I am always most thankful for people.

I feel very fortunate to have the life I do.  We have a warm, comfortable home that we are able to fill with nice things.  We are able to provide the basics, and much more for our children.  Our fridge is full of food, and I can’t even keep track of what is stored in our freezers.  We work hard for what we have, but I don’t worry about paying the bills.

But every year, when Thanksgiving comes around, all I can think about are people.  The stuff comes and goes, but it’s the people that make or break my day, every time.

My wonderful and wonder-filled children.  It’s laughable to me that there was a time in my life where I was unsure if I would want children.  Today I hold them and try to comprehend the miracle that is motherhood.  How did I go from not having kids to having these two little people right in my arms?  They are giggles and dimples,  kisses and sunshine, and I adore them.  What a privilege it is to be their mom. 

My husband.  We’re coming up on 15 years together and we’re still best friends.  We talk and tell stories and still make each other laugh.  Even when things seem stressful and we have no shortage of things to bicker about, somehow we both know that we are better together than apart.  We have created something special and we still have so many places to go together, figuratively and literally.  Plus, he still makes me French toast with whipped cream on weekends, and brings home chocolate by the armload.  Someday I’ll tell you how we went from zero to living together in 24 hours, but that’s a post for another day.

My family and friends.  I cannot even separate these two because some days it’s hard to tell them apart.  I have family who have become friends and I have friends who feel like long lost relations.  Some are old friends who have watched me evolve and change over the years, and some are new friends who are in sync with who I am right now.  Some I see or talk to almost every day, some share mostly memories and some I’ve never even met face to face.  All are important in their own way, and all of them together create a network of support that keeps me going when the days feel long or the chaos overwhelms me.

You may not even know it, but you might be on this list.  Maybe you stayed in touch, or maybe you have always been worth staying in touch with.  Maybe you offered help when I needed it, or maybe you let me help when I wanted to feel useful.  Maybe you made me giggle, or maybe you let me make you laugh.  Maybe you cheered me on, or maybe you confided in me so I could do the same for you.

I treasure you all, and I am thankful for you all.