The Morning Crew’s Jeri Anderson’s Attitude of Gratitude [PHOTOS]

I wish that God had given me a beautiful voice because I would start with one of my most favorite songs of all time…

How can I say thanks for the things you have done for me?  Things so undeserved, yet you gave to prove your love for me.  The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude.  All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe it all to thee.  To God be the glory.  With his blood he has saved me, with his power he has raised me, to God be the glory for the things he has done.

This year has been different. Yet, I can God’s hand in so many of the things that have happened.

As you many of you know we had to move my Momma into assisted living earlier this year, and while I felt like such a failure because I couldn’t keep her at home any longer, her memory loss made it so much easier.  She doesn’t know that she isn’t in her home, she recognizes us, but she doesn’t remember our names, but  she doesn’t see all of her belongings boxed up and sold…thank you God. Her next home will be with Him.

My family has experienced tragedy…not the kind that you see, it’s the kind that you keep secret.  And that secret is the most painful.  And when it hurts, you just keep pushing it down because you don’t have time to feel that, yet, God has keep my family from falling apart.  He has kept us reaching for Him for comfort that can only come from him.

I am grateful for my church family and most especially the ‘church ladies’ that know that I am struggling and continue to pray for me daily, Joan, Teri, Brenda, Candy.  You are in my prayers too. This is my refuge, my place to recharge and release some of the stress  each week.  Wayne Sanmann, our pastor sometimes  ets discouraged, but I am here to tell you, you are in the right place.  The sermons that God has given you hit the mark. And  your Bible teaching is so precious to me…ever since I was a kid.

I am so thankful for my Momma and Momma’s like her that church is not an option.  Unless we were sick we were in church.  And there were 5 of us! My momma was a Military wife, so lots of times she was herding all of us by herself.  Praise God for my Momma.  I can remember one Sunday we were really bad in church…we got the eye, but it didn’t faze us.  When we got home, she lined us all up on the couch and we all got paddled for being bad in church.  So I have to thank God for Mommas who don’t always yank their unruly kid out of the pew, but take care if it just the same.

My babies are not babies anymore.  They are adults, raised in church and who love the Lord.  I am so grateful that God gave them to me to raise.  My soldier won’t be home this Holiday.  It’s the 2^nd year that we have sat down as a family without him.  I know that there are lots of families missing their soldiers and families this Thanksgiving and my heart is with them too.  Dan and Teri  Fuller got to see Audra and James, and luckily I will be loading almost all of my family and heading to Kansas to spend the weekend with Tyler.  I am so very proud of him, but I miss him.  What a joy he has been in adulthood!  He has goals and he is working his plan to make them happen.  He gives the best hugs, I know that some of you know those hugs and if truth be told you miss them too.  Don’t worry, we will get them next month.

I am so proud of our young people!  We are so blessed to have them!  Brian and Danna, Kevin and Jen, Whitney, Heidi, Tony and Debbie, and that whole group that have stepped up to take the reigns and keep our church young and active.  I am a little jealous though, I still feel 25 most of the time….

My Whitney is part of that group.  She is the department director for PreSchool, Teaches a class, VBS Director and helps with whatever she is asked to do.  She has great ideas.  She’s kinda quiet, but she is her Momma’s girl.  She is fiercely loyal, and protective and the best little Momma ever.  God has blessed me indeed with a daughter like her.  She is one of the best friends I have ever had.  I can’t go more than 2 days without talking to her, our souls are forever connected. Have I said that she is the best Momma?  I love how she and Tim are raising McKayla and Lucas.  Both of them ask if it’s church day.  They know that on Sunday, you go to church.  And they are 2 and 4.

Those babies have given me so much joy.  When they say, Nana, I go home with you…well, you know how that feels. They are our future too.  They and every child that is raised to love the Lord and spread his word!

Most importantly on my list of things to be thankful for is that God saved me.  He keeps safe in his arms during my darkest hours, he gives me hope when I feel hopeless, and the promise of forever.  Forever is such a temporary word in our society, but praise God, forever with God is truth.

…just let me live my life, let it be pleasing Lord to thee, and should I gain any praise…let it go to Calvary!