Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you felt very blessed today and that you were all able to hug someone that you love dearly and tell them how much they mean to you.

I have so many things to be thankful for!

{photo from here.}

The Thomas Thanksgiving

My Mom has hosted all of the family's holidays for nearly 30 years. This year we had Thanksgiving at my Uncle Steve and his wife, Patty's home. She was a wonderful host but hates photos. So, I couldn't get a photo with her. Also, my family doesn't like turkey, so we eat ham on Thanksgiving!

My sister, Haley could not celebrate Thanksgiving with us today. But today was not the first Thanksgiving that my sister has missed. Two years ago, Haley, me and my friend Kristen went to Maryland to have Thanksgiving with my best friend Kim. (She had just moved there from AL and wasn't able to come home for Thanksgiving.) So, while the three of us left to go celebrate Thanksgiving, we had to leave Haley behind in Kim's apartment to study for her nursing finals.

But now, my Hay is a nurse! (And I know she is a GREAT one!) So, she had to work on Thanksgiving this year, too. But this time, she was getting paid! ha!

Mom and I right before we left for Steve & Patty's. I am so thankful for my family. i know everyone says this but I really do have the greatest family!

Updates & Prayer.

Look what came in the mail, yesterday! My starter kit for my sponsorship for sweet Joyeuse. You may remember from my previous post that I became Joyeuse's sponsor through Compassion International. The packet arrived yesterday and I cannot wait to send my first letter and photo to this sweet child. My family is equally excited. It was the perfect Thanksgiving gift. She is a beautiful child.

and in other news....

"In all things it is better to Hope than to dispair."

Next Monday, the 30th, will be my appointment with Dr. Abdallah in Reston, VA. 

I am not packed yet but I know that I will have no less than 3 bags to take with me on my trip to the doctor because I am such a horrible over-packer. I don't understand the concept of "traveling light"! ha! I am always worried that I might need something, so I just pack everything! (Plus, sometimes Dr. Abdallah has me stay to run tests or try new medicines and a couple of times we haven't packed to stay...and that was not fun!)

I am nervous about my doctor’s appointment. First, let me say that my doctor is warm, caring and compassionate. I love Dr. Abdallah. He is a gem! I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have him. He validates me and encourages me. He is an answered prayer.

I am nervous because I am afraid that I will leave disappointed or worse-leave not feeling any better. (Which has been the case, the last two appointments that I have had with him.) I know that when I go, there will not be a new, magic drug but there are a few things that I am hoping will come out of this visit. I really hope that my blood pressure and heart rate can be controlled enough that I am not so fatigued all the time and that I am not fainting as often (if at all!).

I humbly ask you, my wonderful friends to pray for this doctor’s appointment. I know that the trip will be physically taxing on my body and I am worried about how sick I will be while traveling, so please pray that my body is relaxed and copes well with the changes and stress of traveling. Please pray that we have a safe drive. My ultimate prayer request for this doctor's appointment is that I FEEL BETTER! Even if that is just a little bit better. Please pray that no matter what the outcome, I feel God's presence and love.

Thank you all for letting me come to you with my prayer requests and worries. I probably won’t be online while we are gone but as soon as I return home and I am rested, I will try and update as soon as possible. Many thanks and love.

I hope you all have wonderful Thanksgivings with your families! For those of you traveling, please have safe trips. This Thanksgiving, I am thankful to have so many wonderful and caring friends who pray and love me. Blessings to you all.

{photo from here.}