Thankful Thursday

"Keep your eyes open to your mercies. The man who forgets to be thankful has fallen asleep in life. "

Robert Louis Stevenson

No pictures. Just a quick list. Not sure when I did one of these last. It has been a while, that's for sure.

I have been thinking about things I'm thankful for and here are some that I'd like to share today:

I am thankful for health insurance, easy access to doctors and medical care, and people who devote their life to medical care and research. I have been to the doctor three times in one week (twice was adoption related and once was not) and I can't imagine not having access to the care I need. I never want to take that for granted.

Some of you may know I currently have shingles. I am thankful I got to the doctor fairly early and didn't wait like I'm prone to doing (Mrs. It's Not a Tumor). They are very painful and uncomfortable but I am managing fine thanks to medicine, as referenced above. I always figured I would get them but thought it might be a little later in life. Hopefully, this will be the one and only time. Perhaps my body is trying to tell me I've been a bit too stressed????

I am thankful for Lindy's honesty. Lindy has her flaws--like we all do--but I have always been impressed with and appreciative of her truthfulness. Last night she was a constant flow of true, from-the-heart discussion about Kindergarten. She shared her anxieties and worries and I loved that she felt comfortable to share what was on her heart and mind. I pray we'll always be able to keep the lines of communication open--even when it comes to the tough stuff. I also pray I'll have the wisdom to parent her.

I am thankful for the little, teeny, tiny glimmer of hope I got yesterday from our adoption agency. Even if we found out today who mei mei is (which we aren't), we would still be several months away from bringing her home. However, yesterday made it seem not. quite. as. far. I've truly been without hope for a really LONG time. I definitely relate to the first half of this verse: "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." Proverbs 13:12.

And on a little more of a shallow note, I'm thankful I FINALLY found an AFFORDABLE pair of RED mary janes for Lindy Li. I mean we're supposed to rejoice in ALL things, right? Well, I'm rejoicing over these shoes! She hasn't had a pair since she grew out of her little red squeaky shoes we bought in Guangzhou and I have been trying to find some ever since. I won a pair of See Kai Run shoes once as part of a giveaway and chose a pink pair instead of a red pair. I finally found this pair on Land's End for $14.99 and free shipping. They are leather and the perfect red! I will admit I ordered the next size up, too. I am a bargain shopper and do my best to stock up on things, too. They are kind of a casual mary jane but they'll still work for dress up, too.

What are you thankful for today?