Thankful Anyway

November 1 a friend of mine decided that every day of this month she would post things for which she was thankful.  My sister had been put in the hospital just three days before after having a series of cardiac arrests and things didn't look good.  My Thank Tank was very low.  Things have only worsened through this last week but I am praising God anyway.  I thought I would take a look back and remember things for which I was thankful on the first few days of November 2011.
Nov. 1--My sister's vital signs were normal. Praise God.  I was thankful that I was so busy that day and had energy to do the things I had to do.
2--My sister had pneumonia but was still responsive to commands.  I was thankful that I was able to take a friend to therapy and was able to cook for Wednesday night dinner at church
3--My sister's eyes were wide and she smiled today.  I got a hair cut and it was raining--thankful for all. 
4--My sister was much more responsive, actually had physical and occupational therapy, they sat her up on the side of the bed, and her temperature was normal all day. Our spirits were high. I planned a trip to see her.  I was able to take my friend to therapy and go to lunch with her.  I stayed the afternoon at her house and we had coffee and talked.  
5--My sister's tubes were being removed after she proved she could breathe on her own but in so doing, she had another cardiac arrest. Thankfully, CPR brought her back.  I was thankful to have the day to clean and sort the many things that lurk around that I had considered selling on eBay or Etsy but realize that I will never sell.  We're taking them all to the auction.  We made $183 at the last auction.
6--I'm thankful to have the support of my church family and friends.  My sister is back to square one with Therapeutic Hypothermia treatments.  Still praising God anyway.
7--I'm thankful to have had something to do since my sister was not responding as she did last week. It's still too early to tell but I'm thankful all her vitals are good.  I took my friend to her physical therapy session, lunch and coffee. 
8--My sister is the same.  I'm thankful for a day at home.  I'm thankful to do some sorting and cleaning today. 
9--My sister is the same.  I'm thankful to have a full day, 9:00-- meeting about retirement investments, 11:00-- take friend to physical therapy session, lunch and coffee, 5:00 church dinner, 6:00 Early Service rehearsal, 7:00 choir practice--so thankful to be busy. 
10--My sister is the same.  I'm so thankful for friends and family.  9:45-- doctor's visit with friend, 11:00 physical therapy session with said friend (a day earlier than last week--friend to move from wraps on legs to heavy duty stockings.  That's good news.), during her therapy session Bill and I read to children in a Kindergarten class--Book Buddies (we buy books, read them and then give them to the children.  We each have 2 kids.)  My friend and I went to lunch, grocery shopped and had coffee afterward. 
11.11.11--My sister is the same. I'm thankful that her immediate family is coming to grips with the possiblity of loosing her.  I'm there, too.  God is good anyway.  I'm thankful to be home today.  I need the down time and time to do piddly household chores.  I'm going with my "therapy" friend to see Aaron Schock and Condoleezza Rice tonight and I'm thankful for that--another thing to keep me busy.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,  rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  

Colossians 2:6-7