Thankful!

We were sitting in the airport hoping that our flight to Greenville, SC would not be cancelled because of snow. Who would have thought we'd be concerned about the snow in SC instead of WI! As we waited for our flight, Quintin and I found ourselves engaged in a conversation with the women grabbing a bite to eat next to us. After a bit of small talk with her, the conversation changed. I am not sure how, or even why, but the women chose to expose probably the most significant area of pain in her life to us. With incredible gentleness she shared with us that her youngest son was killed in a car accident 9 years ago at the age of 20. We listened to her in complete silence and with tears. Then as quick as planes come and go, we were off and so was she.

Since then, I've thought about that women everyday; and along with her, I've thought about a line from Voyage of the Dawn Treder spoken by Prince Caspian, "I've spent so much time wanting what's been taken, I've forgotten about what's been given." I can't image depth of the women's pain we met, or how her heart must long for her son, but the Lord used her to stir up great thankfulness within me. My focus this Christmas season had greatly been on the loss of our first Little One, who would have been 1 years old in December, and also on the hope of our Little One in Ethiopia yet to come. What my focus had not been on, was what God has given now! So to my surprise God used a 30 minute conversation, in an airport, to remind me of the wonderful friends in my life, my beautiful family, and most importantly the daily presence of my LORD! How thankful I am this Christmas and New Year's for all that God has given!!

Me, my mom, my sisters, and two of my nieces!

My side of the family at our Christmas celebration!

Quintin enjoying being a loved uncle!

Me with little Matthew Cole!

Me and my best friend!

Joshua - this is only a glimpse of his amazing character!

Me, my dad, and sweet Gracie!

Me, my sister-in-law, Hannah, and her little Ella Grace (belly then, babe now)!

Quintin with his brother Andrew!

The Baldwin gang!

The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;

blessed be the name of the LORD.

Job 2:21