We Give Thanks

 

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  I like that we can take one day each year (at least) to set aside time to be thankful for what/who is in our lives.  Even if it is the simple things.

Here are a few things I am thankful for this year:

• I am thankful for work.  Work that allows me to not only provide for my family, but also work that stimulates my mind, educates me, gets me charged up and drives at my passions.  I spend most of my time working for Tropical Traditions and because it is such a fun, challenging and creative job, it doesn’t drain me of my own life.  I have the ability to provide for my family and also spend time with them.  I also have the ability to fit my job into my life and I work for impeccable people.  Something I rarely could say previously.  I appreciate their values and admire the work they have done, and continue to do, to educate the public on important health issues.
• I am thankful for my children and for being a Mom.  They remind me daily that I have the ability to give & receive love.  It’s scary to think they are a blank slate when you receive them.  I want to do the best job I can, I mean, really.  I am thankful I have an open line of communication with their father so that we can continue to raise them together, instead of putting our own best interests in front of theirs.  I hope I will be a good role-model to them.

^{A traveling Thanksgiving Collage the Kids & I made this past weekend.}

• I am thankful that Glen, the Appliance Guy, came today and replaced the coil in the bottom of my oven that just happened to explode and burst into flames nearly two months ago.  It has not been easy to cook via the stop top alone and I was beginning to panic that my favorite holiday was upon me and I couldn’t bake a pie.
• I am even thankful for the things that pain me most.  Whether it is perceived negative experiences, challenges faced or situations.  I’ve learned to draw from each in their own way so that I can grow.  (Even if the lesson is just to stay away from those people or situations.)
• Lastly, I am thankful for living in Northeast Nebraska so that I can spend holidays with the people I have almost always celebrated with most.  I can share that with my kids and take comfort in mixing in all of the old traditions with a few of the new ones we create ourselves.

Happy Thanksgiving!