{give thanks with a grateful heart}

I don't even know where to begin. I have so very much to be thankful for and what an amazing year it has been for our family! God has truly answered many prayers {in His perfect timing}. Josh and I had been trying to sell our house since July 2010 and when we found out we were expecting, we knew then we were really under the gun. Our prayers were answered {again, in His timing} and we moved into our new home 5 months ago. Thank you Lord for teaching us patience, even when things didn't make sense to us at the time. You are faithful.

On September 21, 2011, the Lord gave Josh and I the most perfect little gift {there are no words to describe}, Ella Victoria. Thank you Lord for this beautiful, healthy baby girl. What an unbelivable journey we have walked since the day we found out we were expecting. I'm so thankful for our doctor who made our experience even more enjoyable and relaxed. Thank you Lord for showing your unconditional love for us through this tiny little baby. Her smile, bright eyes, tiny fingers and toes remind us of your awesome creation.

Thank you Lord for blessing me with a husband who loves his family so much. I've loved getting to see Josh become a daddy {as I knew he would be great}! His smile in all our pictures says it all! His heart is officially melted! :) I couldn't imagine walking this journey called life with anyone else! Thank you Lord for teaching me to others as you do through Josh. I love his big big heart!

Thank you Lord for our families! I don't think we could have done it without them. I'm so thankful for parents who love you and love their families more than life itself. Josh and I are so blessed to have parents who have been married over 30 years and grandparents 59+ years. What a great example they have shown us {and are continuing to do so}. I couldn't have picked better grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins for Ella. I don't know how I could have been more thankful prior to Ella, but somehow, I am! Wow...I totally get it now! All those times, "this really hurts me more than you" or "I'm doing this because I love you so much"...yep, they were right! :)

I'm so thankful for friends! I feel so blessed to have best friends all the way back from 5th grade, college friends, grad school friends, work friends, church friends...We've all walked these exciting journey's together! From graduating, to mission trips {and matching outfits}, to proposals, to weddings and babies!

Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving! Psalm 100