Thankful for a day...

The month of November always strikes me as odd. It may because I wasn't raised celebrating holidays so there was no hype to behave for presents or to spend a day saying why I was thankful. Now a days with social media being so prevalent we have these new traditions of stating why we are thankful each day, building up to Thanksgiving...This is beyond weird to me but again I think it's because of how I was raised. My parents did not teach me the traditions of Christmas in fact I am still learning most of it myself but they did teach me about Christ and what he stood for and how we should be thankful everyday for his sacrifice. I was taught to pray everyday, before every meal and before bed. This was not an option, this was life. This was the way we showed thankfulness and strived to be good people. Even though I do not follow in my parents belief system anymore I still see the validity of what they did for me. I may not know all the words to ANY Christmas song but I know that there are greater things out there than a new toy and then when it comes down to it, family is what matters. I know that being thankful everyday is a way of life not something you do on Facebook in November. I know that having a family BBQ when Grandma comes down is treasured just as much as a Thursday in November. I know that receiving a surprise toy for no reason at all is just as exciting as finding one under a tree. I know that I am not perfect and that I make mistakes everyday but that despite any choice I make whether or not my parents agree, they love me... I don't need to say out loud why I am thankful for a few weeks prior to Thanksgiving because I know that although it is good to reflect and state out-loud thankfulness, that my family and friends already know I am thankful because I show them everyday of every year...That's how I was raised. In fact I think sometimes I was taught too well! I say this because I am the girl who turns to mush when I think of those I love. Monday driving home at 4am a song came on the radio. It's a song I've loved for years but it seems the older I get the more it fits my life, " The kids screaming, phones ringing, dog barking at the mailman bringing a stack of bills that are -over due......" Well ya that hits home.., "Friday, you're late, guess we'll never make our dinner date-at the restaurant, you start to cry. Baby we'll just improvise. Well, plan B looks like Domino's pizza in the candlelight. then we'll tippy toe to our room, make a little love that's over due. But somebody had a bad dream, Momma and Daddy can me and my teddy come sleep in between? Yeah it's OK , so nice It's just another day in paradise. Well there's no place I'd rather be. We'll its two hearts, one dream, I wouldn't trade it for anything, and I ask the lord every night for just another day in paradise."......Half way through the song I am crying like a baby, full on tears pouring, can't even sing along. That's me, emotional I guess to a fault. I will cry every time I watch Beaches because I think of my best friend and loose it. I ugly cry, yeah I mean red face, runny nose sob when I see two seconds of Steele Magnolias because I think of my little sister.  I cry at the beginning of UP and even more at the end. Father of the Bride 1 and 2 will have me surrounded in tissues when I think of my parents and being a parent. Don't even bring up the commercials! I, on a way to often basis cry... Pathetic I'm sure but the older I get the more thankful I am and the more thankful I am the more I realize how much I have to loose and I spassssss out! For that I am thankful for anxiety meds! I really hope that my children see this quality in me and I hope even more that they possess it. Although I can be an emotional mess it also makes me extremely passionate. When I give you my heart, I give my whole heart and I don't ask for it back. I give you my all and will still try to give more. I hope my children see that. I hope that one day my kids will look back and see that I gave them my all and I did the best I knew how and that my love is never-ending just as  my parents taught me. I hope that my kids will be thankful everyday because thankful people are happy. I desperately want good for my children but even more so I want my children to just be good. I want them to have a serving heart and appreciate the little things in life like cuddles on the couch, tickles in the kitchen, concerts in the car and knowing in these four walls they are safe from the world. I am thankful I have this opportunity to give them the tools to survive this world and thrive... and now I'm crying... damn you emotions!!!On a lighter note here are some pictures of my many blessings (yes I am totally bragging).

Awe the family. This is Josh's side of the family but I love them all dearly. Papa Don and Grandma Jackie took me and Ty as their own ten years ago and continue to amaze me. My mother in law is there next to Josh, she is absolutely crazy and fun. The kids climb all over her and beg to go camping when she goes but I just like to sit back and have a cocktail with her because you never know what stories she will tell. Then there are aunts, uncles and cousins who are all special to us in different ways but mostly just because of who they are. We had a wonderful day with them but still missed quite a few. As all of the grand kids grow up everyone is starting their own traditions and moving away so we are just thankful we have had so many amazing times with each of them.

It is virtually impossible to get a picture of all of us...This is the best we got but I think it says a lot about who we are. Ty so responsible trying to keep Penny straight. Paris so care free. Gianna so light hearted and Charlie trying to see everything else going on while Penny is trying to figure out whats happening in front of her.

I am thankful Ty got some of my good qualities and none of my bad.

Thankful this little monster is a fighter because I know she will conquer anything her heart desires.

Thankful that this one cares so hard and so deep for so much...She really is like me.

Here are some pictures from their one year session. I love that they are so different yet still so amazingly the same.

These babies are best friends and watching them interact with one another is a great gift.

Charlotte

Penelope

Love

This pictures is a copy cat of one taken when the twins were born. I will continue to do this every year. I treasure these moments...

This is me..My life full of what if"s, what then's, how's, why's, stress, work, school, tired, happy, love, laughter, crying, yelling, singing....family.....

This is my life... I am thankful

Well my friends, I hope you all did take a moment or day or even the month to state why you are thankful but I hope even more that you live it. I hope that each day, each of you can find something to be utterly thankful for. You don't have to say out loud why you're thankful but if you show your thankfulness in your everyday I life I guarantee you the rewards of it will be evident. 

Much love and thankfulness from my heart to yours!