I have had an overcoming feeling of gratitude at many points in this year. Even if I don't feel one right this minute, I still feel grateful and I still remember those feelings. Lately, I have been especially grateful for.....
-Craig and his never ending patience with me
-Parker's new found interest in learning to read
-Shutterfly. and their new amazing interface (since i've been living on their website)
-the deep sense of peace I have felt the past few months
-new sweaters from H&M
-the anticipation and excitement of Christmas and all that it brings for December
-that November is almost over so that Craig can shave the mustache that he has been growing for Movember
-text messaging (i wish that was the only way that we were allowed to communicate sometimes)
-every single thing that comes out of miles' mouth...even when I'm not paying attention and just reply "right, bud" in between sentences. (he talks 100% of the time at me and ends every sentence with "right, mom?" He will keep repeating "right, mom?" over and over until I respond, so I do it on autopilot. I didn't exactly realize this was happening until our last trip to phx. If i happened to be slow to respond or out of earshot, I would hear one of my sister's yelling, "right, bud!" in an effort to stop the broken record and let him move on to his next thought. It never worked. he would completely ignore them and keep saying, "right, mom?" till i gave the obligatory response myself (weird, since Liz and I sound exactly the same). i do sometimes get myself in trouble by not paying attention to what I'm agreeing to....."I can have 3 cookies. right, mom?" "You like me more than Parker. Right, mom?" "I'm going to go get dressed cause you want to take me to disneyland today. Right, mom?"
-a very consistent bedtime routine....pj's, books, scriptures, prayers with the boys...if we just added in brush teeth we'd be good to go
-the best neighbor
-mouse traps
-that i set my tables a week before Thanksgiving so i could enjoy the process (though, with 22 places set, we haven't had any silverware to use all week:)
-parker having the week off school
-Craig taking the boys on adventures...I feel like it's so good for them to be riding bikes and playing ball with him, and it's even nicer for me to have a quiet house for a bit
-a God that knows us and loves us
