With thanks

As I think about all that my family has been through in the past year, I know that we have so much to be thankful for.

We've lost the security of full-time jobs, but we've managed to keep going, keep the bills paid, and keep the family happily going strong.

We've had a son diagnosed with Aspergers and experienced the shock that comes with that initial diagnosis. But we've found support that works for us.

We are thankful for good amazing friends, and great family, and we know that we are truly blessed.

I feel personally blessed to have found the community and creative outlet that I have found in blogging and to all my bloggy friends - I want to say a special Thank You to you this holiday season.

I love that you guys follow me not because there's a chance to win something, but because there is some connection you feel to the experiences and sentiments I express here in my little corner of the blogosphere. To you, I offer a little token of my appreciation during this season of thanksgiving and sharing. I'd love to give something to each of you, but my little pockets don't run quite deep enough. Yet. :-) 

So to one of you, I will be sending two beautiful necklaces from 

Happy Haven's Etsy store.

She has lots to choose from, from inspirational thoughts

 

to the whimsical

 

the beautiful

 

and popular characters

 

Keep them for yourself, or give them to a special friend, or to a child on your gift list.

Whether you follow in your reader or by twitter, subscribe by email or read in facebook, you're eligible. Whether you're in Singapore, the UK, the US, Trini... Wherever! You're eligible.

If you're interested, please leave me a little comment below letting me know you're a good sport. :-)

I need to have you post a comment confirming you're interested, because you will need to share your address with me. Me choosing from you on my own might make that a little awkward!

Special request: Not necessary, but my kids will thank you!

Vote up to once per day for my kiddos' photo in PBD's contest, where they have the chance to win great Christmas prizes. (Boy the Younger has his heart set on the Crayola set.)

HOW?

* Just leave a comment on PBD's site, saying "Vote for #1!".
* Then come back here and leave a comment so I know.

Each comment counts as an extra entry.

I will choose an entry using Random.org on Friday 18th Dec at midnight so you have until then to leave me a comment or comments.
(I will make every effort to get the items to you by Dec 24th.)

Happy Holidays everyone!

Update and thanksgiving

I have spent so many hours at the hospital over the past few days...  If I haven't commented on your blog, it's because I haven't consumed with all kinds of baby-get-better business. I have been able to sneak in some reads though, to pass long hours in waiting rooms while the child slept fitfully on me.

She had her IV access removed yesterday, and she's now on oral meds (which are making her almost as sick as the illness itself - she has vomiting and diarrhea and is totally zombied-out). Her fever still hasn't gone away completely and it worries me. But I know she's getting better, little by little.

I haven't been able to work, and when I don't work I don't get paid... So that's been a bit of a worry. But I have had Faith, because I've been down too many times and seen God's grace so many times that I just know everything is going to be fine. Today when I opened the mailbox - tax refund. :-) (Thank you God!)

I've seen His grace so many times this week. Like yesterday when I was so worried about the baby, I forgot I never even had anything to eat or drink all day. My husband had spent most of the day with me in the waiting room and had just left to go get the kids from school. That's when I realized how thirsty I was. And there wasn't a water-cooler, and the vending machine was broken, and I couldn't leave in case they called our name. So I made up my mind to wait it out. Then this baby came in with asthma and was rushed into the emergency room accompanied by her mother. Her uncle waited outside. It turns out that he is a hospital employee, and he'd go back to his office and then come back to check in on them periodically. On one of those trips he brought back a bottle of juice for me from the vending machine. He said he knew I'd been waiting a while and didn't know how much longer I might have to wait. God sends His angels!

I am thankful that all our medication and hospital care was free, our doctors were kind and knowledgeable and that I was able to spend the time with my sick child without having to hear about where Family should be in my list of priorities.