Family

On a Saturday away from the rush and push of every day life, with my family, it is easy to be grateful for this relationship in my life.  Each of my boys deserves a thankful day of their own, but today I am grateful for them as a unit.  The family I have is more wonderful than I ever thought possible.  I am so thankful that I get to be a part of such an amazing family!

Remembrance Day

Today I am thankful for all those who have fought with honour for freedom, across the world.  Today I wear my poppy with pride.  Today I will take a minute to sit in silence and think of those who have fought and died so that I can live free.  I will also think and pray for those who are not yet free, and presently fighting in far away places.  Sometimes it's easy to think all the world is as wonderful as my world, but there are people fighting every day to enjoy what I do.  Today I am grateful for my life here in Canada, for my ability to choose the things I want to do, and for all those who have made it possible for me.

Sandpoint

Today it is very easy to be thankful for Sandpoint, and my parent's cabin there.  We have run from our lives for a weekend, and are spending the long weekend in Sandpoint.  Sandpoint is special, because it's a place where we can go to do absolutely nothing. Sometimes I like doing nothing.  Now, we will surely be doing a little something, like Christmas shopping, while we are here, but somehow even shopping is less stressful in Idaho.  Here's to a great long weekend!

Autumn

Today is one of the surely last days of fall.  The snow from last week has all but melted and the leaves, which we didn't rake up before the snow, are dry and crunchy.  Perfect for raking, jumping in, raking again, and depositing in a garbage bag!  I am grateful for autumn, however fleeting it may be here in Canada.  I will always miss Michigan autumns, but since I'm here, I will enjoy what little bit of it I can.

Talking

Can I be grateful for the fact that Silas is talking?  Well, I am.  Just in the last few weeks Silas has really decided that talking is a much better way of communication than grunting or yelling, and let me tell you, it is wonderful. It has fully assisted in our most recent accomplishment, potty training.  It provides countless moments of entertainment, like every time he feels cold and cries out, "Cold-y, cold-y." He says every word like it is a whole sentence of it's own: "Egg.  Milk.  More.  Please."  He also loves egg nog, but calls it egg. milk.  He sometimes (often) does things just because he knows the word for it: like when he puts things "Back."  just because he knows "back," or when he asks for water constantly, just because he knows the word "water."  I love the boy no matter what, but I'm really loving watching him discover language!

Examples

Today my Aunt Nancy posted about how thankful she is for her son, who is on a mission.  Well, today I am also thankful for my cousin Ethan, and all the other boys who are strong and faithful and are such good examples to my boys, including their own older cousins.  In today's world it is easy to follow the world and make choices that aren't necessarily what God wants, but there are so many that are making good choices, and I will be forever thankful to them and the example that they are setting for my children.

Happy 40th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!!!

Today my parents celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary!  So, naturally, today I can't help but declare just how thankful I am for them.  I could go on and on about all the wonderful things they have done for me over my entire life, but let's just stick with the last year.  Just a few weeks ago we moved out of their basement and into our own, but for a year and a half before that my parents welcomed my entire family into their home while Jared was getting accredited in Canada and finding a job.  Every time I tell people that they cringe, like living with parents would naturally bad thing, but honestly, it was wonderful.  My boys, who had spent their short lives in Michigan before that, didn't know their grandparents at all, and living with them allowed them to really get to know and love them.  Both boys are just as happy with Bumpa and Grandma as they are with us.  Mom and I did the whole Raw Food thing together, which was awesome, because honestly, eating raw requires a LOT of kitchen prep, and I had my mom to do it all with.  My mom and dad are so loving and generous, and we would not have survived the last year and a half without them.  So, today, on their 40th wedding anniversary, I am most grateful for them!!!