We Are Thankful

Will's nightly bedtime prayer:

(recited on his own)

Dear Lord,

Thank you for this day.

Thank you for mommy and daddy,

Will and Sophie,

Brutus and all of our family and friends.

Thank you for our safety and our health and our freedom.

Please keep us healthy and safe tomorrow.

Help us to sleep well tonight,

so that we can have a good day tomorrow,

be good people and make good choices.

Amen.

We have much to be thankful for this year.

As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, we are taking the time to realize the blessings God has given us. Health, safety, freedom, family... just to name a few at the top of our list.

Not to be overlooked, however, we are also thankful:

1) for preschool parties

2) for our country (saying the Pledge of Allegiance)

3) for silly turkey songs

4) for homemade Tom Toms

5) for little Pilgrims

6) for homemade pumpkin bread and homemade butter prepared by little hands

7) for school friends

8) for babysitters that go the extra mile when I can't be home with my little ones :)

9) for fulfillment and gratitude in our hearts

10) for library books that teach us the meaning of Thanksgiving

(and others that are just fun)

11) for healthy snacks

12) for washable paint and cute, little thumbs

13) for portable seats

14) and personal space :)

15) for a multi-tasking Nana

16) and the bigger portion of a broken wishbone

17) for grandma's sweet rolls!

18) for the bestest sister-in-almost-law we could ever ask for

19) and brothers-in-law too!

20) for indoor playgrounds

21) and botched photo attempts by mommy :)

22) for wonderful cousins we don't see nearly enough

23) for family just like "girlfriends"

24) for gullible attempts to "reach up for the ceiling"...

... and realizing that an under-arm-tickle will follow every time :)

25) for not one, but TWO much-needed, date nights over our long weekend... thank you mom and Marilyn for babysitting... and P.S. "Love and Other Drugs" is an awesome movie!!!

26) for tender kisses on sleepy heads

27) for matriarchs in the family that can manage a FULL Thanksgiving feast + breakfast the next morning in a tiny, hotel kitchenette for our annual tradition at Maumee Bay State Park (think lots of chafing dishes and crock pots!)

28) for Thanksgiving Day parades and music to dance to

29) for grandmas that don't mind playing "taxi" (even with an open container in the "car" - LOL)

30) for ginormous birds purchased from a hard working 4H kid

31) for unshrinkable cotten comfort

32) and poses that are a dead give-away for orneriness :)

("if I can't see you... you can't see me going up the stairs like you told me not to...")

33) for new friends that provide complete Turkey Day entertainment (and, essentially, peace for parents)... who knew that a game of "chipmunks" could be so fun?... or so lengthy? :)

34) for more attempted (and botched) photo moments with our squirmy girl

35) for a whole new set of books that don't belong to us!

36) for furry friends

37) and handsome boys.

We are thankful!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!