Giving Thanks

Well, another Thanksgiving has come and gone for the Millsap family. We cooked, we ate, we played, we looked at my tadpoles and cleaned their tank, we cleaned dishes, we celebrated my birthday, the guys had to go out and pull a calf after dinner...you know, the usual Thanksgiving activities. For those who don't know what "pull a calf" is - the cow is trying to have her calf, but either it is too big, turned backwards, or has some other difficulty and must require assistance. It is not a pretty situation - messy, smelly...not something you like to do just after a huge meal. It often ends with the calf having already died and needs to be pulled to save the cow. Such was the case today, but hopefully they were able to save the mama. So, thanks to Matt and Stuart for helping Rick with that unpleasant task.

Even with that unfortunate event, we still had a good day and have so much to be thankful for. First and foremost, Rick and I are blessed with each other, 2 wonderful children (Matt and Sarah), a beautiful, sweet daughter-in-law (Susan), a loving, kind son-in-law (Stuart...affectionately known as "Stubert" or "Stuball"), 2 darling grandchildren (Natalie-4 and Parker-2, both Matt's and Susan's) and 3 wild and crazy Yorkies (Buddy-ours, and Spanky & Scrappy-Sarah's and Stuart's). And, as if this wasn't enough, Susan is expecting another baby in May and Sarah is expecting hers and Stuart's first in July!!!!! Yes, 2 more grandchildren on the way!! God has blessed Matt and Susan with another child and God has answered our prayers in giving us a miracle with Sarah's pregnancy! She is almost 8 weeks along, which is still very early, but we feel at peace that this is going to be "His chosen time" for Sarah and Stuart. God's grace and faithfulness have seen Sarah and Stuart through some very difficult trials. He has matured them and nurtured their spiritual walk with Him, and He has found favor with them. We are trusting in His timing and His will. She is not posting much right now because she is experiencing much nausea and fatigue, which did put a little damper on her festivities today, but she was a trooper - no complaints. She has waited for this day to come for so long, she is taking the nausea and fatigue in stride. Hopefully this will soon pass and she will be up and running at her usual non-stop speed!

All of your prayers have sustained them, encouraged them, and carried them through - we are all eternally grateful and humbled that you have traveled this journey with them/us. Words can hardly express the gratitude in our hearts! Thank you all - faithful prayer warriors!

Can you imagine what this summer is going to be like??? Can you imagine what our family get

togethers will be like with 6 adults, 2 toddlers, 2 babies, 3 dogs! Oh my goodness! Praise God and give me some energy!

The only thing that could have made the day more complete was to have the "Pledger's" (my side) here. This is the first year ever that my family has gone their separate ways for Thanksgiving. Last year was our very first Thanksgiving without both of our parents, so we all felt that deep desire and need to carry on, so to speak, and have our usual Thanksgiving celebration together - feeling that somehow Mother and Daddy would want us to. It was bittersweet, but we needed to do it...wanted to do it...to find comfort and closure I guess. Though it felt sort of empty and strange this year, it seems the time has come that as our own families continue to grow, it is harder and harder to schedule holidays where we can all be together. However, we have vowed that at least once a year, we will set aside a designated time that my 2 brothers, their kids & families, and mine will all gather to spend time sharing, remembering, celebrating and rejoicing in all that our parents gave us and made us through their love and their lives. I miss them every single day...sometimes more than I can fathom.

So, I thank you, Father, for my beautiful parents!