#15 - Bella, Luke & Baby Boy Spangler - My Niece & Nephews!

Bella & Luke - I hope you both know how much we all love you, and how thankful we are that God brought you into our lives!

Bella - Your name was chosen perfectly for you - you are an amazingly beautiful girl!  It is hard to believe you are already 8 years old!  I remember the day you were born - you were the first grandchild for Busia & Papa.  We watched you grow from a baby, to a little girl, to an amazing young lady!  You are a great oldest cousin!  Thank you for loving & playing with Paulie & Noah.  I hope you know how much they love you and love being with you.  And, thank you for being so kind & loving to Sarah!  You are a wonderful cousin and an awesome niece!

Luke - You are such a wonderful nephew!  And, it is hard to believe you are already 7 because I remember when your mom & I were both pregnant with you and Paulie!  You have been such an amazing cousin!  Paulie & Noah love having a boy cousin to play sports, superheroes & boy stuff!  And, Sarah loves having another big boy cousin who looks out for her.  I hope you know how much they love you and love being with you.  You are a wonderful cousin & an awesome nephew!

Baby Boy Spangler - I hope we can show you how much we love you, and how thankful we are that God gave you to your mom & dad!  Your cousin Paulie prayed for many nights that God would give your parents a little baby.  We all continue to pray that you are growing & developing safely with your mom.  And, we look forward to meeting you for the first time around Christmas - we can hardly wait!  But, please stay in there until you are fully healthy and ready for us to love all over you!

Bella, Luke & Baby Boy Spangler - I hope you know how much we all love you and have very grateful we are that God brought you into our lives!!!  

#14 - Jordan & Taylor, My Nephew & Niece!

Jordan & Taylor - I hope you both know how much I love you and how thankful I am for you!

It is hard to believe that I was Taylor's age when Jordan was born, and Jordan's age when Taylor was born.  That seems like so long ago.

I loved watching you grow from babies to toddlers to little people.  You were both wonderful in our wedding - our little ring bearer & flower girl.  You both accepted Paul in right away as your uncle - and had fun beating up Uncle Paul (& maybe receiving the occasional wedgie - so sorry about that).

It has been so much fun watching you both grow up.  I am thankful for the times we have had together - during visits, holidays, vacations.  I only wish we would have lived closer so we could have spent more time together.

Jordan - you have grown into a truly amazing man.  It is hard to believe you are already in college!  Where did that time go???  I thank you that you take the time to play with the kids!  I hope you see how much the kids look up to you - especially Paulie!  You are a great cousin, and a wonderful nephew!

Taylor - you have grown into a truly amazing woman.  It is hard to believe you will be in college next year!  Seriously?!?!?!  I thank you for the time you have spent with the kids!  You have been a great cousin, babysitter & swim instructor (by the way - Noah & Paulie are both looking forward to swim lessons next Summer :).  You have also been a wonderful niece!

Jordan - I hope you know that you are always welcome at our house.  College is only 1 hour away.  If you ever need a weekend away or some family time, please come on over.  Bring your friends or just yourself.

Taylor - If you decide to go to college here in Indiana, please know you are also always welcome!  Our home is always open to you, too!

I hope you both know how much we all love you, and how grateful we are that God brought you into our lives!

#13 - My newest brothers - Mike & Ryan

Mike & Ryan - I hope you know that we love you both and we are so very thankful for you!

It is crazy how connected our families are - outside of being married to Musziks!  Just think, if my family didn't move to Indiana, we would have gone to high school together.  And then to learn that our parents knew each other (worked together, went to school together, was your mom's baby-sitter), we were meant to be family.

I thank you both for accepting us into your family.  Thank you for being wonderful husbands & fathers (Ryan, while I know it is father-to-be in December, we can already see how great of a dad you will be by the way you show your love to your nieces & nephews.  Your little one is in great hands!)  Thank you for the wonderful memories from holidays and vacations.  Thank you for being wonderful brothers & friends to us, and uncles & godparents to our children. 

I hope you know how proud we are of each of you!  Starting your own business isn't easy.  It takes a lot of work and we know you both are going to be successful!  Congratulations on opening your offices!

