What does the "D" stand for??

How incredibly thankful I am for John D Willbanks, III. Otherwise known as Tra (pronounced "Trey" not Ira or Tra--as in Tra-La-La-La-La) I prayed for him for sooo many years. I have journal after journal with stories of dates and guys I liked, etc. and all throughout each story in my mind I thought about my future husband and how I LONGED to know who he was. I was blessed with him in late December of 2000. I saw him at church before Christmas and he told me I should try out the single's class at RHCC because there was a lot of fun people there. I remember thinking for the first time (I had seen him and talked to him several times that fall at the young adults BSF class) I'd like to get to know him better. Long story short, he called me after searching high and low for my phone number b/c I also have a nickname that is not in the phone directories and we went on our first date on Dec. 30, 2000. That was the beginning of the rest of our lives together. We talked from the time he picked me up until 3-4 in the morning. The next time we went out, the same thing happened. Although that time the first kiss followed, which we will both attest was really awkward and weird. : ) It was almost a deal breaker---but we got it worked out the third date. : ) The following list is in no particular order:

I am thankful for his sense of humor. He makes me laugh like no one else can. I'm thankful for his love for the Lord and how he does strive to know him more. I'm thankful for his knowledge of scripture---most of the time. Sometimes I'll be like, "Did you know about this story in the Bible that's about. . ." and before I get finished with my sentence, he'll finish telling me what the story was about. Just once I'd like to tell him a Bible story he doesn't already know! : ) I'm thankful for the love his parents showered him with as he was growing up and the love they continue to give so abundantly to him and me and Hayley. (She gets the most, by the way.) I am thankful for his willingness to help out around the house. He cleans the kitchen every time I cook (almost) and always says, "Sit down---let me do it!" That was hard for me at first for some reason---I've adjusted quickly though. : ) I love that he loves to travel as much as I do. I'm thankful he hasn't been to Italy yet either so that the first time we go will be together. I'm thankful for the wonderful dad he is to our daughter. He is the first one to make her laugh, which was no surprise to me. He also LOVES to go get her up in the morning and see her smiling little chubby face. I'm thankful for his friendship. He's by far the best friend I've ever had. He challenges me in so many areas, and he tells me I do the same for him. I love the way we are able to communicate with each other and I am so thankful he doesn't put up with my defensiveness or silent treatments. He calls me out on them every time and I need someone like that. I'm thankful for his sensitivity, even though it is really bugging him that he is becoming more sensitive. He has let me into his heart and shared his hopes, fears, and dreams with me. I'm thankful for ALL that we have in common: love to travel, love to fish, both have nicknames, both love the same tv. shows, love good movies, we love eating out, love our families, love spending time with our friends, love reading, playing gin together, love the Great Wall of Chocolate and the Dessert Rosa, we love snorkeling---especially in calm waters where the current is not pulling me out to sea and drowning me (great honeymoon memory), we both have sisters named Abby, we aren't fans of cats (one of the first questions he asked me), we like small dogs---especially Toto and Sam, and last (although I could continue much longer) we both like to hear his comedy routine material. : )

How thankful I am for this precious, most wonderful man that the Lord has blessed me with for the rest of my life. His positive attitude and upbeat spirit throughout the past several months as he has triumphantly battled cancer and chemo have astounded me. I always knew he was good, but his greatness has come through over the last several months. He attests all of the positives in him are from the Lord, and I do too. I'm so thankful that in a couple of days he'll be up and around and back to himself and he'll (if the Lord wills) be chemo. free and cancer free!!

Concerns for the day: I'm worried about going to BSF in the morning and Hayley waking up early and fussing with Tra under the influence of some serious drugs. I know God will work it out as he has each week of chemo. this year and I know I shouldn't stress about it. Praise God it's the last time to have to deal with this particular worry!

Oh yeah---the D stands for D. Just the letter D. : )