This Thanksgiving Day I Am Thankful

Today is a day that everyone stops to think about what they are thankful for. We all know that we should do this all year round – and many of us do so on a daily basis. This year would seem that I have less to be thankful for than other years, but instead, I have so much more!

This has been a tough year. Not as tough as some – the year my mother died was the worst year of my life. Not just because she passed away, but because of all of the other things that happened that year, as well. But this year, because of a huge family issue, it seems as if I have lost much of my family. So, today – a day to be thankful for families – is especially tough. But, as I said – I have so much to be thankful for that not having the family I grew up with a part of my life at this time isn’t the worst thing that can happen.

This year, I am thankful for the basics – I have a roof over my head, food for my table and a job to provide both. I have a wonderful husband who is sticking beside my side through all of the family issues. He supports me in a way that no other person – other than my children – has ever done in my life. When those around me are doubting me and my children, he trusts in me one hundred percent. When I am stressed out and yelling at him – when he has done nothing other than ask me a simple question – he listens to what I have to say and calmly talks to me. He doesn’t yell back or engage in any negative talk. He encourages me when I am down and assures me that he will be with me always no matter what happens in our lives. He constantly reminds me that “this too shall pass…”

I am thankful for my children. I have four wonderful children. Two I was lucky enough to give birth to and two that I inherited when I married their father. My oldest daughter is a wonderful mother with two adorable children. She is a great wife with a husband who absolutely adores her. She and her family have bought their first home this year and will celebrate their first holidays there this season. My second daughter is also a wonderful mom – to her own wonderful little girl and to three other children she cares for as if they were her own. She is a nanny and lives with a family to help them get through work and school as they all try to improve their lives. My third daughter is mother to two wonderful little boys. She and their father are also doing everything they can do to improve the lives of their little family in a wonderful home of their own. My youngest child, my son, moved out on his own for the first time this year with his girlfriend. He is working long hours every day to provide a home that he is proud of. Each one of my children are hard-working, loving adults that I love to call my friends as well as my children. For that I am truly thankful.

I have five of the most wonderful grandchildren in the world. They make me thankful each day to be a grandparent to them. They are all the most adorable, of course, and the brightest children that ever lived. But, truly, they are all very bright and so different from one another. Miles is the oldest – he is so curious about the world around him. At four, he knows his letters, his numbers, how to write his name…and how to explore his world like no other child I know. He has so much energy – we could power the universe if we could harness just a bit of his energy. He loves to run and climb and jump and do everything a little boy should do. Next is Jaxon. Jaxon is the little comedian of the bunch. He can make a grown man cry with laughter. His humor is so much more mature than other children his age. It’s amazing how truly funny he is! And ornery! He tries to do his best all of the time, but at three, he is still pushing his limits and wants to push them as far as he can. He is never really intentionally naughty – but he does keep everyone on their toes! Olivia is our oldest granddaughter. She is a beautiful brown-haired, blue eyed beauty. She has a smile that will just melt your hard. She wants to learn something new every moment of her life. And she wants to have fun while she is doing it. She can make you laugh with her antics, and maybe as she gets older she will have the same humor as her cousin Jaxon. At times she is the perfect little lady and seconds later the biggest tomboy that you have ever seen! She loves those around her with all of her heart and I don’t believe that she has a mean bone in her body. Samantha has a traditional, old fashioned name – and so far it fits her personality. She is so sweet and although just under a year old, almost never cries. She has a ready smile for those that she loves and is always willing to give everyone a chance – at least for a moment. Jameson is our newest grandchild. Only four months old as I write this, he is still developing his personality. So far we know that he absolutely LOVES his big brother, Jaxon, and his parents of course. Jaxon can make him giggle even when he isn’t so happy. I am thankful for each one of my adorable, intelligent, wonderful grandchildren.

I am so lucky to have a job – and truly thankful for the one I have. When I was a small child, I told my mom I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. I never changed that dream. I love teaching. I love the people I work with. They are wonderful, caring adults that only want the best for each and every child that comes into their classrooms. That sometimes leads to disagreements with administration – but I love that every teacher at our school will fight even the toughest battle for their students. I love each of my students. Since I teach special education, I often get to spend more than one year with each of them. Some I am lucky to have for five or six years. In those years, you get to love those children as if they were your own. I have had students who have spit, hit, kicked, peed and pooped on me…and I love each and every one of them. I am so grateful when these students I worked with in elementary school come back to visit me when they graduate from high school and college – many of them telling me “I knew I could do it because you believed in me!” If every adult just knew how easy it was to encourage a child, every child would graduate from high school and college. I am thankful to have these bonus children in my life.

Although I am not speaking to my sisters or brothers this holiday, I am thankful for them, as well. They have all taught me so much in my life. I have two biological sisters, a stepsister and two stepbrothers. Even though we are having issues, I still love them all. I do not agree with them all at this point, but I am proud of them for sticking up for what they believe in. I believe they are wrong on this issue – and I believe it will be proven in court – but they are standing true for what they believe in. That says a lot in this day and age. All are doing the best they can to raise their children to be caring adults. They have all had their problems, but have all worked through them admirably. I might not like how they are treating me at this time, but I am thankful for each one of my siblings.

I have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving Day. I have a wonderful family, and awesome job and caring friends. What more can I ask for?