That said, if anyone in the Indiana / Illinois area is looking for:
 - Financial Planning / Advice - please reach out to Mike Kopec (Michigan City, IN) click here
 - Insurance - please reach out to Ryan Spangler (St. John, IN) click here

Mike & Ryan - I hope you know how much we love you and are so grateful for you!

#12 - My First Brother - Craig

Craig - I hope you know how much I love you and how very thankful I am for you!

There are so many reasons why I am grateful for you!

I always wanted a "big brother" and I am thankful God brought you into our lives.  And, you have been a wonderful big brother - you have provided guidance, given grace & shown love.  I am so very thankful for that!

While I can share the many other reasons why I am thankful for you (not including you beating me in a foot race when I was a teenager), the greatest of them all is your faith! When I think about where I am today in my walk with Christ, I know that I wouldn't be here without you.  While Tammy helped me onto that path, she had that opportunity because you helped her first.  Your relationship with Christ is a wonderful example to us all!

I also want you to know how very proud I am of you!  I know this year didn't start out as you had planned.  Many others who experience something as serious as a heart attack, turn away from faith - especially when they experience it just after starting to get their health back on track.  They could use it as an excuse to not continue on the road to health.  You, on the other hand, took this opportunity to put your health first.  You have seen God's Hand through this experience and have shared that testimony with so many others.  Your love of God and your willingness to share has brought others to Christ.

Craig - I truly hope you know how much I love you, and how grateful I am for you!

#11 - My newest sisters, Laura & Alicia

Laura & Alicia - I love you both and I hope you know how thankful I am for you!

I cannot put into words how thankful I am to have both of you in my life!  You both welcomed me into the family with open arms.  I know many friends who did not experience the love and acceptance that you both showed me.  Please know how truly grateful I am!

I always wanted to be a big sister.  I watched my two older sisters growing up and learned a great deal from them.  They were 7+ years older than me, so there wasn't much I could teach them - but I did learn so very much.  

With the three of us being so close in age, there was some things I could teach, and so many other things I was able to learn.  You welcomed my thoughts on the things I had already done and my questions on what I hadn't experienced.

Laura - There are many reasons why I am so very thankful for you.  One of those reasons is that we were able to go through pregnancy together.  You had done it first, and we went through it together the second time.  You taught me so very much during that time - and it was wonderful to have a sister to go through that experience with!  

Alicia - There are also so many reasons why I am so very thankful for you.  I am grateful that we were able to be roommates for a year (that seems like so long ago now).  I am so very thankful for that time as I feel like it helped us to grow closer.  I was able to see how truly caring you are.  You always put everyone else first - you are the most easy going person I have ever met.  I need to learn more of that from you :).

I thank you both for being such great sisters!  We have made so many amazing memories the past 14 years, and I look forward to many, many more!

Laura & Alicia - I love you both and I am so very grateful for you!

#10 - My 2nd Dad, Paul

Dad - I hope you know how much I love you and how thankful I am for you!

Thank you so very much for being such a great example of a husband.  You showed your children how a man can be both strong and sensitive.  You have always been the rock the family can count on!  Even when times were tough and you didn't know what might happen next, you stayed strong and helped the rest of the family know that everything would work out. 

That said, you also have such a wonderful, sensitive side.  These years have been filled with many emotional ups (the marriage of your three kids, the birth of your five (soon to be six) grandkids) & downs (the loss of loved ones).  You have shown that strength doesn't mean the lack of emotions.  It's actually the exact opposite. 

And, you have passed those traits onto you kids.  As you read in Paul's message, he also exhibits strength and sensitivity.  You are also an amazing example of putting your children first.  Being there for their celebrations (sporting events, school dances, other honors) and when then needed a shoulder to cry on (losing the game, dealing with a broken heart).  He is a wonderul husband and father - and that comes from the example you set for him. 

I also thank you for welcoming me into the family with open arms.  I truly feel like you look at me as a daughter instead of a daughter-in-law.

Dad - I hope you know how much I love you and how thankful I am for you!

#9 - My 2nd Mom, Patti

Mom - I hope you know that I love you and am so very thankful for you!

