Thursday, July 9, 2009

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!

10 comments:

  1. Friends,(yes, even bloggy friends) are such treasures, huh???

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  2. Jenn,

    I am so super excited for you that I can't possibly express it in words! God is just pouring things down on you that you so desperately need right now! I can't wait for the new memories you will be making but for the posts that will just be filled with all the joy from these new meetings.

    Love and Hugs ~ Kat

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  3. GOD IS AWESOME!! GOD BLESS you, dear friend and GOD bless all those He used to make this happen. Blessings abound....and truly you deserve them. GOD is pouring HIS gifts out to you.
    andrea

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  4. What a joy, what a gift, what a God! Splash around at the beach for all of us.

    Blessings from Costa Rica,
    Sarah Dawn

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  5. May God continue to sweetly bless you my friend, love you.

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  6. I am just so happy for you. How awesome of Kim to do that, what a sweetie! How fun to meet all these bloggy sisters. I am excited for you!

    Have fun and enjoy this precious time, my friend.

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  7. Sounds like a big bloggy retreat on the beach to me!! I am jealous girl, but rejoice how God has put this whole thing together for you. Pictures - lots of pictures!! love you.

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  8. Jennifer, you have wonderful things to be grateful for. God does bless in extreme ways. Thank you dear one for sharing them with us all.

    Blessings ♥

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  9. Do you see me blushing my friend? I so can't wait to see you and actually "meet" you. I'm sure I'm going to love you even more in real life!
    Counting the days!!
    HUGS!
    Kim

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  10. Jennifer,

    I am in tears over here. I am so happy for your and your family to get to spend such a beautiful vacation in Florida. I am also so jealous that you get to meet such great chrisitian bloggy ladies and that they get to meet you...you all are gonna have such a great time.
    Can't wait to hear all about it!
    Hugs,
    Mimi

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Thank you for stopping by today and sharing your heart felt thoughts with me. As we ride "Through the Storms of Life" together, chances are...your situation is different than mine. However, we serve the same awesome God, King of Kings who is in complete control and it all belongs to Him anyway...He wants to give you the very best. Be encouraged my friend, God loves you!

Thank you again for taking the time to visit me at "Through the Storms of Life".

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