Thanksgiving

Yes, its that time of the year again...the beginning of the holiday season and the day of Thanks. Thanskgiving starts the top of the rollercoaster downhill run at breakneck speed through the end of the year and into next when we look back and say "what the hell....its 2009 already???" But before we start the slope into 2009, I want to take a moment to look back at 2008 and think about what I'm thankful for.....

my son, I love him more than air and without him, couldnt survive. and frankly I'm thankful as all hell that everyday I get to watch him grow up. Almost as much as watching him, I'm thankful that I appreciate the day to day amazing process that I get to be part of. I wish that all parents could step outside themselves and realize that aside from the job of parenting (notice its called that alot..sigh) the discipline that you teach and the moments you think they'll NEVER get it, being a parent is alot of fun and joy. I'm rediscovering the fun of baking and being a frog :) I get to pretend I'm a pirate or paint without caring what the end result looks like. I'm walking slower to see whats around us and singing more! Put THIS on a job description and look how many people would want the "job" :)

My family- May they always drive me crazy...remember, DysFUNctional is just a word waiting for the FUN to get out :) Honestly, I'm very thankful for the support. I know families that dont have the support system that we have and I dont know how they do it. I know some that dont make it and that makes me sad. Imagine if everyone had someone they could lean on. Maybe there wouldnt be abuse in the world.

My friends- remember that email going around about the friends there for you either for a reason, a season or a lifetime? I have friends in every category. I miss all the ones that came through for a reason and a season but each of them left behind a memory or a lesson that I hold close. Some I hear from now & then, some I dont. Makes me sad but I'm still thankful for all of them even if they arent still a daily friend. I have alot of the lifetime friends and they know how much I love them. If they didnt, they do now :) Lifetime friends stop being just friends and become family. I wish I could hug them all everyday, but maybe this year I'll get better at telling them even if they arent close enough to hug.  

I'm healthy, I'm happy, warm and fed. Clothes on my back and (yes, I say it ever year) safe. No one beats me, abuses me or my child. I go to sleep at night knowing that I'll be safe while I sleep. My child wakes up with a smile on his face never fearing that someone will hurt him and not worried about getting enough to eat. Every year a make the same prayer, I want this for all the children in the world. I dont cry often, but when I do, this is one of the things I cry for. 

The days drag by sometimes and you forget that today you're harrassed about getting out to work on time or having an argument with someone and feeling crappy about it or just annoyed about cleaning the house again. But I have a job, I can make it up to that person and I have food to cook...Thankyou God for the blessings in my life. I'm sorry I take them for granted and maybe, for at least this one day, we'll all appreciate what we have with wide open eyes. Maybe it will spill over into the next day and maybe, just maybe, it will spill over into the rest of the year.

My goal for 2009 is to pay it forward... So dont be surprised if you get a hug from me for no reason :)

Happy Thanksgiving to all :) XXOO