There are so many reasons why I am so very grateful for you!  To start, you are a wonderful mother to your three children.  You can just see the joy each one brings you even still today.  You have raised very loving children, and that is a direct reflection of the love you shared with them.

You are also a wonderful example of a mother-in-law!  I have thought about Paulie & Noah growing up and finding a woman to marry (I don't think of it too often, but I do imagine that from time to time).  I hope I can be half as good at is as you are.  You have been very patient with me throughout the years.  You immediately welcomed me into the family with open arms. I was quickly included as part of the family.  And, you have been so patient with me as I grew into being a fiance, then wife and now mother.  Thank you for your love, acceptance, grace and patience (especially when I didn't deserve it)!

You are also great "Busia" to the kids.  I hope you can see and feel how much they love you!  Thank you for all of your help & support with the kids!  And, it's not just the kids.  Your willingness to watch them allows Paul & I the time to get away and focus on our marriage.  Words cannot express how truly valuable that time is - and - how much we appreciate you!

Mom - Please know how much I love you and how truly grateful I am for you!

#8 - Our little princess, Sarah

Sarah - I hope you know how much we love you and how thankful we are for you!

You are such a blessing!  When your Dad & I wanted to add to our family, we prayed God would bless us with another baby.  What is amazing about you is that, God didn't make us wait this time - not at all. The very next month, we found out about you.

When you were still in Mommy's belly, we thought you were going to be a boy, but your biggest brother, Paulie, knew you were going to be a girl.  And, he was right!  God knew exactly what our family needed.

When you came into this world, your little lungs weren't ready to breathe on their own.  You also didn't want to wait, and you joined us 19 days before you were due.  So, just like your brother, Noah, you needed to go into a special room for the doctors & nurses to watch you all the time.  And, you didn't like light, noise or anyone touching you.  We were worried what would happen when you came home because your two brothers were anything but quiet!

We were so happy to bring you home 9 days after you were born - that meant you were home with us for Christmas - a True Christmas Miracle!  Not only that, you had learned how to handle light, noise & touch - Praise God!

We have loved watching you grow for the almost 3 years we have had you in our family.  And, I completely see why God gave us you!  You have helped me to be more patient.  You have helped me to enjoy all of the moments with the family - big or small.  You have helped me be a better mom to all three of you kids.  Thank you!

Please always remember, God loves you!  He made you special for our family - and He chose you as the perfect baby girl for us!  He has very special plans for you, and I look forward to seeing those plans come to life!

Sarah - we love you very much!  We are so very proud of the child you are!  We are truly blessed to be your parents, and we are very thankful that God gave you to us!

#7 - Our middle man, Noah

Noah - I hope you know how much we love you and how thankful we are for you!

You are an amazing little dude!  After having Paulie, your Dad and I knew we wanted to add to our family.  We prayed that God would help us have another baby.  And, almost two and a half years after Paulie was born, you came into our lives.

You definitely came in with a ROAR!  While you weren't due until August 12th, you decided you wanted to come out early - 24 days early!  Because you were born so early, your little lungs weren't developed, so you needed to go into a special room where the doctors & nurses watched you constantly.  You did so well, we were able to bring you home just 7 days after you were born.  Praise God for that!

When you were in that special room, I was able to sit and watch you.  For the first time, I understood how much babies don't know and what they all need to learn.  I watched you breathe for the first time.  I watched you eat for the first time.  These are things I just assumed little ones knew - but you helped me realize how much we needed to teach you.  And, you helped me to realize how much a mother's heart grows.

You continue to amaze me every day!  I watch as you learn new things - some by following your older brother, and some you learn on your own.  I also watch as you teach your little sister things.  You are a great leader & a great follower.

God blessed you with a loving heart and a smile that can light up even the darkest room!  Watching you grow up is a true blessing to me.

Please always remember, God loves you!  He made you special for our family - and He made you the perfect middle man for our family!  He has very special plans for you, and I look forward to seeing those plans come to life!

Noah - we love you very much!  We are so very proud of the child you are, we are truly blessed to be your parents, and we are very thankful that God gave you to us!

#6 - Our first born, Paulie

Paulie - Our biggest, bestest bubs - I hope you know how thankful I am for you (how thankful we all are for you)!

