What are you thankful for?

I frequently get asked "What is Tanner's Diagnosis?". I don't mind telling people because I feel like if by my story I can help someone deal with something in their life, then I've made some sort of difference. Some people don't really know what a cleft looks like and I just want to make it clear that ALL clefts are NOT the same. He also has a 'condition' called craniosynisos...essentially what this is is that the bones in his head fused together prematurely and and he had to have his head cut open and have his skull re-shaped (thereby creating the necessary space for his head to grow properly). He also was only born with one working kidney. He has a couple other things but those are the major ones.

So why am I writing about this??? Well because not just today but every day I look at Tanner, I am so profoundly grateful for the miracle he was and continues to be in our lives and the lives around him. It really amazes me what medicine has been able to do for him and will continue to do for him to help him be as 'normal' as possible. He started off like this:







and now he looks like this:







I am grateful for modern medicine. Tanner has had over 5 surgeries in his short 7 years of life and will have more surgeries down the road but I don't worry about it because I have faith and trust in not just the doctors and their knowledge, but in God. And I KNOW that it is because of Him that Tanner is still here and with us.

I am grateful for the town I live in and love so much. Calgary was great for the time being but it is no longer where I belong or call home.

I am thankful for the gospel and the knowledge it provides and for the strength and comfort it brings.

I am thankful for Christ.

I am thankful for jobs that provide not only what we need but things we want as well (not EVERYTHING we want, but we don't have to scrimp as much).

I am thankful for my life and for living in the time that I do. Although the world is so worldly and there is so much temptation and bad I am grateful that I didn't have to walk across the plains.

I am grateful for health. This is really important and although some days I wish that my body would function the way I want it to (read:get pregnant), I am grateful for the blessings my health allows me.

I am grateful for the earth and the beauties of it. I am easily captivated by fall and all the beauty it brings. There is almost nothing more beautiful than fall.

I am thankful to be alive and be able to learn and grow and choose to be happy.


Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!