Little House on Brush Prairie: Happy Thanksgiving!

What a year this year has been.....full of excitement, sadness, changes, and happiness. We've traveled abroad, lost a beloved grandmother, had a loved one diagnosed with illness, I've taken a permanent job as a librarian (my dream), adjusted to an awkward schedule, and we are waiting to welcome our newest family member, a niece sometime in the next 6 days. So much to be grateful for even if our year has been sprinkled with events we wish had never happened. On this day, we won't be with our family, but we are thankful they are all safe and well. Here are a few things I'm thankful for this year:

1. A fantastic, loving husband who supports me in so many ways: emotionally, financially, and sometimes physically as he is always watching out for me :) He is always willing to help out and this year he's shown me what it really means to be a partner. Being married to the world's oldest teenager (who happens to be loving, helpful, and responsible) is so much fun!

2. The best worst thing that has ever happened to us: Infertility has brought me closer to my sweet JSM in ways I never imagined. I'm grateful for this extra time with him and look forward to visiting Africa together....before the real excitement begins!

3. A job I love (with a schedule I don't love, but hey, you can't have everything!) I'm grateful I look forward to going to work everyday.

4. Babies everywhere - many friends and family have been blessed this year with new babies. I'm just so happy they've allowed me to be a part of their excitement!

5. Friends here in Portland/Vancouver who treat us like family especially when we are so far away from our own. We look forward to spending Thanksgiving with the Kilshaws!

6. And of course, our church family at the Vancouver First Congregational Church (UCC) who we are getting to know. What a wonderful group of people! We recently hosted 12 of them for a potluck at our house for an evening full of food, fun, stories, and memories (new and old!) I especially enjoyed the stories from our 90 year old guest who told of sitting at a lunch counter in the 1940's and waiting for the African Americans to be served. A woman before her time and I am honored to know her!