Just Plain Thankful

Every year around this time, life starts to catch up with me.  I think I have a good handle on all of my commitments, the carpool schedule, menu planning, and housekeeping, but then November rolls around at an expedited pace. Before I know it, I am hustling to wrap up loose ends from this project and that event, all while shopping for holiday gifts and planning Chanukkah in the afternoon this Thursday and Thanksgiving in the same evening.  Testing recipes, wrapping gifts, and sending out holiday cards on top of my otherwise busy schedule leaves little time for much else.  But in my attempt to be a more mindful parent - live in the moment with my children, even if the moment is a tantrum because she thought she had two half-days of school this week and he needs to tell me something at 3am, I am missing the bigger picture of this week, this season: Being thankful.

Thanksgiving is just that - a time to give thanks.  Thanks for friends and family for sharing my life, supporting my efforts, and being an integral part of my "village."  It has always been a favorite holiday of mine because it doesn't involve anything other than enjoying the company of others and being grateful for what I have.  And I have a lot.  Sure there are materialistic things I want/need/have to have - I'm no saint.  Believe me, that list is long.  But Thanksgiving allows me to take a step back and appreciate what I do have.

A 93-year old, spunky grandmother who is flying up CT for Thanksgiving.  By herself.  With a suitcase full of cookies.

A family so large that there will be 27 chairs (and counting) at the table and still a few faces Skyped/FaceTimed in to let them join in from far away.

My delicious, scruffy, speckled-belly terrier rescued from the mobile adoption bus at the strip mall.

My two wonderful children.  My two fabulous, boisterous, wildly funny, overly active, super cuddly, mostly-perfect-on-some-days children.

My parents.  All of them.  In the same house for a holiday for the first time in 30ish years.  I CANNOT WAIT!

Semi-sweet chocolate, almond milk, and brown rice tortillas.  Without them, being dairy-free and gluten-free would be much harder.

My charming husband who can get away with murder (and by murder I mean forgetting to pick up his socks and take out the trash) just because he's cute.

My husband (again) for supporting me 13 years ago when I wanted to pursue my dream of stay-at-home-mom.  I get to live my passion everyday, even on the days when I'm not so passionate.

My "village" of friends who support me, coach my kids, text me when my kid is spotted without his helmet, make me allergy-free cakes for my birthday, don't judge me at the movies when I eat popcorn for lunch, who "like" my blog posts on Facebook (and share them!), and who notice when I don't show up to the gym/the meeting/the party and call to see if I'm okay.

My BFF: My sister, my other half, my better half.  So thankful that we get to raise our children together and take on the world (aka the PTO/synagogue/fill-in-the-blank-cause-to-better-our-children's-lives) together.

There is much more, but I need to save some for when it's my turn at the Thanksgiving table to share what I am thankful for.  Until then, there will be cooking of challahs, latkes, sweet potatoes, and turkeys (I have two turkeys to account for the last-minute additions to my guest list), cleaning up where I already cleaned because...well I'm sure it happens in your house  (see the note about those wonderful children), decorating the house to make it look festive (I don't normally like to decorate for holidays but Thanksgivukkah is a rare treat), arranging and re-arranging the seating plan (see note about last-minute guests), and training for the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning (I'm crazy, I know).  So much to do, so little time.  But so thankful for that long to-do list and so very thankful for the people I do it for.

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

For more from Beth, head over to Goodness Gracious Living!