Gratitude

I’m feeling especially overloaded at the moment with work and school. But before I continued to complain I remembered all the help we’ve been receiving lately that really allows our family to pursue the things we choose to pursue.

First, my Mother: She watches the girls every day. She offered to do this the second she could deduce that we might have this need given our plans for this year. I really don’t think I could have gone back to school without her doing this. The girls love her and ask if they can go over to Grammy’s on the weekends after spending all week with her. Who could ask for more!?

Mimi, Steph’s Mother, has done unimaginable things for us this year. Steve and Karen have sacrificed for us and continue to do all they can to support us. Most recently, Mimi took the girls for part of this week when Grammy was in Florida. Needless to say, if everyone had a Mimi in their lives the world would be a better place, just as our world is a better place because of all she does for us.

Also coming to mind is my good friend Jason and his wife Cleo. It was fabulous to have Jason’s phone number when I started to look into going back to school; his advice was invaluable. And being a PhD candidate at U of O sure helped with forming connections with the school during the application process. To top that all off, he realized before I did how taxing the commute would be and the need to have as much study time as possible. Jason and Cleo offered to let me stay with them at their place in Eugene. Staying there one night a week saves 2.5 hours of driving, and converts it to study time, while saving precious gas money. The side benefit is I get to visit with good people.

Steph’s little sister also goes out of her way to help. She comes home Wednesday nights to teach Steph’s former private studio (a huge load off of Steph). She lets me stay at her apartment while it’s vacant. Her hospitality is heartwarming. Between Val and Jason & Cleo, my estimated gas budget of $1000/month is halved, and I get back five hours of study time. I don’t know how I would manage school with out their help.

I could go on, but I can’t (I need to study). Many more people support us in so many ways. I hate to think that we don’t let you know of our gratitude. We feel very grateful to have the friends and family that we have. We express out gratitude for all of you every night in our family prayer.