Today I am Thankful

Thanksgiving is such a wonderful time of the year.  I love how things seem to slow down just a little between Halloween and the last week in November, and how people seem to focus more on spending time with their family and friends. Maybe it's the holiday tradition that makes people more aware of the good things in life during this time of year or maybe there is just something about snuggling up on the couch with your family on a chilly fall night that reminds you of the small things in life that make you happy.  Or- maybe we are just resting up for the Christmas season! ha
Whatever the reason, I want to take a few minutes to think about all of the things that I have to be thankful for.

I am thankful for my mom- who calls me every morning to wake me up and tell me the weather for the day even though I have two alarm clocks and at least 25 weather channels on TV. (some are even hi-def mom!)  She has the biggest heart of anyone I know.

I am thankful for my dad, who still makes me feel like "daddy's little princess" when we are together.  I will always think that he hung the moon.

I am thankful for my brother, although I'm sure he spent the first 10 years of my life trying to get rid of me, he has spent ever other year since then being the best big brother any one could ask for.  And I'm thankful that he has such a wonderful wife.  She is my favorite sister!

I am thankful for my loving husband, who can make me absolutely crazy one second and make my heart smile the next.  True love isn't perfect- but it is beautiful.

I am thankful for my 3 beautiful children.  They make me smile, always.  No one can ever prepare you for the love you feel when you become a mom.  It is all consuming.

I am thankful for the amazing friends that I have, who are more like family.  Life would not be complete without them.

I am thankful that we have been blessed with good health.  That is one thing that can not be bought or earned.

I am thankful for my job, no one could have a better boss or work for a better company.

I am thankful for a home that is full of love and happiness.

I am thankful for all of the small things that we take for granted on a daily basis- like having food on the table when we are hungry, beds to sleep in when we are tired, and the freedom to make my own choices.

I am most thankful for God who has carried me through this life with love, patience and forgiveness.  And who has blessed me with way more than I could ever deserve!

I hope that all of my wonderful friends and family have a great Thanksgiving.  I hope everyone eats too much yummy food, spends too much time in front of the TV with their family and has at least one lazy relaxing day over the long weekend!

Life According to Chris

Every year for as long as I can remember, we go to my Grandma's house on Christmas eve to spend time with our family.  As many people know, sometimes there are family members that you only see a few times a year.  Between children, work and all of the other things going on in life, we are blessed to have just those few meetings where everyone can spend time together catching up.  My cousin Chris and his family are a part of my family that we don't get to see very often, so it's always nice to spend time with them when we can.  Several years ago, during our Christmas eve dinner, Chris made the statement that he was "too blessed to be stressed".  Now, I'm sure people have been saying that for years, to most, it's just a cute little phrase.  But to me, it put a lot in my life at that time into perspective.  It had been a rough year for me that year, and I was starting to feel the strain.  That little phrase made me realize that the things I did have were truly blessing, and absolutely priceless.  Even now, when I start to feel over whelmed with the small things in life, I repeat that little phrase and somehow it always brings me back to reality.

  Sometimes I think that people (myself included) can get so bogged down with the many many things in their life that have gone wrong, that they can't see the things that are perfect.  It's so easy to dwell on the job that's stressful, the bills that need to be paid, the house work that isn't done, or the car that needs to be repaired.  All of the hard things in life can be so over whelming when they all seem to happen at once.  But, when you step back and look at the blessings in your life, it makes dealing with the difficult stuff a little more managable.  Sometimes, you just have to stop worrying about the things that are going wrong in your life and remember your blessings.  No, it won't fix the problems you have- but it will help you make it through them with a little more grace. 

From Jack o' Lanterns to Turkeys to Silver Bells

Every year, fall starts out the same way.  There are a few cool mornings followed by hot afternoons.  It seems like summer will never fade away.  But then one day in late October, the heat wave breaks and it finally feels like fall.  It usually happens just in time for trick or treating, and this year was no different.  It was hot the week before Halloween, but by Sunday the kids needed turtlenecks and tights under their costumes.(except for Luke, he wore jeans)  And then October was over, and it was time to move on to November.  As I packed up all of our Halloween decorations, I thought about  how much I love Thanksgiving.  When I was growing  up we never left the house on Thanksgiving.  It was one of those rare times that we spent the whole day together without any plans with anyone.  My mom and I spent the morning in the kitchen cooking while my dad and brother watched football. Then we had our Thanksgiving lunch and spent the afternoon watching the same two movies every year- Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story.  It was the official kick off to the Christmas season.  And it was great.  But then we grew up and got married.  Now our traditions have blended and changed a little.  A few years ago, my mom said that it was my turn to take over Thanksgiving.  I was so excited!  I love cooking, and I couldn't wait to share the same Thanksgiving day tradition with my girls.  And of coarse, Derek is all about sharing the football watching tradition with Luke!  This will be the fourth Thanksgiving at our house.  But this year will be a little different- my mom's entire family will be there!  It's the first time that we have all spent Thanksgiving together.  Of coarse, there is a lot to do in the next few weeks to get ready, but I can't wait to spend one of my favorite holidays surrounded by the people that I love the most. 
 And after everyone is gone, and all of the left overs are put away- Derek and I will drag out the Christmas decorations.  We will spend the evening untangling lights and decorating the Christmas tree with the kids.  We'll probably watch A Christmas Story and make hot chocolate...  I just love this time of year!