Thankful, Thankful, Thankful!!!!

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues.

-- Cicero

There are so many obvious things to be thankful for in my life. Having food to eat, a roof over my head, family and friends... There were so many things that popped into my head immediately when I thought, "What am I thankful for today....", that I wanted to challenge myself. I wanted to ask myself, what thing in my life has made the most impact? What would make my life the most different in it's absence? I truly believe in the "butterfly effect", that if you went back in time and changed one thing, that NOTHING would be the way it is. Therefore I try to appreciate everything, good and bad, because I wouldn't change where I am today for anything. For me, choosing what has made the MOST impact in my life wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I just had to go back to the beginning...

For me, my life truly began the morning of December 10th, 2001. When my doctor walked into the room and told me that I was pregnant. A little over 8 months later Joshua Brian Gordon was born, and life as I knew it seized to exist. Sometimes it's hard to imagine a life before him. It seems like all that has mattered has happened SINCE him. Without him I wouldn't have his beautiful mess of a sister Hailey, his amazing, care-giver of Dad, or his spunky silly baby sister Leah. The combination of which make my life complete. I wake up in the morning for those people, and I wouldn't be here to wake up at all had it not been for Joshua to come over 7 years ago into my life.

I am so utterly thankful for him. He is who taught me of undying love. He has showed me what it is to be loved unconditionally, as well as what it is to love unconditionally. He brought patience, kindness, and joy into my life. He is SO funny, and no matter if it's a silly face, a joke, a funny voice he always seems to know what to do to bring a smile to my face. I look at him and I see utter perfection. I see proof of God in him, because only God could create someone so amazing and pack him into a little 7 year old. Joshua has a heart three times too big for his body, and is thoughtful and caring and wise beyond his years. He is artistic, and SO smart. He loves to read, and draw. He loves movies, and books, video games, and he knows more about dinosaurs than anyone I've ever met in my life! He loves his Dad and looks up to him not just as his son, but as his number one fan. He loves Jesus, and our church. What more could a mom ask for?

I'm so excited to see what kind of man Joshua grows to be. What he will grow into, what he will look like, what college will he go to? What career will he chose? What kind of husband and father will he be? {I can only imagine that he would be the best! ;0)}

So that is what I am focusing my thanks on today.

My little savior, my little hero, my little man, my son.

Joshua