Four

I hosted Thanksgiving for my in-laws this week and then had a second day of Thanksgiving amazingness with my family yesterday.  It's been a busy week.  So here are the last four days of Thankful posts.

Day 27:  I am thankful for cars.  I know this may seem a little odd, considering everything that has gotten me to where I am today, but I am still thankful for them.  I am thankful that I don't have to walk or ride a bike when it is really cold or really hot outside.  I am thankful that I don't have to push a handcart or ride a horse.  I am thankful for reliable transportation to get me to wherever I need to go.  I am thankful for the safety advances in cars and carseats so that I can get myself and my family where we are going and know that by wearing our seat belts and riding in appropriate car seats we are as safe as we can be and are doing everything we can to keep ourselves safe.

Day 28:  I am thankful for emergency and safety workers such as firefighters, police officers, EMT's, and so on.  Were it not for those emergency responders this would be a different story, a very different story.  While helicopters still terrify me and I never want to be even near one ever again, I am thankful that they are available and help save lives every day and for the people who make them possible.  I am thankful for the EMT's who are trained to save lives.  I am thankful for the police officers who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe.  The safe for firefighters.  They also put lives on the line to keep people safe and save lives.  I know I could never do what they do.  And another thank you to their families who allow them to serve and protect others.  Without the support of spouses and families we might not have these brave people.

Day 29:  I fear I have been remiss and left out two very important people in my life.  About 10 years ago my parents sat down with Josh and me and told us something that, at the time, sounded a little bit crazy.  See, I was a jr. in high school and Josh was a freshman, and they wanted to adopt a baby.  It took some time and a lot of prayer, but they eventually got their baby.  He was sick and early, but a fighter and he was sent home from the NICU earlier than anticipated.  He has grown up healthy and strong and to be a wonderful uncle to my kids.  He loves to read and loves the Gospel.  He was recently baptized and has set an awesome example for Mr. E.  I am thankful for this great kid!
Next up is our other little fighter.  After adopting Gabe my parents decided to do foster care.  They had a few children come in and out of their home over a few years, then just shy of 4 years ago one came to stay.  Ethne was about 5 months old and we had come to visit while Lawrence was away for a few days.  This little guy was doing his own time in the ICU at Primary Children's due to some serious injuries, but also proved to be a fighter.  He was released into my parents' care and healed under their watchful care and love.  He was a few months younger than Ethne and grew to be a great playmate for her.  He teased her and she tattled on him and they learned and grew together.  He is now a great playmate for Mr. E.  I am thankful for these two, crazy boys and for adoption that brought them to our family.

Day 30:  Internet has changed life in the last few decades.  It makes it easy to shop in pajamas, watch TV and movies instantly, connect with distant friends and relatives, and even makes this blog possible.  I am thankful for the internet and all the good that can be done with it.  I know there are a lot of dangers on the internet too, but there is also a lot of good.  I am thankful for email and skype, for facebook and blogs, for pinterest, and all the other great distractions and tools that can be found online.