Life with us ~ The Wandering Workentins

G is for Grateful

Grateful = Gratitude = Thankfulness

The definition of Grateful: 1.  warmly or deeply appreciative  of kindness or benefits received; thankful   2.  expressing or actuated by gratitude   3. pleasing to the mind or senses; agreeable or welcome; refreshing

I am grateful for my hubby and the upbringing he had.  I am grateful he had Christian parents to raise him into the wonderful man, husband, father, grandfather and friend that he is to so many.  I have been thinking of his parents a lot today.  33 years ago today his dad, Pete, went to be with the Lord after a long fought battle against cancer.  I remember that day so clearly in my mind.  It was a day full of crazy happenings: first I got my wedding rings stuck on my finger and had to have them cut off (Ron’s first trip home from work), then Anne (Ron’s mom) called and said Pete wanted to speak to Ron ~ kinda hard because Pete could not speak above a whisper so I called Ron’s boss, told him what was going on and he sent Ron home for the second time in less than two hours.  After making arrangements for a friend to keep Jamie (2 1/2 years old), packing a suitcase for us and Brandon (almost 2 months) and getting the truck loaded we headed from McChord AFB to Blaine, WA.  About 3 1/2 hour drive.  We had reached Everett (half way) and made one of our usual stops at the rest area.  Ron’s driving was pretty erratic  so I told him I would drive.  As I began driving towards Blaine I prayed “Lord, please let Pete still be alive or have him pass at least 15 minutes before we get to the house.”  I think I said that prayer over and over all the way to Blaine.  Selfishly I didn’t want to be the one responsible for Ron not being able to see his dad one more time.  God is Good and for that I give thanks – Ron was able to have a few minutes alone with Pete before he breathed his last.  And in sixteen days it will be five years since Anne was reunited with Pete.  And even though his parents and I didn’t always get along, I am so grateful for their parenting of Ron, their love for us as a couple and parents and for our children.  One happy memory I have of Pete is him babysitting Brandon.  At meal time, we would put Brandon on the bed next to Grandpa and Grandpa would keep an eye on Brandon.  Another memory is when we were visiting at their home when Jamie was 15 months old and I was scolding Jamie for climbing on the coffee table and Grandpa telling me “Jamie can climb on table it is not going to hurt anything.” And once Ron was scolding Jamie for throwing his paci on the ground and Ron telling him he was going to spank him if he did it again and Grandpa Pete saying something about spankings not really being necessary and Ron telling him he should have thought of that 20 years ago when Ron was a little one.

I am also grateful for the people God has brought into our lives over the years.  I am grateful for friends who encourage me in new adventures and remind me that God has never failed me yet and that He also meets all of our needs.  Today we were blessed by some friends here in Branson and so grateful for their friendship ~ we will miss you Jw & Wanda!!  We have many friends in our life who have blessed us time and time again and we look forward to making more friends as we continue working and traveling around the USA.

What are you grateful for today?