Thankful!

Thanksgiving could not have come at a better time this year.  After the last few weeks of uncertainty on site, I need to look at all that is good and right in my life and be thankful!

So here we go… My List

Thankful for Chris.  For all his dedication to the family, his love, and his work ethic.  He is the best husband and dad. He is always fair and honest to those around him. 

Thankful for My Children.  There was nothing more in this world that I wanted to do when I grew up than was to be a mom.  I have four beautiful children on earth and one in heaven.  I am thankful for every “tiger stripe” on my tummy, because I know there are those who are not able to have children and I should not have had any, medically speaking.  Marz, Ted, Gav, and Gab, you are the best things that have ever happened to me.  God is so good!

Thankful for My Family.  Always there for me.  Always have open doors when we come home from overseas.  Always loving. Always ready to talk when I pick up the phone and call, and I am very bad at that!

Thankful for My friends.  This one is especially dear to my heart these day.  Living in Tembagapura has granted me the opportunity to meet some of the most amazing people.  Some who have become even dearer than friends.  They have become my family away from home.  This last year has been especially hard with a few of the dearest leaving site.  Stormy, Katt, Cat2, Sandy, and others…  You all will always hold a special place in my heart!  You all have taught me so much on being a better, more loving person.  Laugh when you can because life is short and you never know what changes are around the corner. 

Thankful for Tembagapura and all the men and women who make Freeport Indonesia work.  It’s always a challenge working in the conditions at the best of times.  But the last few weeks have shown that you all are also able to work in the worst of times.

Thankful for all the security guys who put themselves out there every day, who do their best to help ensure a safe environment for the town, for the women and children to go about their daily business, for the men and women going to work.  To all our security friends, thank you for taking the time to visit with the boys and talk to them about their future plans.  Not only do you keep us safe, you have become great friends.

Thankful for drinking water and electricity.  You never know what you are missing until you go for hours without clean drinking water or days without electricity.  

Thankful for helicopters and armored buses.  Because when the bad guys start shooting, it’s nice to know you are protected.

Thankful for food and medical supplies.  Because when the convoys stop, you just never know when the next shipment will make town... or what it may look like... ;)

Thankful for Hotels and Airplanes.  Airplanes to get us off the island when we are no longer able to stay there and hotels for a home away from home until we can get back to home.  Airplanes also to get the three kids from Malaysia to Singapore so we can spend Thanksgiving together.

Thankful for Technology!!  When it works on the island, it keeps you in touch with loved ones around the world and just connected.  When you are off the island it allows you to make alternative plans at the drop of a hat!  This has been needed very much this week.         

Thankful for Boarding School, Dalat, and college, Hillsdale.  It’s been nice not having the kids on site these last few weeks.  Even though I miss them every day, it’s been a few less people to worry about. 

Thankful for Doctors and Hospitals aka Modern Medicine.  Even though to me, those are to two worst things on earth, (not the people themselves) I am very thankful for modern medicine!  Modern medicine caught breast cancer at such an early stage for three of my most favorite people in this whole world and because of this, I now get checked regularly. 

And last, but not in the very least…  I am thankful for all the trials in my life!  Each and every one of them have brought me to this place, the person I am now.  Although I am not perfect and I fail every day, I have learned to love more, accept more, be compassionate more, and just be a better person to all those around me.  The good, the bad, and the ugly (no, not physically ugly!  God made each and every one of us beautiful. ;))

  Thankfulness is a state of the heart.  In joy in pain, there is always a reason to be thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!  God Bless You All!!