34 blessings.

Today, I'm counting my blessings. 34 years worth. The good, the bad, the unexpected, the hard, the struggles, the joys, oh the joys!

The list is long, much too long to list here, but here are 34 in no particular order...

1. my littles & hubby 2. my dear mom & stepdad {I don't have adequate words...I'm so, so, so blessed} 3. my amazing grandparents {one here, one in heaven...both loved beyond measure} and the example of what a Godly marriage looks like
4. my family...birth, steps, and marriage...all of them!}5. my health, my family's health
6. my Savior Jesus Christ
7. my dear friends, near and far
8. my freedom and all those who have paid the price for it
9. the family who helped my mom and I out of our overturned car, who later when we tried to send them a flower arrangement to thank them, did not exist at the address/small town they gave us
10. the day when at one of my lowest points I cried out to Jesus who answered me in prayer while I read my bible and told me that I would indeed have a family and children, more specifically a little girl that I should name "Grace" not Madison Grace as I had previously loved for a girl's name. Not only is this significant to me for obvious reasons, but also because I feel this was the first time in my adult life that I accepted and obeyed, without hesitation. I can't quite describe it, but it was a feeling of complete peace in my heart.
11. the day a year later when Lance and I were just starting to get serious, when he uttered the words, "you will have a family...and children...I'm sure of it." nevermind, he knew nothing of #10. I bawled like a baby.12. the sweet little old lady who was ever present in the chapel during weekday mass for an entire season of my life. she comforted me when I cried. she prayed with me and for me. she asked the priest to pray for me. she was the hands of Jesus to me. I never saw her again.
13. photography
14. amazing teachers and schools my littles are lucky to attend
15. creativity
16. experiencing life through the eyes of my littles17. integrity, compassion, sensitivity...all the life lessons my mom made sure to instill in me18. a safe & happy childhood, a best friend relationship with my mom as an adult, Mother-Daughter-Grands Annual Trips
19. overcoming an eating disorder in my teens20. Grace's drawings and imagination...the way she twirls in a tutu, Hudson's laugh and little boy silliness21. My mom and mother-in-law who take such good care of our littles on the three days I'm in the office and anytime we need help...such a blessing!22. my mom surviving the car accident that left her in a coma when I was 6 months old
23. peanut butter, pancakes, cupcakes, Riesling, cheese, animal crackers...
24. the gift of motherhood25. opportunities...past & present
26. celebrations...big & little, especially the ones for no reason at all27. Spring, picnics, cherry blossoms
28. the Rivera family
29. Sister Georgine, my 4th grade teacher
30. Puerto Rico and my family that lives there
31. a little angel in heaven
32. the birth of both my littles and their sweet hugs, oh, their hugs!33. mistakes...and lessons learned
34. God's unfailing love, Proverbs 3:5-6.

Thank you God for letting me see 34 years and for the many blessings in my life! Shape me into the person you want me to be. Help me to be a better mom, wife, daughter, friend...
Help me obey and trust without question. Guide me in every step. Amen.