The Month to be Thankful

Yesterday Nick and I were driving home from our trip to Home Depot and Leaf and Bean when we drove by a church that always has quotes on their sign out front. The quote they had this time was quite thought provoking for me. It said, "What if you woke up today with only what you thanked God for yesterday?" For some reason this seemed intense to me in a philosophical and deep way. I got to thinking about it and started thinking about all the things I've been thankful for lately:

I have a best friend who is always there when I need her and always goes the extra mile to make sure I know how much she cares. During my pregnancy she sent me her maternity shirts so I would be more comfortable. She knew, having been pregnant twice before, how uncomfortable pregnancy could be when you're in that in between stage of not really showing, but all your clothes are not fitting like they used to. It was such a relief to be comfortable and feel attractive again. She also sent me all the books she had on pregnancy, breast feeding and even a book for Nick that her husband had. There was also a box she shipped out with some toys and a few blankets for the babe. When it was time for the baby shower she sent me some children's books and photo albums. As if that wasn't enough there was a package on my doorstep when I got home from the hospital with another book for the babe, a bracelet she made me and four frames to put pictures in. She did such an awesome job at making me feel like she was here even though she was on the opposite side of the United States. Whenever I had questions about things or just needed to talk because I was feeling a bit hormonal and needed to vent, she was there! I don't know how I would have made it through without her love and support. I love the fact that we only see each other but once a year and when we do everything is like it always was. In fact, it's almost been a year since the last time I saw her and it will have been over a year by the time I get to California to see her smiling face again. When I get there she will have a daughter too! That's right, she's pregnant with number three. I don't know how her and her husband do it. I have total respect for them. Having a child of my own now, I can appreciate a lot of the things in her life I didn't quite understand before. As hard as I tried, and for as much as I thought I understood, I only understood a fraction. I'm so thankful for Emily!

I'm thankful this year I was able to reconnect with an old friend whom I've known since I was in grade school. She and I had talked some during the years following high school but it seemed as if we'd gone in different directions. Little did I know we were living almost similar lives....almost, not entirely. She married a man who was also in the military. Though Nick is in the military I've never had to live without him in our home for more than three weeks. Katie had to live without her husband for six months, and right after they got married. She was alone (as in her husband wasn't there, I'm pretty sure she went home to be with family as not the be completely alone) for their first Christmas and first anniversary and for some other really life changing events. I can't relate to that by any means, but I can appreciate her strength as a loving wife, for being understanding and living through the challenges life threw at her without the love of her life physically by her side (he was in spirit, thought and prayer). It must have been challenging for both of them on many, many levels. I'm thankful when we met up for the first time in YEARS we were able to pick up where we left off and reconnect. Our husbands connected too, which is always an added bonus! We were able to talk about the old times and share things with each other we'd never shared before and let go of things we'd held onto. What a trip!

I'm so very thankful to have made a new friend right down the road from us who's going through almost exactly what I'm going through. I absolutely look up to Meredith. She is such a strong woman. She and I were pregnant at the same time only she was due two weeks after me. She had some complications and ended up having her beautiful daughter at 31 weeks gestation....six weeks before Kailey was born. I remember when she told me about her daughter being born I was so interested in knowing the story about what happened I forgot to ask her if they needed help with anything. I felt like such a dope later. Luckily we connected later and started a friendship I know will last a lifetime. She and I pack the babes up in the Moby Wraps and walk around the block. We stop at Tim Horton's on most days and pick up some coffee and cider and then walk and talk and share the things going on in life. I'm pretty excited our daughters will get to be buddies for the remainder of our time here in Rochester. What's also pretty awesome  is that her husband and mine like to hunt and go fly fishing together. Double score there! I think it's safe to say we are both happy to have a woman in our lives we can relate to, bitch at and ask advice from. What a sweet deal.

I don't know how Nick and I lucked out, but we did. We have the best neighbors in the universe....and that's an understatement. They have always looked out for us and made us feel like we have family here. It's pretty awesome that tomorrow we're having our neighborhood Thanksgiving dinner. It all started when Julie wanted to have dinner at her house because they always end up out of town on the "real" Thanksgiving day (is started last year). We all enjoyed it so much we're doing it again this year. I love the camaraderie, humor, love and support on our streets (we live on a loop, but half is one road and half is another!). There's nothing like this home away from home and the adopted family we've inherited. Priceless. I guess I could say I'm pretty thankful I went with the house Nick really loved when we were house hunting because I keep thinking about how different our lives in Rochester would have been otherwise. I wasn't in love with any of the other houses anyway.

Oh the hubby. How I'm thankful for him in ways I can't even count. He's so flipping amazing. Nick takes such good care of me, and now Kailey too. He's always been really in tune with me but for some reason it always amazes me when he calls me out on it. For example, the other day he said he noticed I was being so quiet. I guess I really hadn't noticed, but he was right. It seems as of lately I'm off in my own little world. I feel like I'm indecisive about almost anything and I have no desire to do anything...except yoga and running. The thing is, I wasn't cleared to do either of those things until today. Now I can stop day dreaming about it and do them. But back to Nick. I can't tell you how much this man goes out of his way to make sure things run smoothly and feel comfortable. There is a calm within me that comes from him. I really am married to my best friend. I thank him often and tell him how amazing he is for all he does. I couldn't have asked for a better communicator, protector, provider or husband.

I'm thankful for the little bundle of love sleeping next to me as I write this. We're downstairs, in the dark, on the couch because she was fussy and Daddy wanted to get some z's early so he could get up and go hunting. I'm thankful for the patience I'm learning through her, the over abundance of love I never thought I was capable of and for the adventures we have and will have together. I feel as if she's teaching me how to love myself more, because of the patience I'm learning. There's nothing on this earth like being a mother....nothing. And I'm thankful to be a mother and have such a sweet little family.

There are many, many other things and people I am thankful for, but now I feel like I can lay down and fall asleep. I am truly blessed, loved and happy. What else could a woman ask for?