November 21, 2018
Thankfulness
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.
Tomorrow is also my 16th wedding anniversary!
The time leading up to Thanksgiving is when I usually reflect on the amazing things that God has done for us. I often start with how every move in my life led to new experiences that helped build who I am – and the time I wrote in my journal “I’ll move with them one last time.”
That was to Saint Augustine when I was 18.
Just after that move (January 2002) I went to a family reunion where every adult teased me about not having a boyfriend (had never dated) and I remember replying with “in God’s time it will happen.” It was an awesome fun time where I met many relatives and learned many stories about my late grandparents.
January 2003, one year later, I was married, carrying our first child, and working in the town where my husband’s family had lived for generations. The roots I’d wanted as a child I married into. I instantly had two amazing grandmothers. Grandma Jeannette taught me amazing things like crochet and canning food and cooking or preserving local Florida produce. I loved learning by her side. Grandma Honey had the most fascinating stories of Cracker life as a young girl and her journey as a mother, wife, and artist (she painted amazing landscapes).
If I had planned my life (as I did in notebooks since being ten years old) it would not have included a 4-month courtship. I always planned on “knowing someone” for years – generally all the way through 6 or 8 years of university – before marrying. God had other plans.
I didn’t plan on immediately getting pregnant – married in November and baby’s beautiful face is framed in our wedding cake topper on our first anniversary photo. God had other plans.
We both planned on having a big family, but then our naïve thoughts of “big” were relative to the world around us – he thought 7 like his grandparents, I thought 7 like my parents. We agreed early on that we’d let God decide our family size. I don’t think either of us were truly thinking we’d ever be blessed with 7, maybe 3 or 5; maybe, and that would be “big.” God had other plans.
Our little blessing growing within me now was totally not “according to plan” as I’d gotten sick and we’d decided it wasn’t a prudent time to start new life. God laughed; this little one was already growing. And the hormonal imbalance caused by my reaction to multiple medications which my research said would take 18 to 24 months to reset, was reset by the pregnancy within 5 months. Although we thought we were planning well, God had other plans.
I love how my life didn’t go according to my “plans” – and I’ve kept diaries since I was ten, so I can look back at plans I made. I didn’t stop making plans, I am a planner and organizer by nature, but I so love it when God’s plan intervenes and “surprise” life things happen. I love God’s plans and how they are so different (sometimes) from my “plans” but so reflect my true heart.
From little things like my future sister and I working at the same place at the same time without knowing each other to amazing life events like marriage and births; in each, I see God’s powerful hand. I’m so thankful for His direction and for the wisdom to allow Him to lead me.
I’m thankful for the ability to keep our family sustained.
We’ve always had jobs.
When one door closes, God always had something else waiting in the wings for us. Sometimes far different from what we expected, but still awesome.
I was at an interview and someone commented on the variety of jobs I’ve had (Software Developer, Customer Service aka Ride Operator, Bank Teller, Business Office Manager of a Skilled Nursing Facility, Co-owner & Manager of a Transportation Company) – I had to add my recent update to that list as I’m currently a Gymnastics Coach. His question was what could I bring to this job (food retail)? Well, each position has taught me new skills and the list proves I can learn anything.
This official job experience doesn’t list that I’m a published author of over 50 books in children’s, educational, and young adult genres!
It’s amazing to me that God found me a job where I can combine my love of teaching, physical fitness, and a childhood dream! (Gymnastics Coach) I love the environment in which I work and the people with which I have the privilege of working. Someone said it’s a step down to go from business owner to working for another small business. Nope. Not at all. I bring a work ethic with me where I understand the challenge of being a small business owner and I always work my job as if it’s my company – even far before I was a business owner. Ask me, it’s “my gym” – just because I get to work there!
I’m thankful for all the steps along this life journey. I’m thankful for the people I’ve met along the way. I remember faces and some names – people like Mrs. Joy up the big hill when I was 8 in Eutawville, South Carolina who baked cookies with my sister and me and gave me my first cookbook. I remember Grandma Jeanette telling me after I’d been married a year or so, “honey, you were going to be my granddaughter, no way out of it” because she had prayed for me after meeting me at church (before I met her grandson). I’m thankful for mentors, family, and friends.
I’m thankful for all I see before me; God has been so gracious and generous to me and my family. We’ve been blessed so very much.
Every time I reflect on the blessings God has given me, I am overcome with gratefulness. I can’t help but whisper a prayer of thanks. Even though we won’t be “coming together” for “thanksgiving dinner” on the actual Thursday this year, we’ll get together on a different day with family and celebrate our thanks!
I pray blessings on you and your family as we reflect on all that we can be thankful for!
Thanks for reading!
Type at you next time…
~Nancy Tart