Thankful

Welp, it's that time of year again. I'm once more feeling the need to make a "thankful" post with Thanksgiving and all, and especially since I do so much complaining the rest of the year ;)

1. I want to say how thankful I am for this pregnancy. 

I have a couple of health problems that make it harder for me to get and stay pregnant. Knowing that, and with how long it took for us to get Evie, I think Karl and I both thought that once the time came for the next baby, we'd have some time to prepare ourselves. I personally thought I would have to do a lot of mental preparation for the months of negative pregnancy tests. Imagine our surprise when this little guy came about rather suddenly... I honestly never thought I'd possibly know what it would be like to be one of "those" people. 

In addition to all that, there's the fact that I'm kind of living with the whole genetic problem thing hanging over my head, but so far he looks so healthy and perfect! I know this little one belongs in our family and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to have him. This pregnancy has been a difficult one for me mentally and emotionally, but I just wanted to get it out there that I truly am grateful for the amazing chance to carry this child. He is a miracle :)

2. I'm grateful for the Lord's timing.

I did a post about this last year around this time... and it's time to revisit the topic ;) This fall I was supposed to be doing my first semester of grad school. The beginning of last summer I did all the applying and paperwork and was admitted to a program, all I needed to do was finish my scholarship application stuff. I had until June 30th, and not super long before the deadline, Karl convinced me to basically just forget about it (I'm stubborn and hard of listening sometimes)... and I was like, what the heck? Then, a couple weeks later, we found out I was pregnant. I was STILL at that point thinking, well, I was going to be doing online classes and the semester wouldn't have started until I was almost into my second trimester, so everything should have worked out fine if I'd gone for it. Little did I know how the beginning of this pregnancy was going to go... Evie stopped sleeping and has had a terrible time with everything from teething to colds, I was miserable for a lot longer than I expected, and Karl has been insanely busy and stressed. Adding school to all that mess would have been a terrible, terrible idea. I'm grateful that even though, for all my planning, I can't see the future, someone can ;) I'm grateful that I have some direction in my life, even when it REALLY doesn't feel like it.

3. I'm so thankful for my hardworking hubby :)

Karl has honestly been amazing this semester; it has been a rough one! He is working two different part-time jobs (one of which is very... irritating) and is taking a full credit load at school (not easy classes, either). On top of that he works amazingly hard to be a good daddy and make sure Evie has enough time with him. He has been so tired and stressed, but he's so willing to work incredibly hard with little complaint to take care of our family. I honestly don't think I deserve him! I'm so grateful to have him in my life and to have him as the father of my children.

4. I'm grateful for my Evie-Cakes

She has been the sunshine in the dark corners of my life since the very beginning. It sounds weird, but I have honestly had quite the struggle throughout my life to just be happy, and I've got to say, that since Evie has come on to the scene, I am the happiest I have ever been. Ever. She is funny and sweet and so determined. She is the silliness and the joy in our house. I am so thankful I was given the chance to be her momma and so thankful that I have the opportunity to stay at home with her. I only hope I can be the mother she deserves.

5. I'm grateful for "all my many blessings"

There really is just so very much that I have to be grateful for that I don't even have the time to get into, buuuut: I'm grateful Karl is employed, I'm grateful we have a reliable car, I'm grateful for our current living situation, for the chance that Karl has to go to school, for the love and support of our families, for books and knowledge, for sunshine, and the gospel :)

I really do complain a lot more than I ought with so many amazing blessings in my life, I'm glad I can take a few minutes to remind myself of how good things are ;)