We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Everything seems truly brighter when you can share the holidays with the ones you love. I am very blessed and should be thankful more than just one day a year for all the wonderful people in my life.
I am thankful to have such a loving wonderful husband that would do any and everything for his family. I don't think Matt knows how to tell anyone "no" he is more than willing to help out when he can and truly wants to do it. I am extremely grateful for what he did for me today. I have never gone Black Friday shopping and until we have more kids that
need want lots of presents I don't foresee it anytime soon. BUT Matt has! I bought my mom a Christmas tree for her birthday and I bought the wrong one. The sad part is I knew she wanted color lights, but when I went to get the tree I double checked to make sure I bought the one with clear lights- dumb me! So Matt saved the day by going at 5:30 this morning to exchange it and thank goodness he did... there were only 2 of the trees she wanted left. I love everything about him.. even when he purposely messes up the carpet right after I vacuum because he knows it will drive me nuts!
I am thankful to have Hadley in my life. I know every child is a blessing and I believe it. Migraine, tiredness, stress.. she can fix them all! I love watching her grow everyday and seeing her personality develop. I am thankful for every moment with her and cherish them. I know everyone says they grow up fast, but I didn't realize how fast until having Hadley. She may only be 4 1/2 months old but she has already changed my life forever.
I am thankful for my mom. I cannot tell you how much she has done for me and my family. I am thankful for all the things she has taught me, for the patience she has had with me and the understanding she has shown me. I don't think she knows how to take a break or relax. She constantly gives and gives. She is an amazing single mom that raised 2 kids and countless animals :-) I have lived almost half my life with only my mom and these past 12 1/2 years have held some of the biggest events of my life. She has made every single one of those moments amazing for me. She is a mom (grandma) in every sense of the word. We have most definitely had our arguments and disagreements, but it is because we are so close. I love that we are so close. I am thankful that no matter what she will always forgive me when I am sarcastic, moody, and just being difficult.
I am thankful for my brother. Now ask me this 15 years ago when he was giving me Tabasco laced pieces of Juicy Fruit gum and I might have said otherwise. He has made me who I am. I am a tougher, strong-minded and willed person because of him. We have had our ups and downs, too, like most families, but my brother stepped into the "father" role when he needed to. I am thankful that I was the only senior Bearkadette that got to bring my whole family to BK Ball so I would have someone to dance with during the father daughter dance. I am thankful my brother would drive down from college to be at my dance competitions and "big" high school events. I am thankful for all the things he has done in my life.
I am thankful for my sister. Yes, sister. I am thankful for Stacy and everything she has done for me in the past 11 years. She is an amazing friend who would do anything for you anytime of day. She is more than a friend, she is my sister. We have so much in common and have some of the same struggles. She is the easiest person to talk to and I am thankful for the many conversations we have had. I am thankful she is in my life as much as she is even while working full time, running marathons for charity, raising money for charity all while being such a good friend to everyone else in her life. Friendships take work, just like any other relationship, and I am thankful she works to stay my friend even when I am not always the best of friend to her.
I am thankful for my extended family and friends. I am thankful that my in-laws are amazing people that care about me just as though I am their own daughter. I am thankful for my friends who would do anything for me and even if we don't talk all the time, (or practically live at each others houses like we use to) I could just pick up the phone and know they would be there for me.
I am thankful that it is 2 a.m. and I have a husband that will make me coffee and fold laundry while I sit at the desk doing work on one computer and while it is processing- type this blog on the other. I am thankful for the two puppies enjoying our bed right now. I am thankful that all the Christmas decorations are up and the house is clean and Hadley sleeps through the night!
I look forward to the many many more Thanksgiving's in our families future, but for now I am going to try to be more thankful every single day.