I am thankful for this body of mine. I haven’t been very good to it over the last decade, I don’t give it enough exercise and I feed it too much crap. Still, it has been forgiving of me. This amazing body has brought two beautiful sons into the world. I am in awe that I have been so unkind to this body and it hasn’t broken down on me. But it’s time to show how thankful I am, and take care of it the way it’s taken care of me. I am thankful for my body.
Thankful for Mom (and Happy Birthday)
November 17, 2010 By 2 Comments
I am thankful for my Mom, Wilma. Mom is pretty awesome. I could write a book about her awesomeness, but I’ll give you a list instead.
• She takes in strays, be they animal or human.
• She is kind, even when you don’t deserve the kindness.
• She has pretty brown/gold/hazel eyes.
• She has soft hands that are always really warm.
• She tells great stories.
• She is a really good hugger.
• She is infinitely patient when my boys “talk” with her on the phone.
• She hates that we live so far from her.
• She is proud of all of her kids and grandkids, even if they aren’t hers by birth.
• She likes to read.
• She dressed up as a witch and came to my elementary school to teach about Halloween safety.
• She took really good care of my Grandma, even when my Grandma was especially mean spirited.
• She can tell you the story behind every ornament on her Christmas tree.
• She makes friends with everyone.
• She can carry a conversation with anyone.
• She makes great fried fish.
• She loves the beach.
• She laughs a lot.
• She filled our home with the spirit of whichever holiday was at hand.
• She and I had a picnic on the hood of her car on the T-heads. The seagulls cut the picnic short.
• Even when there are hundreds of miles between us, I feel Mom with me.
• If you are lucky enough to know Mom, then you are loved.
I’m thankful to be the daughter of this woman. Happy Birthday, Mom! We love you!
Thankful for Boys
November 12, 2010 By 7 Comments
I thought I would have daughters. All of my cousins have daughters, and while I have one brother, the people 
in my family just seem to have girls. I had no scientific reason for thinking I’d have daughters, I just assumed I would. I’ve been naming future daughters in my head since I was in junior high school. It’s probably better I didn’t have daughters as “Sterling Penny” and “America Freedom” aren’t as pretty as I once thought they were.
I have boys. Two beautiful, snuggly, smart, hysterical boys. I am thankful every day for those two precious beings, and I thank God every day that he gave them to me. I play with their sweet toes and smell their little heads and try to freeze the moment in my mind so that I can continue to be thankful for them when they are stinky teenagers who don’t want to be snuggled. I am so thankful for my boys.
Thankful for Warriors
November 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment
I am thankful for the women and men who take up arms when they are called. I am thankful for the warriors who protect us overseas, in our backyards, and in the virtual world. My family is full of these warriors and some of them are in harm’s way now. I pray for them even as I am thankful for them. Thank you!
Thankful for Knowledge
November 10, 2010 By 7 Comments
I am thankful for knowledge. Even though I knew what he wanted, and even though I knew that there was only brain stem activity still going, when I asked that Mark be removed from life support, a part of me worried that he heard me. That he heard me say, “Take him off of life support.” And that when he heard me say that he screamed inside his head, “No! I’m still here! Don’t let me die!” For almost five years I have worried about that.
But then I decided to ask for clarification, even if it confirmed my fears. I asked my friend, who is a nurse who works with patients who have brain trauma, how Mark’s brain would have been working at the time I had him removed from life support. Armed with that knowledge, I feel better. I’m sure I will still have doubts sometimes, but for now I am better.
I am thankful for knowledge.
Thankful for Democracy
November 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment
I am thankful for Democracy. I appreciate that we live in a country that can change governments every 2-4 years without a shot fired. I am thankful for the men who established our country in the first place, for the women who fought so I could vote, and for the men and women who fought so that people of all races could vote.
If I had written this post on Monday, the day before the election, there would have been a lot of hope along with my thankfulness. As it is, two days after the election, I am resigned along with thankful.
I vote every year. I vote for the candidate I think would do the most good and most closely represent my wishes for the country. I take the time to learn about the candidates and vote accordingly (or for neither). I am thankful I get to participate in the process. I am thankful we have a democracy to participate in.
photo courtesy of hubpages
Thankful for Donors
November 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment
I try every day to be a grateful person. November is a hard month for me, but making a conscious effort to stay grateful helps me through it. This month, as daily as I can manage it, I’ll share the things I am thankful for. I started this one yesterday, but still wanted to share it.
Several times in the last few months, I’ve attended ceremonies to honor someone who made the choice to donate their organs after their death. They weren’t people I knew, but I’m glad I got to honor their decision. I’m already an organ donor, and I recently got William to sign up on the registry. There are more than 100,000 people currently on the waiting list for an organ. People whose lives could be saved if you clicked a few buttons on a website. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to sign up to be an organ donor. Visit www.organ.org for more information and to become a donor!
