Live Every Moment - Thankful

This is my first time linking up with Tara's photo challenge, Live Every Moment.



This week's theme is Thanksgiving, or something you are thankful for.

I am thankful for so many, many things. I can afford to buy food, I have a roof over my head, I have warm clothes. My friends and family are all safe, happy, and healthy. I am getting married next year to an amazing man.

But the thing person I am most thankful for?

My little brother.

If you are a regular reader, you know how much I love this guy. He is the core of my family; we all revolve around him.

I am thankful that my mom, when Matt was born, dismissed the doctor who said my baby brother would die and found one who was more optimistic.

I am thankful to all of the skilled therapists and doctors who have worked with Matt and cared for him for the past 20 years. They have helped him to grow and blossom in ways that we didn't know how. And I am thankful that they have all taught us along the way so that we, too, could work with him and use the techniques that they used to help him develop.

I am so thankful that the school officials have let him stay in high school this long. He is in his last year now, getting ready to graduate in June. He won't actually have a high school diploma (no thanks to the politicians behind NCLB), but I am still thankful that he has had these past 6 years with his friends and his wonderful TA and his incredible teacher.



And more important than anything else, I am so thankful that God has let my little brother stay here on Earth with us. I am always striving to appreciate every little moment with him, every hug and every conversation. No words can describe it; all I can do is drop to my knees with tears in my eyes and just think...

"Thank you."