Day 1 of Thankfulness

Often times in the midst of every day life, we forget to be thankful for the little things, or even the big things. I am guilty of this as are million of other people out there. 

With thanksgiving coming up this month, it's the perfect time to think about what your thankful for. Sit down and pick one thing each day. Today was a bit hard to narrow it down to just one thing, so I started going through my pictures and it hit me.

Today, I am thankful for my daughter Lanie. 

With everything going on with Liam over the years, Lanie doesn't get recognized as much as she deserves. She is my first born child (second pregnancy) and the daughter I always wanted. She's funny, smart, caring, loyal, creative and so much more. 

Last month she won student of the month in her class. All her teachers and the staff who work with her often tell me how kind and smart she is and how they enjoy having her in their class. She even has two teachers who wanted her for second grade and now one is bummed she didn't get Lanie lol. 

Lanie works hard in school, comes home and does her homework, chores and then computer homework since she goes to another class during computer time. She doesn't complain that she doesn't get to play a whole lot during the week. In fact she doesn't complain hardly at all. 

When Liam was in NICU after birth, Lanie keep up going. Kept us strong. She made us laugh when we needed it and hugged us when we needed it without us ever saying a word. She's always been very intuitive. 

She helps teach her brother Liam and care for him. She understand he needs more attention because of his medical needs and doesn't complain. Lanie is a trooper. She's stronger than any other little girl I have ever met and mature beyond her years. 

Lanies favorite color is purple. She loves Shopkins, Ever After High, Monster High and Barbie. She loves to read, ride her scooter and is a happy kid. I am so blessed to be her mom. 

Handmade

These days it's so easy to forget the true meaning of Christmas.

We loose sight of what's important,

and our main focus become gifts.

We have a long list of who we need to buy for,

and for most of us,

a short budget to do so.

We go out searching for the best bang for our buck,

and a lot of people are willing to sacrifice some very important moments with their families.

Thanksgiving has gone to the way side.

People push it aside as if it wasn't an important holiday,

all for the sake of searching out the best deals for Christmas.

It happens every year and is only getting worse with each passing year.

Do we even remember what Thanksgiving is?

Thanksgiving is a time we are supposed to gather with family.

Contemplate and share what we are thankful for,

and how we've been blessed.

We gather,

make great food together,

eat said food,

and create memories to last a lifetime.

No Thanksgiving is ever the same.

Every year the little ones grow,

gracing us with a new years worth of crazy joy and laughter.

We will never get another chance to recreate these memories.

To give up these precious memories all in the name of shopping..

is just plain sad.

This society is now spending their Thanksgiving,

a day to be thankful for what we have,

to face the crowds and fight over material things that just won't matter in a years time.

So I offer you a new idea.

Or a "recycled" idea.

Handmade gifts.

Let's get back to enjoying the holidays,

spending time with our kids,

and reminding them what these holidays are all about.

Family.

God.

Togetherness.

Let's put a little more time into our gifts,

a little (a lot really) less money,

and put some more magic back into our lives.

I'm enjoying spending time with my daughter creating things out of "nothing".

We've been knitting scarfs and hats.

Instead of buying clothes for my daughters "American Girl" dolls,

I've been making them.

Of course I haven't been able to keep them all secrets,

so she has seen a few things.

She thinks they are for someone else,

but her eyes still light up in joy and wonder.

We are making memories together.

Bonding over each new creation.

Even when things don't turn out perfectly.

Try something new this year.

Create something with your kids,

and create memories to last a lifetime.

Perfectly Imperfect Thanksgiving

I've learnt through-out my life that nothing is what it seems to be.

That perfect isn't always perfect.

Today we had a perfectly imperfect Thanksgiving.

And I'm thankful for that.

The turkey was perfectly cooked.

The ham was amazing.

All the food was great.

I was exhausted and kept forgetting what I was going.

I never changed out of my PJ's.

I never did my hair.

I forgot to take pictures.

Liam was scared of the Thanksgiving parade on TV.

He refused to eat anything today.

He fell asleep on me so Liam and I were left at home.

Then he kept waking up with night terrors.

I had a down and out moment.

Thought there wasn't much difference between the two of us being home alone,

and being at the hospital alone.

I got frustrated that Liam refused to eat at all.

That even though we were home,

we were still alone.

And then the moment was gone.

I am thankful we had a great Thanksgiving dinner together.

That we are all together at home.

Both kids seemingly healthy.

We are alive.

I am also thankful that my pain isn't worse than it is.

Instead of being upset that I missed out on a larger family gathering,

I am going to be thankful for this quiet time.

Time I was able to talk to my brother on the phone.

Time I can watch Christmas movies on Hallmark.

Time to wrap some of those Christmas gifts.

I thank God for today.

For every day,

and for our perfectly imperfect holiday.