Keeping Thankful

This month has been rough. Not bad, just... bumpy. I feel like something is constantly hustling me from behind, pushing me forward while I dig my heels into the carpet. Life doesn’t seem to want me to catch up. I haven’t gotten on board with the “30 Days of Thanksgiving” craze that’s been going around on Facebook... not because I’m not thankful, but because I simply don’t have time.

But I am thankful. I need to focus more on that.

So. Focusing.

I’m thankful for Jeremy. I need to put that first, because I especially need to be reminded this week how thankful I am for him. I’m thankful that I can fight with him, scream at him from the top of my lungs, slam doors in his face, and still wake up next to him every morning. I’m thankful that he dreams big when I’m more comfortable dreaming small. When he makes me want to tear my hair out, change the locks, or scream into a pillow, there’s still no one else I’d rather be with. And I’m thankful for that.

I’m thankful for my kids. Each one of them is so different, and bless me in so many different ways. Ashton wows me with his intelligence and sarcasm. He’s so much like my brothers, and I love that. Then he’ll turn around and say something sweet and insightful. Chloe melts my heart with her sweetness and gentleness, and her dramatic personality. And Atleigh makes me laugh more than the other two kids combined.

I’m thankful for my family. They’re pretty much the best family ever to be invented.

I’m thankful for my friends. I’m a “small circle” girl. My circle enriches my life so much.

I’m thankful for my Box House. It’s too small for us. It only has two closets. But it’s ours, and it’s the first place I’ve lived in where I’ve gotten to pick out paint colors, kitchen and bathroom hardware, and own a vacuum cleaner, and have a swing set in the backyard.

I’m thankful for my job. Cleaning houses isn’t exactly glamourous, but it isn’t complicated. I can listen to my music or podcasts while I clean. I love the girls I work with, I love my boss, I love my schedule. And I would 7,000 times rather be cleaning houses than working retail.

I’m thankful for my shoes. I love shoes. I love flats and flip flops, and I love my TOMS.

I’m thankful for the internet. I suppose I COULD live without it, maybe. I’d rather not. I’m glad I don’t have to.

I’m thankful that I love to read. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t have books, or care to read them. Freaks me out just thinking about it.

I’m thankful for shows like Phineas and Ferb. Our whole family can watch them and laugh. I mean, seriously. The show is hysterical.

I’m thankful for my cat, Paisley. She’s fluffy and sleeps curled up right between my neck and shoulder. Granted, I can’t move and sometimes I feel like I’m growing a fur ball in my lungs from breathing with her so close to my face, but she’s practically the perfect cat.

I’m thankful that I can pause and take a breath, and remind myself to be thankful. It’s not easy. Sometimes it takes a concentrated effort. But I’m so thankful.

What are you thankful for this week?