“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is 'thank you', it will be enough.”
-Meister Eckhart
1. I'm thankful that our mail no longer consists of piles upon piles of medical bills, only lots of credit card offers.
2. I'm thankful that because Liam's medical bills are finally paid off, and because we've saved money by living in Kuwait for the past year, we're now in the position to buy, possibly build, our first home.
3. I'm thankful that someone from the Spina Bifida Association contacted me a couple days ago, asking if they could feature Liam's SB Story in their October fundraising appeal. I said yes, of course, even if my husband does occasionally call me a "stage mom," and jokingly refers to me as "Kris Jenner." But it's like I tell him: whatever we can do to raise SB awareness (and funds) is fine by me. If it's wrong, I don't wanna be right.
4. I'm thankful that Liam no longer needs my help getting on and off his Plasmacar. I'm thankful that he's learned how to climb onto his slide AND turn his body around so that he can slide down on his butt, instead of just his stomach. These little bits of independence make my heart swell.
5. I'm thankful that I have a mom who loves me so much that she called me last week and actually said this: "I need you to buy a box of dark hair dye and a head covering just in case DeMarko has to get you out of the country quickly. He and Liam can blend in, you cannot."
6. I'm thankful that Liam has started talking -- really, started talking. I am aware that not all parents get to experience this joy, and I feel grateful for it every day.
7. I'm thankful that my husband passed another one of his computer certification exams last week. I'm thankful that he's working hard to enhance his resumé, in preparation for our move back to the states (and trying to find a new job) next year.
8. I'm thankful that despite being born with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, Liam is as healthy as a horse. This isn't always the case, and I am fully aware of what a real blessing it is.
9. I'm thankful that we'll be heading back to the states in less than a week. I'm thankful for upcoming date nights with my husband, lots of time with family, and a much-needed girls' night out.
10. I'm thankful that readership of my blog is growing, as my husband says, exponentially. I'm thankful that people actually care about what I have to say, and that so many of my friends and family, along with some new bloggy friends, have been so supportive. In fact, I'm so grateful that I am running a $75 Cash Giveaway, as a way to say thank you to my readers AND celebrate my one year blogiversary. Can you believe September 28th marks one year since I started blogging?! And, okay, so maybe another reason I'm doing a giveaway is to increase traffic to the blog and gain some new followers -- but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, am I right?! You can enter the giveaway in the Rafflecopter below.
Ten Things of Thankful Hosts:
A Fly on Our (Chicken Coop) Wall, Considerings, Finding Ninee, I Can Say Mama, I Want Backsies, Steps into Parenthood, Thankful Me, The Wakefield Doctrine
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
$75 Cash Giveaway to Celebrate The Pink Roller Coaster's One Year Blogiversary!
This giveaway will end at midnight on Saturday, September 28, 2013.
Winner MUST have a PayPal Account. You must be at least 18 years old to enter.
Giveaway is worldwide. Void where prohibited by law.
-Meister Eckhart
1. I'm thankful that our mail no longer consists of piles upon piles of medical bills, only lots of credit card offers.
2. I'm thankful that because Liam's medical bills are finally paid off, and because we've saved money by living in Kuwait for the past year, we're now in the position to buy, possibly build, our first home.
3. I'm thankful that someone from the Spina Bifida Association contacted me a couple days ago, asking if they could feature Liam's SB Story in their October fundraising appeal. I said yes, of course, even if my husband does occasionally call me a "stage mom," and jokingly refers to me as "Kris Jenner." But it's like I tell him: whatever we can do to raise SB awareness (and funds) is fine by me. If it's wrong, I don't wanna be right.
4. I'm thankful that Liam no longer needs my help getting on and off his Plasmacar. I'm thankful that he's learned how to climb onto his slide AND turn his body around so that he can slide down on his butt, instead of just his stomach. These little bits of independence make my heart swell.