Your Dad & I prayed, and prayed, and prayed to God that we would be blessed with children.  We prayed for over two years for God to bless us with a baby.  We didn't quite know why it was so difficult for us to have a baby…until we met you.

On the day you were born, we knew why God needed us to wait - because you hadn't been created yet.  And, you were the child God had specifically chosen to be our first born.  He made you specifically for our family.  As you have gotten older, I continue to see why we needed to wait for you.  And, I am so very grateful God made us wait!

You are the perfect first born.  You are patient and kind.  You love to learn and you love to teach.  You are willing to share.  You know right from wrong and like to do the right things.  You have a wonderful sense of humor!  I am so very proud of the person you are - not for what you do - but the person you are.

I know being the oldest child comes with its challenges.  I love it that you think being the oldest child is "kind of like being a single parent." :)  While there is a significant difference, I think it's cute that you think that at almost 7 years old.  And, I am sorry to say that it will likely get tougher as you get older.

Remember this - God made you the first born for a reason.  God has very special plans for you.  He is helping you to learn and grow.  He is having you teach and share.  He made you special.  And, I am so very excited to see what His plans are for you!

Paulie - I hope you know how very proud we are of you!  We are blessed to be your parents!  We love you and we are so very thankful God gave you to us!

#5 - My husband, My love - Paul

Paul - I truly hope you know how much I love you, and how very thankful I am for you!

You are an amazing husband and best friend!  I cannot imagine a better partner to share my life with.  You are patient and kind.  You are loving.  You support me and lift me up.  And, you hold me and are my shoulder to cry on.  You have an amazing ability to be both strong and sensitive at the same time.  And, you challenge me when I need to be challenged.

I was rereading this passage this week and thought about our marriage:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (GNB):
Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs; love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up; and its faith, hope and patience never fail.

Thank you for putting into action what these words mean!  I love you!

I love your sense of humor!  You are such a jokester and can make even the worst situations more bearable and give me something to smile about.  And, I laugh when you "get people" with your jokes.  Seriously, haven't people realized that 85% of what you say isn't true?!?!? :)

And, you are an AMAZING father!  Our children are so very blessed to have you as their dad - their role model.  When people comment on how great our kids are, I give you ALL the credit!  You have found a way to raise respectful children who still like to have fun.

While we may not always agree, I am so very thankful that you are my partner.  You are in this with me.  And, regardless of the situation, I always know you want the best for me (and I hope you know I always want the best for you!).

There are so many other reasons why I am so very thankful for you!  Please know that I thank God each and every day that I have the honor to spend the rest of my life with you!  I love you and I am so very thankful for you!

#4 - My sister, Kim

Kim - I hope you know that I am very thankful that you are my sister!

I can list many reasons why I am thankful for you. Being the second born, you helped Mom & Dad to realize each child needs something different.  So, when I came along, it was easier for them (and for me).  You also made it easier because you treated me like your "baby" when we were younger. You always looked out for me.  Your love & support (and late night phone calls) continued through college & beyond.  And, your friendship as we have gotten older. 

While all of those are amazing things, one special thing I have learned from you is your selfless generosity.  The moment you hear anyone is in need, you are willing to drop everything to help that person - regardless of the personal cost. 

You give your time, you spend your money, you cook/bake the best food/cookies (yummy!), you open your home, you sacrifice yourself (and your sleep) - to help those in need. 

So many people in this world are focused on "What's in it for Me?".  Why should they give of their time, money, gifts to help others?  What do they get from it?  And, what else would they have to sacrifice?  Not you!  You focus on what you can do to help others - regardless of the cost and recognition.

Kim - I hope you know I love you and am truly thankful that you are my sister!

#3 - My Sister, Tammy

Tammy – I hope you know how blessed I am to have you as my sister!   

I can list many reasons why it was so wonderful having you as my oldest sister.  You were a great student.  You were very involved in other activities and found a way to balance it all.  You were the first in our family to go to college.  You had an internship that turned into a full-time position before you even graduated.  You were the first to get married, the first to have a child (and then another). 

Many younger siblings can say that about the oldest sibling in their family – the oldest one did everything first. 

Here is my favorite first – your relationship with Christ & sharing that with me.

