thankful

"I am thankful for what I am and what I have. My thanksgiving is perpetual."

Henry David Thoreau

(chalkboard artist I am not...but points for trying?)

Like most people, I do have those days where I'm down and think things couldn't possibly get worse... Fortunately, those days, for me, are very rare. As a general rule, I always try to stay positive. I try to always find the good in every situation. And I think, despite those few dark days, I really am extremely thankful for my life and for what I have, everyday. I often sit back and think about just how incredible it is to have this life of mine.
It's rare for me to put it into words, though. There are so many things that I am thankful for. They range from the frivolous (heated seats in my car & good food & coffee) to the things that truly matter (having a roof over our heads and food to eat, etc). But if I had to give an abridged version of what I am truly thankful for, it would look something like this:

I am thankful for my life and my family, and for our health.
I am thankful to be a wife and a mother.
I am thankful for Jon: for his love and support and encouragement; for working crazy hours to support our growing family; for spending most of his time away from the office helping me out around the house; for making me laugh.
I am thankful for my Ollie: because he is the sweetest, most kind and polite kid I've ever known; that- despite his condition- he is generally in good health (and for the doctors and nurses that help us when he is not); for being the brother that he is to Peyton; for his 5am tip-toes into our bedroom when I can just see the silhouette of his crazy hair in the dim light; for the hour we have in the morning after Jon and Peyton leave for work/school when, as they drive off, Ollie looks at me with a smile and says, "Just you and me, right Mom?; for the things he says everyday that make me laugh so hard it hurts; for the fact that he can actually say things, when just a little over a year ago we weren't sure if he could or would; for the fact that he is exactly who he is, because I'm so in love with the little person that he has become.
I am thankful for my Peytie: for being the silliest, funniest, (yes, sassiest) little girl I've ever known; for her incredible imagination- she could entertain herself with a couple of cheerios and a loose thread for hours (I've seen it happen!); for being the sister that she is to Ollie; for her giant hugs when I pick her up at school everyday; for the things she says and does that make me laugh so hard it hurts; for the times when she randomly says, "Mom I just love you so much!"; for her joie de vivre (I'm pretty sure she has double the general dose!); for the fact that she is exactly who she is because I'm so in love with the little person that she has become.
I am thankful to be pregnant: despite the fact that pregnancy is no walk in the park for me (far from it!) and there's not been a day in 7 months where I haven't had something to complain about (sorry Jon!),  I am so incredibly thankful for this new baby and cannot wait to meet him or her in just 10 short weeks!
I am thankful for all my family: for their love and support; for their personalities and for just ending up in the family that I did.
I am thankful for my loyal friends: who stick by me and somehow still want to be my friend despite the fact that I am a hermit and never seem to be able to text/call/email back in a timely manner.
I'm thankful for my home and for our chickens and for the 7 beautiful years we had with our Zoe. I'm thankful that we have a yard that the kids can run around in and explore and play hide-and-seek.
I'm thankful to live in New England, where the changing seasons bring so much excitement and anticipation for what's to come.

I guess, most of all, I'm just thankful for this life. It's such a beautiful thing, don't you think?

Wishing you the most wonderful Thanksgiving, friends!