5. I'm thankful that I have a mom who loves me so much that she called me last week and actually said this: "I need you to buy a box of dark hair dye and a head covering just in case DeMarko has to get you out of the country quickly. He and Liam can blend in, you cannot."
6. I'm thankful that Liam has started talking -- really, started talking. I am aware that not all parents get to experience this joy, and I feel grateful for it every day.
7. I'm thankful that my husband passed another one of his computer certification exams last week. I'm thankful that he's working hard to enhance his resumé, in preparation for our move back to the states (and trying to find a new job) next year.
8. I'm thankful that despite being born with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus, Liam is as healthy as a horse. This isn't always the case, and I am fully aware of what a real blessing it is.
9. I'm thankful that we'll be heading back to the states in less than a week. I'm thankful for upcoming date nights with my husband, lots of time with family, and a much-needed girls' night out.
10. I'm thankful that readership of my blog is growing, as my husband says, exponentially. I'm thankful that people actually care about what I have to say, and that so many of my friends and family, along with some new bloggy friends, have been so supportive. In fact, I'm so grateful that I am running a $75 Cash Giveaway, as a way to say thank you to my readers AND celebrate my one year blogiversary. Can you believe September 28th marks one year since I started blogging?! And, okay, so maybe another reason I'm doing a giveaway is to increase traffic to the blog and gain some new followers -- but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, am I right?! You can enter the giveaway in the Rafflecopter below.
Ten Things of Thankful Hosts:
A Fly on Our (Chicken Coop) Wall, Considerings, Finding Ninee, I Can Say Mama, I Want Backsies, Steps into Parenthood, Thankful Me, The Wakefield Doctrine
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
$75 Cash Giveaway to Celebrate The Pink Roller Coaster's One Year Blogiversary!
This giveaway will end at midnight on Saturday, September 28, 2013.
Winner MUST have a PayPal Account. You must be at least 18 years old to enter.
Giveaway is worldwide. Void where prohibited by law.
This giveaway is open worldwide. Void where prohibited by law. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. Winner MUST have a PayPal account. Winner will be chosen at random by Random.org and will be notified via email. Winner shall respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Bloglovin, Pinterest, and Blogger are in no way associated with this giveaway. I do not share or sell any information you provide.
Brigid, you've got some absolutely fantastic Things in this list. I'm really glad that you're involved in raising awareness for SB, and having seen that vid of Liam walking, who wouldn't want to engage with such a charmer. I'm so pleased that you're hitting milestones together and enjoying the ride - that you can begin to talk together and have conversations is awesome.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your Mom cares so much for you - she's probably right to worry - be safe!
Such great news about your husband's exam passes. Each success a step further along the road to where he wants to be. My own Husby had an interview on Friday for a job we'd both be so pleased if he landed...here's hoping!
The giveaway is a sweet idea - I hope you get LOTS more people coming here to read about your world. Thanks so much for linking up with us and sharing your great list.
Thanks so much, Lizzi! And I'm so glad to hear that your husband's interview went well -- hope he gets the job! I'll keep my fingers crossed! :)
DeleteThanks again for hosting a great link-up.
Brigid
Thanks - I am too! It's a nerve-wracking time, waiting to hear back!
DeleteYou're absolutely welcome - it's a joint effort and SO much fun to meet new people and all pop round to one anothers' blogs for little chats and to get to know one another better. Definitely an internet high spot of the weekend.
