Thankful

I'm so bad at blogging. So, so bad. Lots of things, lots of thoughts, lots of life... but I want to get back into this... So, here it goes.
So, I'm in North Carolina right now visiting my sister and my brother-in-law for Thanksgiving. My brother-in-law is a United States Marine - yes, he's tough! So, they live in Jacksonville, NC, which is home to a large Marine base. Needless to say, the airport in Jacksonville is very, very small. I'm pretty sure the only people who use the airport here are Marines or people who are visiting Marines. So, my mom and I arrived here in Jacksonville at the airport and we headed toward baggage claim to fetch our suitcases. As we're waiting, I hear 2 little angelic voices yell, "Daddy! Daddy!" I looked across the airport waiting area to see 2 precious little girls, about ages 3 and 4, welcome home their Dad, dressed in Marine fatigues. He bowed to his knee and they ran into his arms for a huge, long awaited embrace. Are you crying yet? I totally was. I lost it. They hugged and hugged. Their mom took pictures and the girls screamed and giggled, so happy to have their Dad home safe and sound. The hugging and giggling continued as they walked through the airport and I continued to observe and cry (I partially blame the emotions on getting up at 4:15 AM to go to the airport). It was just so precious.
On the day of Thanksgiving, I praised God and gave him thanks for several blessings. 1 - That both my brother-in-law and cousin make the sacrifice to serve and protect our country. 2 - What heartache that wife/mother and those girls go through all the time without their husband/father. I'm thankful to be in different shoes but that there are women out there who fill them. And thirdly, I was thankful to witness such a touching scene. How our Father must feel when we choose to welcome Him into our hearts. Or how must it feel to be welcomed home by our Father when we go to Heaven...
Lots of thoughts.