I Am Thankful For..

I am thankful for my family.

I am thankful for the husband who cooks and cleans, who helps with homework, who takes my boys hunting and fishing, who lets me soak in the tub and enjoy a good book, who bites his tongue when he'd rather not, and who loves me despite all my faults.

I am thankful for my oldest boy who plays the same games his brother wants to play, who doesn't argue with us when we remind him to do his homework, who is content to be alone or can enjoy a good friend's company, and who still asks me to tuck him at night.

I am thankful for my littlest boy who gives me hugs and kisses whenever and wherever, who cleans his room even when he doesn't want to, who idolizes his big brother, and who writes love letters and leaves them lying around the house for Mom and Dad to find.

I am so thankful for each of them.

I am also thankful that the recent scare with my brother didn't have anything to do with the heart problems he had as an infant. I'm thankful the EKGs, the Echo, and the heart enzymes all came back normal. I'm thankful he didn't have a heart attack or need open heart surgery again. I am thankful that antibiotics and a lot of rest will be enough to make him healthy and obnoxious once more.


I am thankful for my sisters who spend time scrapbooking, talking books, and going out to the movies with me, who irritate me and then make me laugh, who sit in hospital waiting rooms and share their worries, who listen to my complaints, encourage me to do better, and never except my lame excuses.


I am thankful for my baby brother who cherishes family above all, who has become a wonderful husband and father, who gathers us together with bonfires and parties at all times of the year, who makes me smile when he smiles, and who never fails to watch over his sisters when we're out drinking and dancing in public (we think it's quite adorable).


I am thankful for the wonderful women my brothers have married who never make me feel like unwanted in-law, who enjoy spending time with our dysfunctional and crazy family, who are there to lean on and celebrate with, and whom I can't imagine not having in my life.



I am thankful for my husband's family who has always treated me like one of their own. I am thankful for hours spent playing board games and cards, for the care and concern they show to my side of the family, for camping trips, and for the love and laughter they share with my boys.


I am thankful for my parents. For my dad who is always there, who will drive to Canada if necessary to retrieve my stranded husband and his family, who babysits whenever asked, who loans out his vehicle, his camper, his house, and who comes to his grandkids's sporting events in foul and fair weather. I am grateful for my dad who never fails to show us just how much he loves us.


I am thankful for my mom whose face lights up when she sees my boys walk through the door, who e-mails me when she can, and who tells me she cried watching the DVD I made of our boys playing football.



I am thankful for the nieces and nephews who make my heart melt.





I am thankful for our friends who always have a cold one waiting, who enjoy doubling up on "date night", who will always say yes to a concert or a show if able, who spend vacations with us, and who have become a part of our family.


As you can see, I am truly blessed by all that I am thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!