So Much to be Thankful For

This has been one of the best holidays I've had in a long time. On Wednesday, the kids were home from school and I started the long and wondrous process of getting the house ready for a holiday...baking and cleaning. While I made pies, I got the news that my mom's medical test came back with good results. Then Robb called to tell me he got a raise at work. Then the mail came with a gift card to Red Lobster(THANK YOU SO MUCH!). After the house was clean and all the flour and butter and sugar had morphed into pumpkin bars and cranberry scones and pumpkin pie and apple pie and cranberry relish, I took off my apron and went out to dinner with the kids and our friend and girl-Friday, Daisy. When we came home, a box was at the door from my brother's wonderful girlfriend...full of adorable clothes for Charleigh.

This morning, we watched the parade and I messed up the kitchen again and we were off to Hannah's to celebrate the Main Meal with Hannah and Liz's huge family and lots of our friends from Vintage. I love my friends, and I love my church. While we were there, the kids played non-stop with their friends and Charleigh painted her entire hand with bright red nail polish while playing dress up with her buddy. We came home and chilled out and I finished reading a book. Now the kids are playing cards with Daisy and I am ready to nod off as soon as I can to hit the 4:00 a.m. sales tomorrow.

This is not a clever post. There's no complicated way to say, I'm just grateful. I'm grateful for my dear, sweet husband who has been my rock. I'm grateful for my beautiful and adorable and hilarious children. I'm grateful for my expanding extended family who are loving me and rejoicing from afar. I'm grateful for my dear friends who shelter and comfort my soul. I'm grateful for my wonderful church that continues to bless us above and beyond the call of duty. I'm grateful for a warm home and a dumb dog and fridge full of food. I'm grateful for hope. I'm deeply, profoundly, thankful.