Thankful

“Those who thank God even in trials, turn the burden into blessings. So keep your faith close to your heart and God will provide.” (Nishan Panwar)  I believe this with all of my heart.  I have had quite a few trials in my life going back to age 15 when my father died.  I have pretty much been on my own ever since then.  I quit college to get married and have babies and that was great for ten years, but ended in divorce.  I was then a single parent for the next ten years while putting myself through x-ray and then radiation therapy school.  I met and married my current husband at church – he was my daughters’ youth leader – and we have been married for 16 years. I am just now returning to school to complete my Bachelor’s degree, which has always been my dream.  I have two classes to go and I couldn’t be more thrilled about that!

I have two daughters and they have been such a blessing to us.  My oldest daughter, Amanda, graduated from college in Greensboro, NC and has since married and had a daughter of her own; she is now 15 months old and a joy to be around.  She is learning so much in day care – she is learning Spanish and sign language – it is so adorable.  

 

My youngest daughter, Caitlin, graduated a few years ago from dental hygiene school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  She and her husband have three boys – ages 6, 5 and 5 months – that is an active household!! 

 

Being a wife, mother and nana are the greatest joys in my life.  I have a job I enjoy and I love all of my family but nothing compares to this.  My husband and I love those four little kids so much – we go down to North Carolina as often as we can to see them.  They each have their own little personalities and qualities that I enjoy getting to know.  As they grow older, it feels like we get farther away – they call me their nana from far, far away and that breaks my heart.  I would love to be able to move back to North Carolina and be the nana that they come home to after school or when they’re sick or to sleep over on weekends. 

 My husband’s parents are in their 80’s and are needing some assistance.  We have recently put our home up for sale and are planning to move in with them to help out.  This was a big decision for us but one we feel strongly about.  We will stay here in West Virginia and help care for them for as long as possible.  We also have an insurance agency that my husband started three years ago.  I see our future being centered more toward North Carolina when the opportunity presents itself and that will make us a very happy and near Nana and Papa.