Grateful

So it's that time again, where I start my post with, "It's been a while since I've updated this..." And, it has. I have some posts planned...Grace is now six months old which is definitely worthy of a post; I took some pictures of Sharlee and Zach this past weekend, also worthy of a post; and I'm currently baking pumpkin bread, which if it turns out, may be worthy of a post too. I have some others in mind as well, and if I wasn't so busy/didn't fall asleep at nine when Grace does, I would actually write them.

For today though, I'd like to take a few minutes to share some of the things that I am especially grateful for this year.

So here it goes, I'll try and condense my list as much as possible. I'm also sure that I will leave some things out.

I am thankful for my home. I am thankful for heat, and running water. I am thankful for doors that lock and keep my safe. I am thankful to live in America, where I don't have to worry about a war being fought in my front yard. Ken and I are always dreaming up ways we could improve our home, from new bathroom counters to hardwood floors, etc. But, in truth, I am just grateful for what we have, as it stands now. Nothing NEEDS fixing. My daughter and step-son are growing up in a safe, warm, home, with a backyard to play in, and a room of their own to have sleep overs in. I understand that although we are always dreaming up improvements, we have more than most, in the big scheme of things, and I am truly grateful for that.

I am thankful for my job and for Ken's. These are such hard times right now. I am constantly hearing stories of people I know that are out of work, or getting their hours reduced. We have definitely taken our fair share of cuts in my school district. As much as I'd love to have our pay reinstated, I am just grateful to have a job. One that I love, at that. I don't know that many people can say that they truly love their job. I love mine. This year has been tough, as I've learned to adjust my schedule to balance both Grace and my students, but I do really love my job. I am not only grateful for my job, but am also grateful for my students. This class has provided my with challenges I have not encountered before, and they are definitely keeping me on my game, but I am grateful for them. I am grateful for the challenge. I am grateful for the energy that most (not all) bring into my room each day. I am grateful that I get the opportunity to help them grow as readers and as writers, as well as people. I have an AMAZING advisory. (Kind of like a homeroom; we meet each day for 25 minutes. We read three days a week, but then the other two we do team building/character building exercises. My students come into my advisory in 6th grade and then stay in my advisory the duration of their middle school experience.) I have grown attached to each of them and am definitely thankful for them.

I am grateful for my husband. This is a given, I am sure. But, I really am grateful for him every day. He is my best friend. Yup, I am cliche. But, he really is. My family has gotten very small. In fact, sometimes it feel like it doesn't extend past our house. I don't know what I'd do without him. I am grateful for how hard he works, for his sense of humor, for his ability to cook:), his selflessness, and who he is as a father. I am lucky. We even each other out.

I am grateful for friends and for Ken's friends. We don't see many of them as much as we used to, but I love them all just the same.

I am grateful for Sharlee and her family. I am grateful for Elise and her e-mails, as well as her blog posts:) I am grateful for Cara and her family. We could not have asked for a better person to watch our daughter. I have no idea what we would have done if we would have put Grace in daycare. Cara is amazing! Her children are amazing with Grace as well. I miss Grace when I'm at work, but I never have to worry about her. I know she is being loved and taken care of. I had this fear when she was born, that she would grow up and feel like she didn't get enough love, because my mother isn't here. I am so, so, SO grateful for the way in which Sharlee's family loves my daughter. They have given me and her such a tremendous gift. There are not many families like theirs. They are truly special.

I am grateful for Amanda and Cecily, and their family as well. For loving our little family and treating us like we are a part of theirs.

I am grateful for Amanda (I have two in my life:) and our friendship. We have been friends for over 20 years, and although we live miles away from each other and don't get to see each other much, I still feel just as close to her as I did when I was fourteen.

I am grateful for Fenix. We have a relationship that I am incredibly proud of. I am grateful that I have been given the opportunity to be one of his parents.

I am grateful for my daughter. The experience of being her mother has been above and beyond what I expected. I know that I have been given a once and a lifetime gift, and I will never take that for granted.

I am beyond grateful for my mother. I had/have one of the best. My daughter will never meet her directly in this world, but I hope that she will through me. I was given the most amazing role model of what a good mom is. My mom was my best friend. She loved her kids with all of herself. There was never a day in my life that I didn't feel loved and accepted. I always mattered to her. I loved my mom with all of my heart and she loved me with all of hers. It's not something that I can adequately describe in words, but I am eternally grateful for her and for the precedent she set for who I am/who I become as a mother.


There is more that I am thankful for, but these are some of the biggies that I've been thinking about lately.

It's a little late, but I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!