I have always known that Katie was a blessing to this family, but as the days turn into weeks I realize just how much of a blessing.
As you all know I have struggled with many issues since 2007 and I still struggle to this day but having Katie with me has helped me to not focus on what is wrong with me but what is right! I have so much to be thankful for.
First, I thank God that I am here, that I can see this wonderful blessing, Ms. Katie Lynn,
I have a wonderful husband who has stuck with me through thick and thin. He has given to me moral support and has just been there no matter what. He has supported my dreams and have been there when I fall. My world changed so much the day I met this man and it will forever be changed by him and I thank God for him!
I have 2 wonderful kids. The day they were born brought me pain and joy all in the same day but what a delight. They touched my heart and soul like nothing I had known before. As they grew I was prayed they would understand why I did things that I did and why things turned out the way they did. God has lead them to understand! What a blessing! Jennifer has blessed Jeff & I with a beautiful grand daughter and she has a wonderful Man in her life that is supporting her in the many ways Jeff supports me and for that, I am Blessed!! Jennifer is a beautiful young woman and a great mother!! I am Blessed for that! Danny has been a joy as well and a challenge at the same time, but not as much as Jennifer, but what a fine young man he has turned out to me. He is a handsome young man and is engaged to marry a beautiful young lady in June 08. He is very supportive to her and would help anyone in need. I am truly blessed for having all 4 of these people in my life!!!
My Parents, Having my biological Dad die, June 1967 when I was 3, I never really knew him, but I was raised my another man I came to know as Dad. I have lots of good memories growing up and looking back at my childhood as a grown up I have to say now I am thankful to him for the way I was raised. We didn't have the typical childhood! We worked hard during the summers planting and picking vegetables, plucking chickens, churning butter and gathering eggs. Ofcourse, some of this chores were year roung. When it came time for invites to the lake or sleep overs those were few and far between but when we did have them boy did we have fun. We climbed hay in the barn, played in the creek, road bikes miles to Winona and spent allday walking through the woods. I am blessed for having him in my life and was sad when he died January 1997. My Mom soon followed him in September 1999. My Mom worked hard her entire life raising her kids and soon helping me with my kids. She always made sure we had what we needed and sometimes what we wanted. I look back now and wonder how she did it? How did she put 3 full meals a day on the table? How did she keep the house so clean? How did she stay so happy? If she felt bad or was sad we never knew it! What a wonderful woman! She was a woman that I hope I can be someday, a woman a full trust, courage, love and strength. I will always carry them both in my heart!
My in laws!! I married my wonderful husband July 1999 and shortly after my mom died. These wonderful Christian people stepped in to help fill that void in my life. They have provided to me support in many ways and they have shown me that through love and understanding anything is possible. I will forever be grateful to them for what they have done for me! They are my Mom and Dad, they are my new inspiration, they are my support, they are my courage, they are my understanding, they are my strength. Mom has touched my life in more ways than I could ever put into words. She has seen me at my worst, yet she loves me, she has seen me at my best! She has cried when I cry and she has hurt when I hurt. She has the unconditonal love for me that a mother has for a child and that can never be replaced. When I feel ungrounded she brings be back and achors me, when I feel overwhelmed she takes some of the worry from my heart. She is just a wonderful Christian Lady and I look up to her and too hope that I can one day be like her. Then there is Dad! What a joy! He has brought so much laughter to my life and has also supported me in my dreams. He has also been there when I am down and helps to bring me back. He has seen me at my worse yet he too still loves me. He has see me at my best! He has seen me cry and has helped to wipe the tears. He has helped me to realize that with God all things are possible. I admire him in more ways than he will ever know and I hope that Jeff & I can continue to grow and have the wonderful marriage that these two precious people share. They are two wonderful gifts from God.
My siblings! Yes, I love them too and this could open up a can of worms if I go too deep into the memories! ha!! I have a brother who has met many challenges in his life head on and has won those challenges in style. I admire him alot for all that he has accomplished. He has a wonderful loving and caring wife Shawn who is just so precious. She stuck with Ronnie when he was meeting those challenges and they have grown into a wonderful Christian family with 2 great kids Lathan and Laney! I have wonderful memories growing up with Ronnie and Shawn that I will cherish always. Pam & Doyle, well what can you say about those two? What a pair! Me and Pam were like night and day growing up. I was country and she was rock and roll! We fought alot and she didn't want me around her. Her and Ronnie were together a lot and she babied him to no end and still does! ha!! Pam didn't want to talk in class and got notes sent home from high school teachers alot. She even got flunk out of a science class because of it. Then I hit high school and notes were sent home because I talked too much! ha!! Pam has always been there for me. She helped me alot with my kids (doyle too) they would come over and get them on weekends and made wonderful memories with them and those memories have not ended yet!!! Doyle is a great guy no matter what people say about him! ha!!!! He and Pam have had rocky roads behind them but they are together and they always will be. I love them both dearly and don't know what I would do without them. Then there is Donna and JW! What do you say about Donna and JW?? Well, where do I begin? I remember growing up with Donna and always wanting to be like her and still do. I remember going into her room and getting into her things and her hollaring at Mama to get me out! I wanted to hang out with her and her friends and she just hated that. Donna and I were closer than me and Ronnie and Pam. We are more alike than they are too. Ofcourse Donna is 8 years older than I am so she was gone and out of the house when I was really growing up but she did make it a point to still be there for me. She took me and had my ears pierced and just took time for me. I will always have those good memories and I know there ar many more to come. She is married to JW! I guess you could say they complete each other. They hollar but they communicate that way...ha!!! JW and Donna complete each other in ways that I can't describe. He has been there for Donna through thick and thin and she has been ther for him. He wants the best for her and sees that it happens. For all these things with my siblings I am forever thankful to God and I know that they are true blessings from him and the older I get the more I treasure those special times.
I have a Brother and Sister in law that I would not trade for nothing in this world! What fun loving people they are. They have brought joy and laughter to me as well and they are a brother and a sister to me! My connection to Janell is unlike anything I have ever seen. We connected from the first time we met and we have not stopped. Although since they had the twins our talks are few and far between but we connect non the less. Jody is a wonderful Christian man who is kind and loving to all he mets. I have never known him to say an unkind word about anyone. They have a wonderful Christian filled marriage and I am so forunate to have them in my life.
My friends! Although I lost my closest friend Joe I still have many friends who love me and care about me in many different ways. They love me for me and that is all I need! I have too many memories to even mention here!
I am so blessed in my life and it's strange how it takes things to really bring it to light! I always knew I was blessed in many many ways in my life but during the past year it was really hard for me to see how blessed I was. I was down and out and really depressed! Almost to the point of admission to a mental hospital!! I was scared, a hurting inside that I have never felt before and then came Katie. My world lite up and turned around. Like I said earlier, I no longer look at the things that are wrong with me, I look at the things that are right not only with me but with the world. I want my life to make an impact on the life of Katie and on others and I am at that point in my life that I am ready for that challenge! I thank you God for all the things You have provided to me for all my needs and some of my wants, but most of all I thank You for the things I have listed above because with them I would not be who I am today!!! Thank You so so much! Amen!
Pam and I took a weekend trip to visit Donna in Houston and we had a great time. Just us 3 sisters hanging out shopping and enjoying our time together.
