Thanksgiving 2011

Wow how fast this year has gone.  And how Thankful I am for it (the year not the speed of it)!

It has been a crazy (along with me) year.  2 rambunctious boys in the house make for a long exciting day, everyday. I also added extra work hours which is one more thing I am thankful for. I think I am finally adjusting to a new normal.  I have found that normal doesn't have to mean everything goes smoothly.

I think I am going to make an A in one of my classes, I still have the chance to make an A in both but one is like a never ending time consuming Easter egg hunt.  Just not sure I can find all the "eggs" before I have to turn in my basket...  But I am very thankful for on-line classes!

I have noticed a thing going around Facebook, "what if you woke up tomorrow to find only what you thanked God for today." I think this is very profound.  I feel that sometimes I am so self centered and selfish and so worried about my family and my kids having more more more that I forget to stop and just be thankful for how much we have.

I look around and I see these amazing people that give so much of themselves to helping others and suddenly I feel so very small.  I think that one of my "resolutions" for the year was to be more helpful to others.  I don't think I have fulfilled this at all.  I may have written a few more checks and even though that is definitely needed, I don't know that for me it was a real sacrifice.  Yes, we are a paycheck to paycheck kind of family (trying to fix that as well) so an extra check here and there may be a small significance but I think I need more.  I think I need to see the difference.  I think I need to touch the difference.  So in an effort to be more appreciative and thankful I am going to do more hands on giving in the coming year.

So what am I thankful for?  God, Jesus, my husband, my boys, my family, second chances, love, you, people who sacrifice, freedom, soldiers, my home, my country, TV, seasons, school, pre-school, church, friends, food, clothes, kindness, generosity, patience (whatever that is), forgiveness, medicine, Benedryl, Sprout, on-demand, naps, emotions, therapy, and the list goes on and on and on.

What are you thankful for?  Are there things about the way you feel and give thanks that you want to change?