 sisters in Tucson who had been kept captive in their own home. May the freedom and kindness of people who are around them today show them a warmth and love which they can carry with them always. May their struggles soon be forgotten and their lives blossom. Let’s pray for those who may have heavy hearts today, those who are fearful, those who are alone and those who are sick.

May God bless your family and may your Thanksgiving Day dinner find your family grateful for the food they will over eat. J I will think of you all on this Thanksgiving Day with a great joy in my heart and a smile across my face. Thank you for being in my life!

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