Giving Thanks

Sunday November 22 at their Gratitude Night!

Check out those chubby cheeks! :)

Robert and Ashley gave me a gift. The gift of gratitude. The Sunday before Thanksgiving our family got together. We were joined by Mike, Lara & family, the only ones missing were the Bakers. Robert and Ashley started off an FHE by sharing stories from their experience battling leukemia. They pointed out in each story how gratitude has blessed their experience. Then they passed out slips of paper, on it was printed someone's name in our family. We went around the room and said why we were grateful for the person on our paper slip. No matter what your family relationships are like: good, bad or indifferent, they could benefit from that exercise. Suddenly you are reminded of all the amazing qualities each family member possesses. It was awesome! Here is a quote that Ashley posted on her facebook page:

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." -Melody Beattie

Robert and Ashley are such an amazing example to me, and many. They keep their spirits up and look for the blessings in every situation, both big and small. To finish up they gave everyone a piece of paper with the words "Things I would like to be more grateful for..." I've been thinking about it ever since. And you know what has happened? I have noticed the little things, the tender mercies and even the things I first think are a frustration--yet they work out for my benefit. I have seen the Lord's hand in my life a little more than I did before.

So Thanksgiving Day has passed, yet today I am giving thanks. Thanks for Robert and Ashley. Thanks for their example. Thanks for Robert's life. Thanks for families and for friends!

Thanks for you! For your thoughts and your prayers!

With Robdob back in the ICU lets fill up his waiting room. Please feel free to leave a comment and let him know that you are thinking of him and are praying for him. And Ashpants too! Thank you!

*Robert's bronchioscopy went well, they were able to easily get fluid from his lungs, as well as a biopsy. We are waiting on results from those cultures. His initial lumbar puncture results are in and they look good, they also sent off for a culture of that, and it hasn't come back yet. No other test results are in as of yet. We may hear more after rounds tonight.

Robert is stable, and he has been calm all afternoon. Ashley is catching up on her sleep a bit from her eventful night. We'll post again soon!