birth

What happened to the Thanksgiving holiday? We get the day off work and get together as family to eat turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie. But have you noticed that many of the stores have had Christmas decorations up since October? The Hallmark channel started showing Christmas movies October 31. Black Friday sales started Thanksgiving evening. It seems that Thanksgiving has lost its importance.

Psalm 9:1 says, “I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart. I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.” I have written in my journal “The grateful heart is like a magnet sweeping over the day, collecting reasons for gratitude. Gratitude gets us through the hard stuff.” (I’m sorry I don’t know where I found this quote.) The Thanksgiving holiday is a great time to pause and think about things we are thankful for. I have found that if I look every day for a blessing or something to be thankful for it helps my attitude and causes me to see how God is working in my life every day.

The weekend before Thanksgiving I got a call during the night Friday from Ty. Whitney was at the emergency room. So I left early Saturday morning for Indianapolis. Tests showed that she had a kidney infection and was sent home with antibiotics. She had no symptoms except Friday night she asked Ty if it was cold in the house. She started shaking uncontrollably, couldn’t talk and had a fever. Once home, Ty and I cared for Banks so Whitney could rest. She couldn’t hold anything because her muscles were so sore from shaking. We were thankful that is was nothing more serious. Plus this Grammy was thankful to spend more time with Banks. Who can resist this little guy?

In a rush to leave my house I was thankful that I had filled up with gas the night before. I had just finished my laundry and had run the dishwasher and emptied it. Seems like small things but they were helpful tasks to have done. My two grandsons, Eli and Caleb, that I had been babysitting for a couple days had left Friday morning to go back to their home. God was preparing my way. 🙂

Whitney and Ty had just seen the doctor that Friday as follow-up to discuss what happened after Banks’ delivery. We were praising and thanking God because they learned the special team that did surgery on Whitney is only 4 years old and the only one in the state! Talk about God’s hand in that process.

Another thing I am especially thankful for are my two “widow friends,” Sherry and Julie, that have become my dear friends. God brought us together through the death of our husbands after stem cell transplants. Our stories are very similar and we are a great support for one another. They have broaden my horizons to try new things!

I am thankful for family and the birth of new little ones. Grandchild number 6 is due Christmas and this one is a girl! (Grant and Jenni) Being retired has offered me the ability to be available to help out my kids through babysitting and my abilitiy to leave on a moment’s notice. I am thankful for this ability. Some days I think I should be “doing” something outside of the home but so far my family has kept me busy!

Family traditions are another thing I am thankful for. The Friday after Thaksgiving we always go to the tree farm to cut down our trees. Family traditions are something that says “we value family” and want to do things to stay together. This year we had some of the cousins joined us in the festivities.

20141128_105701 — Karsten and cousins cutting down my tree

Britton's family at the tree farm — Britton’s family at the tree farm

Have you swept over your day collecting reasons to be grateful? It is good for the soul.

On the journey,

Trish

Banks Tyler Luther was born to Whitney and Ty last Wednesday, October 29 at 7:53pm, weighing in at 8.9 lbs and 22 inches long!

Labor and delivery went well but Whitney had some excessive bleeding afterwards. They were unable to stop it through meds and various other techniques so she was transported to a hospital across the street for a procedure. Surgery was successful but she had to spend a couple nights in ICU. Ty went back and forth hospitals to spend time with Banks, torn between the two. Whitney has received a few transfusions because she lost a tremendous amount of blood. Saturday she was transferred back to the delivery hospital to the high risk ward but was reunited with Banks! Sunday Whitney was then transferred up to the normal recovery floor where Banks had been staying. And yesterday afternoon we came home!

Staying at the hospital reminded me of staying with Neal. Walking the halls; pressing the “open door” button on the wall; going to the nourishment room for coffee and ice water; IV poles; infusions; dry hands from the constant use of hand sanitizer; sleeping on couches; operating on little sleep with headaches, back and neck pain, are some of the fresh memories. This time there was a much happier outcome.

After Whitney had given birth, Ty brought me back to be with her. She was feeling sick while the team was trying to get her bleeding under control. I was holding the infamous pink hospital throw up bucket under her chin at the side of her hospital bed. I looked down and saw her side profile and saw Neal laying there. I started to cry and had to have Ty take over. I wasn’t expecting that emotion. Grief hits when you least expect it. Driving down last Wednesday morning I did think about that this was the first grandchild born since Neal died–that emotion I did anticipate. It has come over Whitney and I a few times the past few days. I believe Neal was up in heaven cheering Whitney on during labor, delivery and her surgery and continues to do so.

When I looked down in the hospital and saw Neal laying there through Whitney, she was made in the image of her dad. When I look at little Banks he looks so much like his daddy, Ty. They are a snapshot of their earthly fathers sharing in their likeness. Genesis 1:27-28 says we are made in the image of God. Am I reflecting God to others? How am I doing reflecting the image of God through what I say or do? How is my moral compass? How am I cultivating my mind? I pray that when people look at me they can see my resemblance to my Heavenly Father.

Proverb 17:6 says that “Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.” Grandchildren are the greatest and most beautiful thing. (Not so thrilled about “the aged” thing!). Children are the best and most notable aspect of their parents. After God created He said it was good and after He created man and women He said it was VERY good.

Grandchildren are VERY good!

On the journey,

Trish

Tag: birth

Thanksgiving Magnet

Grandson #5 is here!