Thankful Thursday~Blessings

I am so thankful today for the blessings that God has given to our family. Blessings come in big packages and small ones. The one that I want to specifically mention today is the blessing of generosity of a friend that I've never met.

As many of you that follow my blog know that I have one child left at home, Tyler. You also know that it has been very hard on me the past year knowing he is growing up so fast and will be graduating in 3 very short years.

Roger and I have always made sure that we took family vacations and made the memories that will last a lifetime. My parents always took us on vacation and Roger's didn't. His father was a football coach and summer wasn't the time for vacations.

We wanted to go to the beach this year, up the east coast to Washington DC-New York City-Cape Cod-Niagra Falls next year and finally, out west to the Grand Canyon and through the desert all before he graduates.

With money being tight and the economy not looking real promising, we had decided to pull our camper and go to Panama City, Florida (Panhandle) to St. Andrews State Park. I went there many summers as a kid. I reserved a sight several months ago and it was the most cost effective trip to the beach we could do.

One day while I was working on redesigning my blog layout...I posted a comment on Kim's site for her to email me because I had some questions. Her layout is always darling and she is forever changing it.

Instead, Kim sent me an IM. In our conversation, our vacation to Florida came up and she asked where were we going. I told her and she offered us their cottage to stay in if we wanted to come a little further.

I asked where she lived in comparison to Sarasota (west coast of penisula) or Satellite Beach (east coast of penisula). She said they were 3 miles from Satellite Beach.

Satellite Beach is one of our favorite vacations spots of all our beach trips. The sand is absolutely gorgeous and we love to watch the sea turtles come onto shore at night. God is so good!

Honestly, I couldn't believe what I was reading! Here is a lady so only knows me through blogging and has never laid eyes on our family but yet she offers us her cottage to stay in on the beach! I told her that I would talk to Roger and see what he said. I had no idea if he would be for it or against it.

I talked to him the same day and he was floored at the generosity of someone we have never met before. He said "yes", of course.

We will depart Arkansas headed to the beach on July 23rd by way of Cherokee, NC, then on to Satellite Beach, FL. Roger and my BIL threw a monkey wrench into my vacation plans with a football camp at Western Carolina University for Tyler with Uncle Marty(BIL) coaching and Roger helping him. How could I say "no" to that? I couldn't.

We will be staying with Kim from Sunday, July 26 - Thursday, July 30. The blessings just keep growing too...because not only will I get to meet Kim (IRL) but Debra will be coming to spend the day at the beach with us as well.

We will leave Satellite Beach mid-day on Thursday headed to Orlando where we will take in Wet 'n Wild, Sea World and Universal Studios.

Can you handle any more blessings? I will be meeting Lisa Shaw on Friday morning for breakfast.

All because of the generosity of Kim and her family...I will be blessed by meeting 3 of my bloggy sisters, getting to take a trip to our favorite beach and the parks in Orlando. We have been wanting to take Tyler back to Orlando because he was only 2 the last time we were there and doesn't remember the trip at all.

God bless you, Kim for your generosity and I CAN'T WAIT TO GET THERE!!! I'm counting down the days until I see your sweet face and hug your precious neck! 17 days until I see you face to face.

For more wonderful TT, visit Lynn.

Have a wonderfully blessed day!