Things I am thankful for

Wow, I am absolutely amazed that it is almost Thanksgiving already. I can't believe how fast time is flying by! With Thanksgiving just a day away, I want to make note of all of the wonderful things I am thankful for this year. 

I am thankful for my amazing family.  Matt is the greatest husband and father any woman could ask for. He is such a genuine person who cares more for others than he ever does for himself.  He's supportive, funny, intelligent, adventerous...I could go on for hours.  I really am the luckiest woman alive.  Hayden is the coolest and sweetest kid I could have ever asked for.  He is just like Matt, so thoughtful and kind and he amazes me every day with his intelligence.  He is our little miracle baby and we are so very blessed to have him!  I am just as thankful for the rest of our family members as well, especially Jane, Sid and Di.  They are 3 of the greatest parents and grandparents I have ever seen and we are all so lucky to have them to support us, laugh with us, and share our lives.  I am also thankful for our little Buster.  He is a great pal for Hayden and really is more of a brother to him than a dog, even though Buster thinks Hayden is his baby sometimes.  I am thankful for Hayden's godparents, Hayley and James.  They are wonderful people who have a real interest in Hayden's well being, and I am so happy they will be around to watch him grow...along with a baby of their own soon!

I am also thankful for every basic thing we have in our lives.  We are lucky to have a beautiful roof over our heads, healthy food to eat, clean water to drink, clothing, medical insurance, etc.  Some people can't say that this year or any year, and so for those things I am especially thankful.  I hope one day everyone can say they are thankful to have all of those things.

I am thankful that all of us have our health this year.  Last year was rough with my stomach problems and surgery and I can say this year has been such a blessing.  I am so thankful we figured out Hayden's tummy issues and allergy and he is on the right track to gaining some height and weight!

I am also thankful this year for our wonderful friends.  We may not see some of them all the time or talk to them as much as we should, but most of them are still there for us as we are for them.  One of my New Year's resolutions this year will be to try to keep better contact with friends we don't see regularly. 

I am thankful for Hayden's school and his teachers.  I would rather not have to ever hand my child to someone else to nurture and care for during the day, but unfortunately I have to do just that.  We are so lucky he has such a wonderful little school full of sweet and genuine people to care for him.  When he arrives in the morning, all the kids on the playground run to the gate to greet him and I think that's just awesome.  His teachers treat the children as if they were their own and I feel blessed every day that we found that school.

I am thankful that we have the tools and the ability to teach our son that giving back is more important than receiving.  We are constantly trying to show Hayden ways to help others, such as recycling, handing out meals to the homeless (which we will do again in a few weeks), collecting canned food and dropping it off at a food drive, giving to Toys For Tots, buying items for adopt-a-family, and giving his old toys and clothes to children who need them.  Hayden really has an awesome sense of empathy for others and always wants to help, and I am so thankful for that.  I hope he continues on that path as he gets older.  I know he is spoiled and has a lot of toys, but he is truly grateful for all he has and that's what matters.

I am thankful I have such a great job that allows me to make a difference in children's lives each day.  I love every single kid in my class and I look forward to going to work every morning.  I may not make a lot of money, but my happiness makes up for it!  I am thankful Matt works at such an amazing company, for such good people.  He is treated as a member of the family at work and that's not something you find often. 

I honestly could go on for hours about all of these things, and I know this post is boring, but it is something I wanted to have for me, to look back on later.  I hope everyone is counting their blessings this year...I know we are.          

Tomorrow I promise there will be pictures of Hayden's newest project, a paper plate turkey.  Our house is bursting with art projects, but he loves them so I figure, why not?  We will have to just start sending the family some extra projects here and there!  :)