THANKFUL

 

So, it’s November, and everyone on Facebook has been doing their daily posts of “I’m thankful for….”  I haven’t been participating in this daily ritual, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been thinking about the things that I’m thankful for.  I’ve been thinking about it a lot.  So here is my list, all at once, in no particular order – some of it silly, some of it not.

 

1. I am thankful for, aside from the occasional virus or common cold, my children are HEALTHY.  There truly is nothing more important than that.
2. I am thankful for the crazy way our family came to be – it’s what makes us interesting and normal at the same time.
3. I am thankful that when we were at our lowest low, the universe guided us toward adoption, and five months later we brought home our oldest son.
4. I am thankful that VERY soon after that, the universe and Mother Nature delivered him a little brother and sister. (Technically I delivered them, but you get my point!)
5. I am thankful that my children are so close in age. It has its difficulties now, but I know they will be the best of friends when they grow up.
6. I am thankful that I still have family and friends in Vermont. This month it is 20 years since I moved away, and I definitely consider Virginia home now, but I always get excited for every opportunity I get to visit where I grew up.
7. I am thankful that when I told Mitch that I wanted to go to Vermont for Thanksgiving this year (which translates to: Let’s pack a ridiculous amount of stuff into the van and strap the kids in for what will surely be an at least 12 hour trip through questionable weather!), instead of raising an eyebrow, he smiled and said “Sure!”
8. I am thankful for my mom, and everything she has done for me my entire life. I could get specific, but we would be here all day!
9. I am thankful for wine.
10. I am thankful for the part time job I have that allows me to bring in a decent amount of money and still essentially be a stay-at-home mom.
11. I am thankful for my home.  It is a disaster and needs to be painted and de-cluttered and better organized, etc, but it’s mine. And someday I will get it into the shape I want.
12. I am thankful for the neighborhood I live in, and the neighbors I share it with. They are THE. BEST.
13. I am thankful for my two best friends. These special women have been with me through thick and thin. And even though we don’t get to see each other as often as we’d like, I know without a doubt that we will always be here for each other.
14. I am thankful for the family I was born into. Not perfect – but whose is??  Wouldn’t trade any of them.
15. I am thankful for the family I married into. I won the lottery on this one for sure!
16. I am thankful that my brave big sister is recovering ahead of schedule from her DOUBLE KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY. Just something else I can admire her for.
17. I am thankful that, even though my aches and pains are increasing as I get older, I still have all of my original parts (unlike my sister) and for the most part, they serve me well.
18. I am thankful for the preschool that all of my children have attended/are still attending. It’s a place where they feel safe and have fun, and get well prepared for kindergarten.
19. I am thankful that my children have all of their grandparents nearby – one of them in their own house!
20. I am thankful for all the help I get from family and friends on a daily basis. Being a mom is hard, but the love and support of others makes it much easier.
21. I am thankful for good books and good television when I need to escape.
22. I am thankful for my big sister and my big brother. They make me laugh and keep me in check.
23. I am thankful that my children have a dedicated, involved father who is always ready to get down on the floor and play with them.
24. I am thankful for chocolate.
25. I am thankful for my five nephews.  They are all smart and funny and pretty sweet.
26. I am thankful for my one and only wonderful niece. She is smart and funny and very sweet.
27. I am thankful that I was an aunt for many years before I became a mother. It gave me some clue on how to take care of babies!!
28. I am thankful for wine.  Wait, did I already say that???
29. I am thankful for the good food that is cooking right now and that I will be able to complain later about eating too much of it!
30. I am so very thankful for my wonderful, wonderful husband. He takes such good care of me, of us, and loves us unconditionally.  He is my hero and the absolute love of my life.

Happy Thanksgiving – may you all have a very, very long list of things to be thankful for today and every day!!