This year. This day. All I can think about is giving thanks. It is the quietest, most uneventful Thanksgiving I've ever had, yet I will never forget it. Gilly and I are here in our tiny hotel room enjoying the parade, a simple feast, naps and football. It did not take hours to prepare our meal or hours to eat it, but it was a beautiful meal together at our table. We are not surrounded by our loud crazy families that we love. I miss them terribly and I miss staying up late to finish trying a new recipe to put on a cute new platter. But our families love us and we'll see them soon and I can try new recipes next year. This year its just us. We have our amazing daughter here with us and that's something we will never take for granted. She is doing wonderfully and has beaten every odd that she faced.
I think back to last year. On the day before Thanksgiving we met with our cardiologist in Austin and he confirmed what he had feared. Ry seemed to be going into heart failure. He knew we needed to get to Dallas right away. Last years holiday season held so much uncertainty and helplessness.
As a parent you will do anything in the world for your child. When it comes to having a sick little one, there is nothing you can do. It's so frustrating. You have to trust in God and trust in your medical team. We did our best to do both. We are truly blessed by the grace of God to have Rylynn still with us and at home. All the love and support of our family and friends is what helped us through. Today I'm thankful for each of you. I wish I could personally thank each of you for your kindness. No matter how big or how small your gestures each one means so much to us.
I know Ry's future will hold many obstacles for us. But we will take it one day at a time. As we celebrate each minute with her it reminds me of the fellow heart friends who are spending their holidays in the ICU. We pray every day that God grants them peace, strength and healing. Please send a special prayer for them as well.
This has been a wonderful day. We are so grateful for our blessings. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
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| Ry helping me prepare a Thanksgiving casserole |
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| Our little Thanksgiving meal. Prepared in our little kitchen. Eaten at our little table. It was wonderful :) |
7 comments:
this hutchinson living room just turned into a bawl fest!! hahaha we love you guys so so much and miss y'all more than you can imagine! so happy for this wonderful holiday season. SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR :) we can't wait to see y'all! tell ry we say hi!
Happy Thanksgiving! I bet it was AWESOME! As for ours...I thought Dusty was going to literally beat the arms off of his chair. There was yelling, and cursing, and lots of punching of ottomans. YUP, we were watching the Aggie game. ;-( See you soon! xoDusty&Cindy
What a wonderful post. I can feel your smile come through your words. This is truly a Thanksgiving this year to Give Thanks! God Bless!!
Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
Love,
Shane and Melissa Cunningham
What an awesome God we serve:). Many blessings to you all and may God continue to bless you and send peace and comfort to all those who need it!
We love u guys:)
This was a very moving post - I know I can't imagine what you have been through as a mother, seeing your child go through such trials - but I can understand the Thankfulness you have. And the wonderful new hope for a better life for her.
Your journey has often moved me to tears and to hold my sweet girl as long as she will let me. All the chores and things I'm supposed to get done around the house - they really arent that important anymore. You have given us perspective - and for that i am forever grateful. I now take the time to thank God every day for the blessings in my life. And to just take time, just to spend that extra minute kissing Ruthie or snuggling with her, or holding her even when my arms feel like they just can't take another minute.
Thank you for that. By sharing your journey, you have made my life anew and so full of love. You and Ry will always be in my prayers.
And we are so excited for the great progress! She is just doing so well and she looks GREAT! You look great too! Those smiles say it all.
Thank you Lord for that special angel heart for Rylynn.
Amen.
Andrea, of all the posts you've ever shared, this one is my favorite. I've read it several times, because I vividly remember last Thanksgiving, and God's blessings through the past year just leave me in awe, as does your own strength and Rylynn's constant courage.
Thank you so much for sharing such a simple but incredibly symbolic day with us. We all have so much to be thankful for, and Ry's blessings continue to remind us of our own. We love you all and can't Wait to see you home soon! Hugs and Love, JA, Kelly, and Hudson
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