Gratitude

This year I am thankful for so many things.

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I'm grateful for my amazing son. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't marvel at the joy he brings into my life. Just the other day I spent some time wondering what I did in a past life to deserve such a wonderful child in this one. The idea then occurred to me that maybe I didn't do much but am now supposed to because he is here and leading with joy by example.

I'm grateful for my husband, who - and I know it's remarkably cliche to say this but it's true - may be the most patient man on the planet. I wouldn't want to live with me, that's for sure. And our life isn't easy right now but I can always count on him to be a place of consistency for me. I know who I'm going home to and the comfort in that certainty is immeasurable. And it's not just plain consistency, but constant love and support. He's in this for good and, as someone who overthinks everything (*cough cough*), I definitely have the right spouse for me.

I'm grateful for my family who, even though I spend hours looking at beautiful places on Pinterest and watching House Hunters International, reminds me through their support and love why we continue to live close to them.

I'm grateful for in-laws who never make me feel like an in-law, but simply as family (and have since the first day I met them).

I'm grateful for friends who are still my friends despite the fact that I haven't seen most of them very much this year, if at all. I can see, call, write, or IM them and it's like time has barely passed. Even though we are not part of each other's active daily lives, we are still always in each other's hearts and minds and that keeps these friendships nourished.

I'm grateful that, despite a hurricane and flood, several summer blackouts, and an extremely damaging fall snow storm, our home seems to sit on a good piece of land and keeps us safe from calamities causing severe damage only two or three blocks away.

I'm grateful for Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and blogs. I have friends I have never met but who I never hesitate to refer to as friends. On any given day, I can logi n somewhere and check on my friends' lives - both those I've met and those I haven't - and celebrate their victories, share their worries, try to comfort them through sorrows, and relish shared moments of joy.

I'm grateful for my job, which is not just a job but a career that I truly enjoy. Someone recently suggested to me that if I ever wanted to look for more opportunity, I might consider switching fields. But I'm an educator at heart, in my soul, and I can't imagine not being one in some capacity.

I'm grateful for the library because, really, they let us read books for free. Do we ever stop and appreciate that anymore? Books for free, nearly any book I want to read - I can request it and borrow it for some time. I think that's pretty amazing.

I'm grateful for my education and for the amazing professors I come in contact with every semester. I have learned more about being a dedicated, caring educator in the past few years than I ever thought I would. My professors lead and teach by example and I feel lucky to know them.

And last, but not least (because there is no least in gratitude), I'm thankful for this space, this little blip of the blogosphere where I get to write and share my thoughts and my life with friends near and far. I'm especially thankful for the friends and readers who have commented or sent me emails to let me know when a post connected with them. Thank you for being here today and any other day.

I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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