It was a hit. I put the leaves in a cookie jar with a sharpie and whenever a thankful thought hit we would write and attach it. Even LaDonna and Pam (the two ladies that help me with my house) got into idea and one day we came home to find that they had written thankful thoughts and left it to be attached. Here is the tree laden with our praises of Thanksgiving.
One of the things that we had Thanksgiving praises for was a emergency situation that arose in the early part of November. Picture this:
A beautiful fall day.
Monday for the Blankenship's is a busy one.
Two sweet women, LaDonna and Pam are coming over to help Mrs. Blankenship out with her housekeeping, Mr. Blankenship's father is having surgery in the next town, Korinna has lots of therapy to do and of course the children will need to be feed, naps taken and errands ran. It is a difficult task but not an impossible one. The ladies of the family take off to start completing the days tasks and Mr. Blankenship heads off for the one hour drive to the hospital to be with his family. Things were running smoothly. Bank check, Physical Therapy check, Chick-Filet check. Picnic at the park so Leila can nap and Elaina can play UMMM..... well this is were things went awry.
Elaina finished her meal and asked to go on the playground. Ms. Blankenship warned her that we were running short on time so don't be disapointed if she doesn't get to play for very long. Elaina skipped off ran up the steps climbed the ladder to the slide only to stop and wave at Ms. Blankenship. One slide down the swirly slide. Two sweet six year old feet touch the mulch and quickly run back to those steel steps that lead to that wonderful slide. Ms. Blankenship's waits to see Elaina since her view of the steps are slightly blocked by the gigantic pines that are prevalent through out the park. All of a sudden SCREAMING. A mother knows that scream. It is the scream that triggers a Mom's emergency switch. This is bad this is very bad.
Ms. Blankenship runs towards the playground to find Elaina leaning over screaming and a small dribble of red coming out of her mouth. Her first thoughts are busted lip, bit tongue, busted chin. "Spit it out baby, spit it out!" Ms. Blankenship calls out. "It is okay" Ms. Blankenship arrives and even though she is scared to pieces on the inside she keeps a calmness about her as she asks Elaina to open her mouth. It worse than she thought and yet simultaneously it could be lots worse. There is a huge gap in her mouth two of her teeth are missing. At this moment, the two hear a male voice. "Ma'am, do you need this." To their surprise a Cintas man was in his truck having lunch and had seen the fall take place. Climbing over the fence bearing a kitchen towel with ice wrapped up inside. By this time Ms. Blankenship had Elaina on her hip and was staring at the mulch ground as she responds, "Thank you, Thank you".
This man was a sweet man. He mentioned something about his niece had just done the samething and that he had saw her fall. Ms. Blankenship never got his name but just kept on staring at the ground obviously looking for something. The Cintas man finally puzzled by her asked if he could do something. "I'm looking for her teeth. They are baby teeth." realizing that she needed to move on she quickly thanked the man again and loaded up Elaina into the car.
At this point Ms. Blankenship's mind was swimming with thoughts. "This is the worst time. Korinna has communication therapy in 20 minutes. I have to call and cancel. Were do I take her? I can't take her to Birmingham. How am I gonna do this with all 3? Crap! Josiah, he needs to be picked up in 45 minutes. I need to call Ethan. Yes! Yes! Jamie is off on Monday. Dr. Lamarouex's that is were I will take her.
A quick call to a close family friend quickly agrees to help out and meet them at dentist. Another call cancels communication therapy. This now finds Ms. Blankenship pulling into the dentist office. Jamie (the close friend) is still another 10 minutes away. She will have to go into the office with all of the kids. All of these were just thoughts. Ms. Blankenship never stopped but just kept on working. There were many questions on how this would work but she knew what was being asked of her and she just kept on working in faith as she unloads the car. Korinna in stroller chair, Leila on her hip and poor Elaina is gonna have to walk in holding the kitchen towel now blood stained up to her mouth.
The door of dentist office is very heavy and Ms. Blankenship has to do a maneuver only her and other people with multiply children in various degrees of devolopment understand. This is the point were she is starting to feel the weight of her job and the lies from the devil are slowly trying to bring her down. He is SCREAMING, "HOW ARE YOU GONNA MAKE THIS WORK!"
It was one of those moments were most people would scoff at but it is true. As true as I live and breath. As she opened the door the mid afternoon light filtered through the waiting room only to rest on a familiar face. Not the family friend instead on another friend. One that she sees and one that has even helped them advocate for the rights of their daughter Korinna. There she was Krista, sitting and looking @ the whole Blankenship clan. All Ms. Blankenship could get out was, "Thank You GOD!" She truly meant it, this was not said in some overwhelmed worldly vain way but in true thankfulness for HIS provision. "Hey, Um we have had a slight emergency at the playground will watch them?" as she strolls Korinna and passes over Leila. "Of Course" said Krista in a reassuring voice.
Ms. Blankenship arrived at the desk and quickly informed the women that we had a small dental emergency. She then filled them in on only the facts, which for Ms. Blankenship's close confidants would have known that this was work mode for she never deals in just the facts. At that point Ms. Blankenship was drawn to her right and there signing out was another friend. In fact, it was Leila's Sunday School teacher. Immediatly Ms. Blankenship was drawn to tears. Look at God's provision. Look at how He provided for me. Here on this day there are people all over the world who are dying, hurting, needing Him and He took the time to orchestrate THIS.
After that it was really quite simple. With ease and comfort in the care for the other children, Ms. Blankenship carried Elaina to the back office and focused on that child. One dentist felt comfrotable with the injury but wanted a second opinion. Back to the waiting room were Jamie (close family friend) awaited. Ms. Blankenship loaded Elaina up in her car and the other two in Jamie's and then headed off to the second opinion. On that trip Mr. Blankenship was finally able to be contacted and plan was made for Josiah. A call was put into the school for Josiah. With all of the encouragment flowing in and the knowledge of her partner here on earth coming to join her in the battlefield made the energy and rejuvenation flow from her. Second opinion was still positve. Clean inury. Where the injury incurred allowed the teeth to fall out cleanly and there was no bone left behind. Lastly, Josiah picked up by Mr. Blankenship. Korinna and Leila picked up by Mr. Blankenship. One trip to the pharmicist for Ms. Blankenship and a trip to Target to bless the sweet trooper Elaina with a gift and pick up something quick for dinner.
It was a difficult one but not impossible! 
Thanks to MK for letting me know that there was a newer blog version. She was right it is so much better.
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