What I'm Thankful For This Holiday Season

* My stubborn four year old who asks me the same question 28 times before I can even process the first time. He’s smart, tough, opinionated and has beautiful red hair to go with his fiery attitude. Thank you. 

* My family’s laundry is more than I can handle and never, ever ending. My boys tear their pants, stain their shirts and stretch out every single collar in their closet. I’m thankful my kids are healthy and able to play, romp and ruin their clothes. 

* My older two boys’ constant arguing, out-doing eachother and fighting. I’m thankful they have one another 19 months apart to always lean and depend on. They drive me crazy constantly. So grateful. 

* My gray hairs and fine lines and wrinkles. I’m getting older and getting to see and experience so much. I’m getting to see my kids grow up. So very thankful for that. 

* My teaching job that has me up early and working five days a week away from my kids. My job that provides for us just enough, and gives me special holidays and time with my family. That is wonderful. 

* My fourth child that we didn’t plan for and cannot afford. She is healthy, happy, moody, loud, stubborn, dramatic and provides something different that our family didn’t have before. We know the feeling of almost losing her and now we’ll go into complete debt to keep her and raise her.  

* My 4:30 am workouts. One day my knees will give out, my hips will hurt and I’ll yearn for that exercise release. Thankful for that now. 

* Always being stressed and on the go with my kids’ activities. Having the means to put them in the sports they love and hobbies that interest them, I am so grateful for. And so thankful they are healthy enough to do the things they love. 

* My home that is way too small for us. I’m so grateful for this house and all of the cramped closets and over-populated bedrooms. 

* My husband who drives me crazy with his quiet demeanor and patient voice. So grateful when he is calm and doesn’t even realize there’s a huge problem, (there’s usually not) puts me in my place and reminds me when I need to be patient, calm down and stop yelling. So thankful he has put up with me all these years. 

* I’m thankful that my family is together now, every day and especially for the holidays. I know there are families that are split for long periods of time. I know some families are missing loved ones and aren’t complete. Having all of my people together is my favorite feeling. 

* My mom is still here, healthy, busy running her business and married again. Cancer took Dad, so I am so very thankful to still have my mom (and Big Ron). And so thankful my kids are very close to their Grammy. 

* My in-laws. Yes, I said I’m thankful for my in-laws. But I love mine. They are truly wonderful. They raised my husband. They love my kids. And I think they like me. So thankful for Nonnie and Grump. 

* The military men and women. They have so much more to worry about than the trivial, little things I encounter every day. They are away from their families. They take pay cuts, no holidays, and risk their lives so me and my family can live freely. So very, very thankful for all of them. 

* My friends. My bestfriends and close acquaintances. All of them have listened to me vent and rant before. They have all helped me one time or another when they saw a momma outnumbered and in need. So thankful for my momma friends. 

There’s so much more I am thankful for but I know this is long enough of a read for a holiday. We’re busy. We’re rushing around. Cooking. Cleaning. Getting dressed up. Dreading a relative or two. Stressing over the Christmas shopping and spending money. But there’s so much more to be thankful for. The little things all around us. Not the things we want or think we need. It’s the things we have and usually complain about. It’s the things we rarely think about. So very thankful for everything I have.