I will appreciate and be thankful for…
My sweet Madison who is in love with dress up. And laughter. And mischief.
I have been reminded that her mischief is part of her tenacity and spirit and it will serve her well in life to reach her goals. I will try to nurture that and channel it, rather than wish it away because I am so overwhelmed with the many things we have going on in our lives.
I am thankful for my child.
I will appreciate and be thankful for my first born. My lovely, remarkable, strong girl. She is growing up before my eyes and I let too many mornings rush by without enough hugs and looking into her eyes to remind her she is loved, wanted, and missed while she is away each day at school. I let my patience escape me too often, and I forget to remind her how fantastic I think she is… each. and. every. day. I forget to tell her that she makes the world a better place just by being her. She is intuitive and compassionate. Her witty ways, silly nature and love for family makes me want to be a better person. She makes me better by simply being in my life.
To think she could walk out our door and never return… as the children in Oklahoma did today…is simply unfathomable.
I am honored and thankful for the life I am spending with my oldest daughter, Jordan.
I will appreciate and be thankful for the silly, ridiculous and laughter-filled moments that have forever captured the love I share with Charlotte. Even if I do look like a big dork (and will seriously question why I chose to publish this series of photos on my blog…ahem).
She is funny, intelligent and full of life. Her spirit is light and insightful. Her love for me and her family radiates and I do not appreciate each and every moment as I should. I will stop scoffing at having to carry her up two flights of stairs simply because she wants to be cuddled while being taken to bed, and instead, enjoy her embrace.
I am so blessed to have this child in my life.
My three daughters fill my life with love, light and laughter. The give me more than I could have imagined and like many moms, I become overwhelmed, often consumed by the tasks of the day. Laundry to do, dishes to put away and work to get done. I forget to pause and just be present.
I was reminded of the importance of this today.
Finally…the husband. He doesn’t like to be on the blog – too bad.
We’ve been at this nearly 11 years and I do not appreciate my time with him as I should and it shouldn’t take something like this to remind me of that, but it did…and sadly often does because man…we have a ton going on these days. All those kids and stuff.
{ahem}
I will work harder to be present for him – to show him love, attention and friendship – even if I am mad that he left his socks on the floor for the 5,434,214 time or I’m exhausted from yet another day of toddler antics – because I am thankful for him, and he should know that.
My heart is breaking for the families of Oklahoma, especially those who lost their children in Moore, because they had hardly begun living. The best we can all do, outside of the obvious donation efforts, is to honor them all by loving our own children and family members that much more and better than we have… making sure that no matter what happens when they leave our presence, we all have that….
because nothing is guaranteed.
**If you’re interested in helping the families of Moore, Oklahoma, I encourage you to donate and offer support to the American Red Cross – more information here - they have already begun executing plans to help, but they will need more.**
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