Huge congrats on your one year blogiversary. And so happy for you that you are getting to return to the US. Sounds like you have tons to be thankful for this week!! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Janine! And, yes, it has been nine LONG months since we've been home, so it will be sooooo nice to see everyone! I can't wait! :)
DeleteBrigid
Congrats on your year =)
ReplyDeleteIt's always good to have a Mum who cares about you (even if in a bizarre way) and yay for no more medical bills =D
Thank you so much! And hooray for no more medical bills, at least for now! :)
DeleteBrigid
Happy 1-year anniversary! I'm excited for your return back home, that's wonderful! I totally agree about sharing your story as much as possible; if it only helps one family out there, it' been worth it! All the best for all of you!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Stephanie! You are so right about helping others by sharing our story. :)
DeleteWelcome to the TToT... I just started a few weeks back and its like old home... Congrats on the Blogoversary and the opportunity to increase awareness of SB...Where are you going to be relocating to in the states? I am curious to here about some of your medical experiences with a chronically ill kiddo in Kuwait...I will go puruse your blog when I have a bit more time! In the mean time I will go follow up with following!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Zoe. I'm headed over to your blog right now. :)
DeleteBrigid
This quote is perfect: “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is 'thank you', it will be enough.”
ReplyDelete-Meister Eckhart
I love it so much. Congratulations on your upcoming blogbirthday! So exciting (and weird, right? Mine is later this month as well OMG). And yes, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. Great job on raising awareness and funds for SB. That's not a small thing. And YAY that you'll be home in a few weeks! So wonderful!! I love it!
I know! Isn't the quote perfect?! I heard it on an episode of Oprah's Lifeclass the other day -- cause I'm a nerd -- and I got goosebumps instantly. I'm pretty sure I can sum up my entire spiritual philosophy in two words: Gratitude & Kindness. Wait... would that be three words cause of the 'and'? I don't know. But you get the point. :)
DeleteBrigid
I went through your entire SB101 course. You are a gifted writer, and I learned so much about SB in general and Liam specifically. Through all of that, he remained such a sweet natured baby!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you joined us on TToT this week and hope you'll continue to return. I want to hear how your trip back to the States turns out!
Safe travels!
Thank you so much for your kind words, Dyanne! Glad you could learn a bit about SB. It was sorta interesting to write it all down because I had forgotten so much of it, since I think, at the time, I was just sorta going through the motions. Luckily I kept track of dates and notes along the way. It's amazing to see how much my little guy has been through, and you are so right about him remaining such a sweet natured baby!
DeleteI spent a good part of last night going through your blog, and I have to say that I am so impressed by your humor and your positive outlook on life. I look forward to reading more of your posts.
And I will definitely be back for another TToT! It will be so great to get home! :)
Brigid
Thanks for linking up. No more mounds of medical bills and signs of growing independence are certainly big things to celebrate!
ReplyDeleteYes, yes they are! I finally feel like I can breath again, ya know?! Thank you so much for co-hosting such a wonderful link-up.
DeleteBrigid
I loved reading your thankful list. So many good things happening on lots of fronts and what a great opportunity to raise SB awareness. I went and read more about the plasmacar and its so cute you saw Liam telling it goodnight before! I echo Dyanne about you being a very gifted writer. Happy blogaversary!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jo Lynn! Yes, lots to be thankful for over here!
DeleteAnd Liam is seriously obsessed with that Plasmacar -- I don't know what we would've done without it. I'm even thinking about sending one to school with him when the time comes, so that he has something to do while the other kids are running around the playground or gym class. That's why I was super excited about him being able to get on and off of it all by himself. Hooray for little bits of independence!
Hope you're enjoying your holiday weekend, although I know us Mama's rarely get to take the weekend off, even if it is a holiday. ;)
Brigid
What excellent reasons you have there Brigid!
ReplyDeleteI am very happy to be one of those new blog readers :)
I think you are exactly right about wanting to raise awareness in any way you can. I am using my blog to try and raise awareness to Yon's condition, since it is so rare. Have to say though, I am not as good at it as you are :)
So, hooray for all your reasons, and have lots of fun going home! There is nothing like seeing family and friends after such a long time!
Speaking out and doing all you can to promote SB is awesome, you can use your story to make all the difference for someone else, and I think that's what life is really all about, helping each other on the journey in any way we can! In this, you've taken something very difficult and turned it into a blessing for your life and others... way to go! You have a awesome list of gratefulness here, enjoy your time I the states!
ReplyDeleteYou are so right! Thank you so much!
DeleteBrigid