Sunday, November 27, 2011

Giving Thanksgiving

(taken on my drive to see family in Missouri. I am grateful for such a beautiful view)

We just got home from a 9 day trip. I am sitting in my bed after a very long drive home, warm after a hot bath and snuggled under the covers next to my hubby and typing this blog.  I have this feeling of nostalgia as my children lay in their beds ,warm and belly full, sleeping and dreaming away.  I did not do the whole facebook november thanksgiving thing.  However, I can not help but sit here in my home, under my blankets, with my children safe and sound and not be thankful for all that I have in this world. This is on where near a complete list. It is just what I noticed tonight! I just wanted to list a few things that I was thankful for.

I am thankful for....

the ability to go to see my family for 9 days.  I drove all the way up there all by myself with 3 kids under age 6 and a very clinging dog.  I am grateful for a husband that provided the mini van to get us there.

all the family I was able to see. Total I saw 40 members of my family.  They alone are enough to be grateful for. They showered my children with so much love and gifts.  My heart overflowed as I watch my children, my children who have been ushered house to house throughout their life, receive so much unconditional love and attention from a family that prayed and begged from them.  Their eyes lit up as everyone fused and oh and awed over them.  The miracle of witnessing such love for these children eased so much of the heartache my empty arms experienced all those years.  I truly am blessed with a wonderful family. 

my hubby's neat freak tendencies.  Most of the time they drive me crazy but tonight as we walked in the house from our long drive I was grateful for how clean our home was.  It smelled so wonderful and everything was right where it was suppose to be and clean.  It was truly a blessing for this tired momma who has suitcases to unpack and laundry to do.

my mini van.  For the past 10 years that I have been married, I have taken road trips in a tiny, beat up, old car, packed to the brim. It was so nice to able to comfortable sit 6 people on such a long drive.  

laughing.  We seemed to do that a lot this week. I have some wonderful memories. I laughed til I hurt and cried.  I am grateful I was able to do that this week. There were times this year when I wondered if I would ever laugh again.

a husband who is willing to get the wiggles out. As we came home, we all quickly unloaded the van and cleaned it out. Next was bath time and pjs. As we were wrapping up, my husband looked at me and said "order some pizza, I am going to take the kids on a walk to get the wiggles out from a long road trip."  The kids were estactic. They ran quickly and got their coats, hats, and gloves! He even took the dog. As I watched them walk away I could not help but get misty eyed as I saw how happy they were.

pizza!! Nothing taste better after a warm bath, a walk to get the wiggles out, warm pjs, than to sit around your dining room table eating a pepperoni and pineapple pizza and talk about the wonderful time you had with wonderful people!!

warm baths.  It was so wonderful to wash all the grodiness of the road trip off in a warm bath and makes you oh so sleepy.

bed.  Need I say more!

Good night....Heading off to dreamland!