You started on this journey first.  You showed me the true relationship Christ wants with each of us, individually.  You showed me what it meant to love Christ with all of your heart and to put Him first, always.  You helped me onto the path, you helped me realize when I have fallen of the path and when I jumped off the path, and you helped me get right back on again. 

My faith is my North Star.  It is what guides me and what keeps me grounded, focused, humble, & grateful.  And, most importantly, my relationship with Christ helps me to prayerfully make better decisions – at home, with friends, with volunteer opportunities, at work, etc.  I am a better daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend & colleague.   

Tammy – I am so very thankful you helped me to see how AMAZING a true relationship with Christ is!  I love you and I am so very grateful for you!

#2 - My Dad

Dad – I hope you know that I am so very thankful for you!  And, in writing this, I realize I don’t tell you this often enough.  For that, I am sorry!

When I was younger, you always pushed us to strive for our best.  Good wasn't good enough - not if we could do better.  And, while I didn't appreciate it then, I can see how much that has benefited me as an adult - and how much it is appreciated. 

I am also so very thankful that you allowed me to watch you build & fix things.  Whether it was fixing a running toilet or putting together furniture, you always allowed me to be there, to help you and to learn.  That has be so very helpful throughout my life (even tonight as we finished putting Sarah's bedroom set together).  Now, if you would just teach me how to fix a doorbell (don't worry - it still works :))!

You taught me how to stand up for myself and not let others bring me down.  You taught me to be confident and courageous - especially during the times when it can be a little scary. 

You taught me the importance of working hard and not just doing the job, but doing it right.  Why do it at all if someone is going to need to do it over???

And, both you & Mom taught me that, no matter what - you always love us, you are always proud of us, and we always have a place at home.

Dad, I hope you know how very thankful I am to have you as a dad!  I love you very much!

#1 - My Mom

Today is my birthday.  And, what better day could there be to share my thanks for my mom than on the day that she gave me birth!?!?!

Mom – I hope you know that I am so very thankful for you!  I always knew that you loved me, but it wasn’t until I had children of my own that I fully grasped the depths of your love.  Thank you doesn't seem to be enough to share how much I truly appreciate your constant, unwavering, never-ending love.  Even today, I know you feel that same way.  Truly, Thank You!

I also hope you know that I would not be the woman I am today without your love, support and guidance.  You knew you wanted all three of us to go to college, to get a good degree, get a good job, and to be independent women.  You helped to keep us focused on the future – not just what was fun for the moment.   I am certain I didn't always appreciate that when I was younger, but I am forever grateful for that now!

You were there to celebrate our successes and with a hug and great pep-talk when we didn’t achieve our goals.  You shared your pride in us as people.  Your love was not based on what we accomplished but rather the women we are. 

Even when we made poor choices, you were always there!  You let us know you were disappointed in our decisions – and that you still loved us.  That helped us make better decision in the future.

Mom, thank you for being a great mom!  I love you and am very thankful for you!

Month of Thanks!

A couple of years ago, each day I chose one person / group of people that I am thankful for and shared that thanks on Facebook.  This year, I would love to use this blog to share those thanks!


















Starting tomorrow, I will be giving thanks each day.  Before I start, I want to share "why" I am doing it.  You see, I have so very much to be thankful for! 

We often can get so caught up in this life on climbing the ladder, finding the newest opportunity, striving for excellence.  When doing so, we can lose sight on some very important things:
 - We didn't get there on our own.  Others helped us to learn, grow & develop.
 - Those who helped us deserve recognition & thanks!  Even if they don't want it - they deserve it!
 - No matter what you think about your success thus far (you can think you are amazing or still have tons to learn), there are others out there who would do anything to get where you are, to learn from you
 - It's your turn!  Yes, right now, you have the opportunity to help, share, develop others!  Someone out there thinks you are AMAZING!  Likely, many people believe you are AMAZING!  It's time to "Pay it Forward!"
 - Last, and most importantly, God has given you gifts and placed other people & experiences on your path to help you develop those gifts.  And, I believe He wants us to share those gifts with others.  Here is one of the passages that reinforces that belief:

Romans 12:6-8 (GNB):
So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us.  If our gift is to speak God's message, we should do it according to the faith that we have; if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach; if it is to encourage others, we should do so.  Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully.

