I'm Thankful

I love this time of year! Every sight, every smell, the tastes (except eggnog, eww) the spirit, the meaning. I especially love to hear and see more of the goodness and kindness in the world than the bad and the ugly. Put a big red bow on humanity and think the best of others during the holidays; right? I wish it lasted a little longer!

One of the traditions I grew up with started as a permanent marker and a table cloth and evolved into a family book with cute pages used to list our blessings and things we were grateful for. Every Thanksgiving as the turkey was cooking the book was passed around and blessing were listed. It was something my dad usually had wrangle out of us, especially when the majority of the turkey-eaters were teenagers. But with that piece of Thanksgiving packed away this year, I find myself habitually reflecting on my many blessings. This year my Thanksgiving page will be posted right here.

My little list of thanks:

Michael Alex: My thankful list could almost be completely summed up in 6 feet and a few inches. I love this man. His support and love and understanding and patience make my life more rich and complete. He fits into my world like he was made for it. He makes me better in every single way.

Michael Blake: What an incredible blessing it has been to become a mother. Guy completes our family and brings such a beautiful spirit into our home. His sweet coos and smiles melt my mamma heart and his snuggles couldn't be sweeter. I even love his pouts and alligator tears.

Dry shampoo, leggings and brow filler: Because heaven knows I need all of the above to function as a human lately. I'm convinced that each of these products make up our nation's backbone. Because, if it's no longer socially acceptable to wear stretchy-topped maternity pants (although I would argue it is, and I might forever) then leggings are my own personal Narnia (read: land of magic). And even though my aerosol can of dry shampoo instigates alligator tears of fright from Michael, I'll use it for days on end. It gives me a combined 2 more hours of sleep a week. At. Least. And let's be honest, do I need to explain the blessing of brow filler? I didn't think so.

Family Time: Sacred time that I can never get enough of. Time that is just as sweet when it's simple bedtime talks and baby tickles.

Sisters who are my best friends and preferred company. Always.

Parents who are brave and try new and scary and in their case, foreign things. Whose primary and maybe only motivation for every action is love.

True friends: There is something so safe in knowing you have loyal friends who love you and would do anything in the world at the drop of a hat. They are one in a million. I feel so incredibly blessed for the people we call friends.

Of course I'm also grateful for good food, a home that feels like heaven (most of the time!), the knowledge that I am a daughter of God, being a woman, the hair I have left, cuddles by the Christmas tree and all the fuzzy things (boots, socks, blankets, scarves, etc.).

Happy Thanksgiving!!