Thankful for so many things

Thanksgiving is a perfect time to focus on all that I am thankful for. I started a tradition with my family when I was in high school of writing in the Book of Giving Thanks each Thanksgiving. Whomever I happen to be lucky enought celebrate Thanksgiving with gets to write in the book. This year, it will be my family as we will be celebrating with them.

I am thankful for way more than the 15 things on this list, but I do have other things to do today. 

I am Thankful for:

1. My husband, who provides for our family, is a partner in this life and the best Daddy I could have ever wanted for our little girl. He respects me, and has earned the respect of those who work for him as he is caring, compassionate, generous and giving. He keeps me centered and makes me a better person. He is fun and spontaneous a great listener and a great hugger. He is my biggest supporter and my rock. I thank God every day that he brought us together.

2. My little Bundle for who I cannot imagine life without. Nothing prepared me for the love I have for her and being a mom has been the most fun, rewarding job I have ever had, hands down. Her hugs, giggles and songs fill my heart with a joy that is like nothing I have ever experienced.

3. My mom, who is a great friend and great parent. She has taught me more by example in the last few years than I could ever learn in a lifetime. Her dignity, grace and positive outlook for life are something of envy. She has overcome obstacles and celebrated life's greatest joys, always with a smile and a kind word. Putting others before herself is second nature to her and she has taught me the value of family, the importance of helping others and makes time with her special. I've seen an even more beautiful side of my mom now that she is a grandmother.

4. My brother is the hardest working person I have ever met. He is also the most generous. He is the person who would (and has) give his last dollar to someone because they probably needed it more than he. Each year for Christmas he donates money to St. Judes (my favorite charity) as part of my Christmas gift. If that doesn't say something about his character, I don't know what does. He is fun, he is smart, he is the best uncle to my little girl and their bond is untouchable. He is also hilarious. My brother is one of the main reasons I want to have another child- as much as my little girl completes our family, I cannot imagine life without my brother (and friend) by my side. Sibling relationships are like no other relationship and I want my little girl to experience that too.

5. My girlfriends, whom there are too many to list. I have friends scattered all over the country. Some I talk to more than others, but each one of my friends is important to me. I have the friends that I can call in the middle of the night because I need something (I don't do this often) and the friends who will listen, the friends who will laugh with me and cry with me and have fun with me. I have friends who have children that are now friends with my little girl and I have friends who probably never will have children. I love them all the same. I have friends that I see often and I have friends that I rarely see, but email often. I treasure these friendships SO much. I feel so undeserving of most of my friends, that I appreciate they still love me, despite my flaws.

6. The family that I married into. I am lucky to have a second family that loves me as much as I love them. I could not have married someone who did not value his family. Although we struggle to make time for both of our families at holidays, we are blessed to have this problem. Not only do we both have a family, we LIKE both of them!

7. My extended family...my grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins. I'm lucky to say that I am related to all of them. We love, laugh, give and create memories together. I really cannot do justice to how lucky I am to have these people in my life. They are there to help and there to celebrate and there to support each other. All. the. time.

8. My health. This is something I often take for granted, which I should not.

9. My house, which felt like home before we ever moved in. Our home is not only a shelter, but a place to create memories, raise a family and a reflection of us! We have lived here for just under 2 years and I cannot imagine being anywhere else.

10. My passion for life. This means that I am never bored, I appreciate the little things and start each day on a postive note. (this does NOT mean that I spring out of bed each morning)

11. Time to myself. My husband and I make an effort to create time to do the things we each enjoy. Alone. Sometimes I just need that hour to go for a run, read a book, take a bath, blog... It refreshes me and for that I am thankful.

12. My job. In a job climate that is tougher than ever, I am thankful that I have a job and enjoy what I do, I enjoy who I work with and even more important, I do not take work home with me.

13. Water. This is my drink of choice and there are people all over this world who do not have this luxury.

14. My smartphone. As much as I hate to put an item on the list, it is true. I am thankful for my phone. I am thankful for the time I used my GPS feature to get out of a rough neighborhood when I was lost while traveling for work. I am thankful for the convenience of email and calling on the go as aways to stay better connected than every before. I am thankful for the convenience of my phone.

15. My ability to laugh at myself. This has saved a lot of tears and allowed me to look at the more positive angle of tough days, embarassing moments and struggles.


Nothing brightens my day or humbles me more than focusing on all the blessings I have. I don't feel that I deserve most of these blessings in life...

~Angela