Dear partner(s),
I wanted to thank each and everyone that has supported me prayerfully and financially. It is so encouraging to know that I have a team that is supporting me in this ministry. May the Lord continue to bless you all 
As I woke up this morning, it dawned on me: thankfulness. That one word, that one emotion can change lives. I whispered a sincere prayer of thanks for all the people in my life that have shaped me into who I am today. Two of these people, are my parents.
My parents. They sacrificed a lot for my brothers and I to have a better life than communist Romania. The regime fell when I was one or two, but my parents were thinking ahead. When I was six, they made a decision that forever altered my life: Emigrating to the United States of America. At the time, I didn't understand why this was happening. I had just started first grade, and was having a very rough time. I struggled a lot and it wasn't until the end of the year that I was finally catching on to my classmates. Call me a late bloomer, if you will. So here I was FINALLY understanding everything school related, and my parents pull me out of school. PULL.ME.OUT.OF.SCHOOL. I was devastated. I didn't understand.
The Explanation. My parents explained to me that we were moving, across the ocean, to a place called the United States of America. "Ugh…ok." I thought. They went further to explain that we had won the lottery to leave. You have to understand dear reader, that during that time (1990's) Romanians weren't really allowed to leave. There was this system in place and if you had a relative that was overseas, they could add your name to a lottery and if you were lucky, your families number was picked. Well, thanks to my uncle who was in the States, we were the lucky winners. Also from what I remember, we didn't have a lot of time or our ticket would expire. My memory is foggy after this, a lot of traveling as a family to get passports done, immunizations and whatever else.
The Immigration. We boarded a big plane ( I was only 6, everything looked big to me) and were in the air for a long time. Then BAM. We were in America. We lived with my uncle, my dads brother for awhile in Chicago and then we moved to Florida where we have been residing ever since.
The Sacrifice. You must be wondering why I am titled my blog "Thankfulness Changes Live" as I ramble about my family. Well, that is because my parents sacrificed everything. My mom was a dentist in Romania. She has her own office and everything. My dad has been opera music conductor though he retired from that profession but still played the violin. He then helped my mom at her office. When we came to the States, my mom's license as a dentist wasn't approved so she couldn't go back to school at her age of 40 something but she did take some courses and the license of dental hygienist at the age of 50. That took a lot of dedication and hard work, but she succeeded with the encouragement of my dad. My dad taught violin lessons and worked as a substitute teacher. Together, they supported my brothers and I.
Thankful Heart. As you read my "About me" story, I wasn't exactly the good child. I made a lot of mistakes. But my parents were always there, praying for me and giving sound advise that I didn't listen to. They are my greatest blessing. Even though our relationships has bumps, I know God can use this to mold my character and teach me life lessons.
So, Mom, Dad, thank you for loving me when I was unlovable, for praying for me, for scarifying everything for my brothers and I.
A thankful heart can change your life.
"Could we do the same today? To not only thank God for those in our lives but also let them know how grateful we are for them? Dare we divert from our daily routine to take a moment or two to shoot off an email, make a phone call, or even send a hand-written note to someone we thank God for each time we remember them?" –Karen Ehman
"I thank God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3
