Show Your Hope!

grate·ful/ˈgrātfəl/
Feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; thankful.

“WITH gratitude, ALL life appears as a blessing – WITHOUT gratitude, ALL of life is perceived as a burden.”

As the holiday of Thanksgiving approaches fast, my mind turns towards all the things in life that I am grateful for.   It’s amazing at just how much we really do have when we stop and count our blessings.

Often we find ourselves caught up in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives…

We tend to forget to take the time to stop and smell the flowers

We get caught up in the materialistic possessions

And often disregard the importance of the more simple or mundane things in life

We tend to focus on what we don’t have

And sometimes miss the beauty in all the wonderful thing in life that we do have

We worry about the “What if’s”

Instead of being present in the moment

I often hear people say, “I’m SO sorry that you have to go through everything you do…it’s just awful”

Yet I can tell you that, through even my greatest struggles and hardest moments, I have found great blessing, joy, comfort and peace

Of course, if I could choose an easier path, I might deviate from time to time….

But I truly believe that this path is one that God intended me to travel…the good, the bad, and even the ugly.

You see, I believe that you can’t truly appreciate the beauty of the rose without knowing the power of the thorns that protect it….

You see, if I never had gone through this…..

Then I wouldn’t truly understand or appreciate the true and remarkable beauty in all of this:

Yes folks…I am blessed.

I am so blessed to have the people in my life that I do.

I am blessed to have the most amazing, kind, and incredible husband who has carried his vow of ‘in sickness and in health‘ and ‘for better or worse‘ like a badge of honor instead of acting like it was a curse.

I am blessed to have 2 beautiful, brilliant, and radiant rays of HOPE to guide me even on my darkest nights.

I am blessed to have loving parents who support, encourage, love, and guide me, Ralph and the kids in whatever way we need.

I am blessed to be close with my aunt and be able to share my struggles with her without fear of judgment.

I am blessed to have friends who ‘get‘ my journey and walk with me through it (no matter how treacherous the terrain).

I am blessed to have friends who don’t ‘get‘ my journey but try to walk with me through it anyway (no matter how treacherous the terrain).

I am blessed to have some of the most talented and compassionate doctors working on my team and on my children’s team who are willing to go the extra mile to give us answer, peace, comfort, and support.

I am blessed to have a roof over my head and food on the table every meal…every day.

I am blessed to have a God who has been my Rock and my Strength without fail.

I am blessed to have a wonderful service dog (Beast) who has given me my freedom back.

I am blessed to have more than I have not.

I could go on and on (truly, I could)….but let’s just leave it at this:

I am blessed.

Period.

You see, the way I look at it is this….

You must strive to

and

As hard as it is….you must

On the things that TRULY matter.

And ALWAYS  remember….

May you all have a blessed and memorable Thanksgiving. 

Hold on tight to the things that matter and let go of the things that you can’t control.

Life is precious, not promised – so make the most of every moment.

GIVE of yourself and LIVE like each moment is your last.

Love and Light (and immeasurable Gratitude),

Stefani