I look forward to sharing my many thanks with those who have helped me to get to where I am today.  And, while I am very proud of what I have been able to accomplish, I know the best is still yet to come...

He Knows My Name by Francesca Battistelli:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haLkLDfLBok


Father,

I thank You for loving me - even when I was unlovable.  I thank You for forgiving me - especially when what I did was unforgivable.  I thank You for choosing me - even though I should have been the last one chosen (if chosen at all).  And, I know that You had chosen a plan for me, I thank You for still believing in me!

Please allow me to use this blog this month to give thanks to all of those You have brought into my life and helped me to become the person I am today.  And, thank You for all of those still yet to come.

In Jesus' name!
AMEN!

Back to Work

I can hardly believe how quickly those four weeks flew by!  This past Tuesday was my first day back to work post-surgery.  I remember this feeling when coming back to work from maternity leave after each baby.  The first few weeks, I felt completely overwhelmed.  It seemed like so much had changed during my absence – and the task of getting through all of the emails felt impossible!   But then, I got back into the swing of things.  And, within 2-3 weeks, I felt like I was never off.  Since this leave was much shorter (4 weeks vs. 14 weeks), it only took a few days to feel like I was never off (still need a few days to be fully back in the swing of things).

The other difference is – when I came back to work after having a baby, most people knew why I was on leave.  And, if they didn’t know, it was fun to share, show pictures, and brag on our newest little addition to our family. 

This time – it’s AWKWARD (I am hearing my niece’s voice when I right that word J).

Truly, it is much different.  I was only off for four weeks, and work has been hectic, so I don’t know if my absence was truly noticed.  If it was noticed, I am not sure if they know why I was gone.  Here are a couple of examples of “awkward” situations:

-          A former boss called the other day.  I thought he was calling because I was back to work.  He asked “how are you?” so I assumed that he knew.  So I said, “Great!  Pathology was clear – Praise God!  So, I am happy to be back to work and moving forward.”   What followed was…COMPLETE SILENCE!  He didn’t know.  It had been a while since we talked (again, former boss), so it makes complete sense that he wouldn’t know.  So, as you can imagine, the rest of the call was…AWKWARD!
-          After that experience, I decided I wasn’t going to bring it up unless the other person did.  So, I had one phone call and one live meeting with people I haven’t connected with in 6+ months.  They didn’t bring it up, so neither did I.  Now, I am worried that they will find out and wonder why I didn’t tell them – UGH!

Just like my children didn’t come out with “Owner’s Manuals” on how to raise them to be the best God-loving, respectable, kind and independent adults, I didn’t leave the hospital with a “users guide” for talking about this (or not talking about this) with others. 

WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE WRITE THAT PLEASE??  MAKE IT EASIER FOR ALL THOSE WHO WILL FOLLOW?

 With all that in mind, here is what I can offer today:

-          If you know someone who has / has had cancer, let them know that you know.  You can say something like, “I heard about your diagnosis.  Please know you are in my thoughts / prayers.  I am sure you have talked about it a lot, so I am happy to talk about that or other topics.  Just know I am here.” 
-          If you have a conversation with someone who has / has had cancer and you didn’t know – PLEASE DON’T BE OFFENDED!  It is a hard topic to bring up – believe me, it doesn’t just “come up” in conversations.  And, there usually isn’t a good time to share it.
-          If you know someone who has / has had cancer and you didn’t reach out – IN MY OPINION, there is no need to apologize!  At least for me, I know that you care.  I am thankful for the kind thoughts or prayers.  And, our friendship is not based on how much we have connected during this process.  I love you just as much today as I did before this whole ordeal.  At least for me, no apology needed J!
 

Father,

     I thank You for all of Your blessings through this journey.  You ensured we found the cancer early, You ensured we had the right doctors & treatments, You ensured we had the best family & friends for support, and You cured me! 
     Please help me to find the words to share this experience in a way that glorifies You.  I pray that You allow me the honor to use this testimony to help bring others into Your kingdom. 

In Jesus’ name,
AMEN!