Ten Things I'm Thankful For This Year
- My new friends/honorary family in Maliarette, Haiti. I visited Haiti with a group from church in August and fell in love with the families and the kids. We partner with the 410 bridge and send groups regularly to this community, and have spent years building trust and support. To learn more about this community in Haiti, check out the 410 Bridge page. You can see what children are available for sponsorship and what the community needs. When we visited, I got to see the children get personal letters and pictures from the people in my church. It was really cool to make the connections.
- My new living room! About a year and a half ago, I decided that I was going to re-do the steps to the second floor. I wanted to take off the carpet and paint it nice and pretty. For some reason, once I pulled up the carpet, my husband decided we should just re-do the ENTIRE DOWNSTAIRS... and somehow, I agreed that this would be a great idea. Now,, almost two years later, one room is done. I am SO grateful for that one room being done. You have no idea what it's like to literally live in one room of your house. Unless you live in Haiti, I guess...
- My husband. He really puts up with a lot of crazy from me. I am in my head a lot, and when it gets full, the ideas in there just come tumbling randomly out of my mouth, and he must wonder about me a lot of the time. I always say I'm shocked he leaves me alone with our children all day without worrying that I will lose one of them. He never complains, and sees to it that I am spoiled as much as possible.
- My BFF, Julie. We have been friends for so long (can you say, 35 years?), that it is easier to count the number of years we HAVEN'T known each other than it is to count how long we have been friends! We met in kindergarten, we fought like sisters through high school, we lived together in college, and now we text and Skype from 1400 miles away as we raise our kids and love our husbands. She is the only one who has stuck by me through the long haul, and she is officially family to me.
- This blog. I'm not sure if this one makes me sound self-serving? I simply say this because it allows me to have a creative outlet and it holds me accountable for the things I want to get done. If I'm going to blog about them, I better do them right? And with the blog comes thankfulness for YOU, dear reader, for supporting me and reading my drivel...which also keeps me accountable! Thank you!
- Project 333. I am so glad I stumbled upon this group of people! I have wanted to simplify my life for so long...and there is a plethora of complicated information about simplifying out there. But this one really got me off my butt and into action. Anyone who has ever started a project knows that all one needs is the first step. After that, it's easier to take the next one, and the next...until it snowballs into great progress. So thank you for Project 333 for taking stress out of my life that I didn't even know was there until it wasn't.
- My children. Man, do they teach me stuff. We have forayed into cyber-school at home this year and is it ever an eye-opener. Being a direct part of my children's education has changed all our lives for the better. We spend SO MUCH time together, it's ridiculous... but it's okay. That surprised me, but in a good way. I am not one of those moms who "Loves being with my children" day in and day out (you must sing that in a sunshiny voice while skipping to and fro to get the full effect. Ahem.) ...I'm kind of a loner and get irritated when people constantly talk to me - and my kids talk! All. The. Time. But we are good, and I'm thankful for that!
- Fresh water to drink and plenty of food to eat. This one goes back to my trip to Haiti. I had to be careful not to drink the water there. I had to also be careful not to eat just anything someone handed me to eat. It was weird for me. Especially when the people offering me the food and water really needed it for themselves and for their children...but they were only thinking of me. Being mindful of what I eat and drink is my way to be mindful of my new friends in Haiti, and what they are NOT eating and drinking...
- Cooler weather. I love the crisp autumn weather. Actually I like autumn everything. I like the colors, the smells, the tastes...everything.
- Turkey and stuffing. There. I said it. I'm completely superficial here, but I really love the bird on Thanksgiving.
How about you? What are your three top reasons to be thankful this year? Leave yours in the comments!
