Twenty Things I'm Thankful For (Part Two - No. 6-10)

6) My Parents - While not perfect, they come pretty close. I think they've done a wonderful job of raising my sister & me, despite all the grief we managed to give them! They were always there for us - & still are! Sure they were tough & sure I did my fair share of "not-so-good" things, but I feel truly blessed to have them as my parents. Towards the end of this last pregnancy, when I was on bedrest, my parents were there to help out a bunch - staying throughout the day to feed us, taking care of the kids & the house, taking The Prophet to Tae Kwon Do, etc. I thank God for blessing me w/ them & pray that I can be the kind of parent to my munchkins as they were for us.

7) My In-Laws - I have great in-laws & feel truly blessed to have them in my life. I don't have any horror stories about them like some people do. They've done a wonderful job in raising Casinodad, shaping him into the person he is today. My MIL was especially helpful when I was on bedrest, too. She came to relieve my mother occasionally, spending time w/ the munchkins & me while Casinodad was at work.

8) Family - I've been blessed w/ a wonderful extended family - my sister, her husband & their five boys, my SIL & her husband, & my other SIL, as well as many aunts, uncles, & cousins. With the exception of a few being out of state, most of our family is near us.

9) Friends - Another wonderful blessing in my life is the countless number of friends I've made through the years. Some have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, some only for a short time. Some have come into my life & stayed, some have come & gone. All have touched my life in a special way.

10) Faith - I went through a slump period about two years ago. I doubted. I questioned. I wondered. After much prayer, talking to others, & reading, I've deepened my faith. I know I still have a long way to go, but I am truly thankful for what I do have & for the support I've received throughout my journey.