Taking It All For Granted.

Over the weekend we went to a Halloween party given by some neighborhood acquaintances of ours. They live in our culdesac and their kids aren't that close in age to ours but they are always nice and friendly and each year host this party that we go to with the rest of the development, it seems.

This last Saturday was this years party and it was great. The kids got all decked out in their costumes and we walked down the street. They had a great time playing games, getting goody bags, eating treats and pizza and just having a good time.

There were a couple families there that I had never met before. One of them has a little boy who's just a little older than Henry, and his cancer is currently in remission. Yes, you read that right, his cancer. I don't know what kind of cancer he had, I do know that he's all done with chemotherapy now and I do know that he looks just like any other toddler boy. I didn't ask questions of the parents because of my own awkwardness. But I wish I would have.

Another family at the party was there with their two little girls, eleven months apart. Bella, 21 months old is adopted from Guatemala. She was promised to the couple when she was days old and was supposed to come to the states at 3 months. Instead, legal red tape got the best of the situation and the couple waited. While they waited, the once "infertile" couple miraculously became pregnant. She had a baby girl last December, Bella came from Guatemala in January.

Sometimes it's easy to whine and complain about the busyness of life, the ups and downs of normal life. But it was so clear to me Saturday how much I take for granted.

I can't imagine having a sick child. I can't imagine watching my child suffer through an illness and go through chemo treatments. It is hard enough to watch one's parent do this let alone your child. As I watched their little boy run and play with the kids, it made me think of just how much I take our health and safety for granted.

I can't imagine waiting for a child from abroad, waiting and praying for a little one you've never met and not getting to see her or hold her in your arms until nine months after the date you were promised. And then having even more on your plate than you ever intended. God is so mysterious,isn't he?

I don't know why these families have been struck with such heartache, I'm certain it's not because they deserve it.

I know that these are just two families out of hundreds, millions that have watched their children suffer through diseases or waited for a child to arrive from overseas. There are lots more families with worse struggles than even these. But I have nothing to complain about, at least I shouldn't.

The quest for the perfect Halloween costume is small beans compared to some of the daily struggles other families are living through.

I take so much for granted. Too much.

Today I am going to thank God for family, health, safety and the blessings he pours upon us every day. I'm asking Him to forgive me, yes forgive me for taking it all for granted.