Now that the month of November is almost over (how is that possible?!), I’m kind of regretting not doing the blogging that I did last year. As I’m sure you’ll recall, I did weekly blog posts listing something I was thankful for each day. You can go to this post, and at the bottom you’ll find links to the other 3 weeks too. More than likely, I’m still thankful for all of the things I wrote about a year ago…and probably many more. Let’s see if I can think of a few new ones, shall we?
1. Well, the first thing that comes to mind that has been a major change in our lives over the past year is the push Dave and I have made to get in shape. I just got home from the gym, and after a 2 hour workout, I feel great and have much less guilt about the massive amounts of calories I’ll likely consume today. I went to a 5:15 am weight class, and then ran 2 miles on the treadmill and walked another 2.5. I was planning to come home and run my usual route around my neighborhood, but it was 50 degrees outside this morning! The treadmill seemed much more appealing. I am thankful for a husband who cares about his health and supports me in my efforts as well. It’s so great to have this be something we do together. Just last night, Dave did a crazy, hour long intense workout, and then asked if I wanted to join him for an ab workout. I’m thankful for the home gym that we have that allows Dave to get his work out in, and still be here with us. I am thankful that it was fairly easy for us both to shed the unwanted pounds, and that we both look and feel great.
2. I’m sure you can predict the next new thing that I am going to talk about. Let’s see, it rhymes with rapeeze. I can pretty confidently say that the greatest thing that happened to me over the past year is that I started flying trapeze. If it weren’t for trapeze, I wouldn’t have been as motivated and determined to do all the things I wrote about in number 1 above. This whole push to get fit happened because I want to get stronger, so I can get better at this crazy awesome new sport that I’ve discovered. Aside from all the health benefits I’ve had because of trapeze, I have this wonderful new circle of friends who I love. I always look forward to my two trapeze days each week, but it’s not just because of the flying—it’s because of the friends too. They are supportive, and funny, and reassuring, and confident, and amazingly talented. I am so incredibly thankful for Terri & George’s generosity in letting me join their trapeze family and fly on their rig with them every week. I can’t tell you how many times in the last year that I’ve heard from one of my friends or family members “when are you going to run off and join the circus?” I don’t need to run anywhere to join the circus—I have my own circus right here!
3. The next awesome thing that’s happening right now is that my parents are now officially snowbirds, or at least, they will be as of next Thursday. I am so thankful that my parents finally have their own condo here in Mesa. It’s been a long time coming, and it is going to be so great having them here. I am thankful that my mom never bought any of the other condos we’ve looked at over the years, because this one is by far the best. I just know that I’ll be thankful for that condo many times in the next couple of months when we have more date nights because we have another babysitter to call! I’m also pretty excited about that hot tub—definitely thankful for the hot tub too. Since my parents will be here for Christmas, Jason and Janae will be too. I’m thankful that my whole family will be together for a few days during the holidays.
4. Well, with all of those new ones out of the way, it’s time to mention some of the obvious ones. Dave, Dave, Dave….yes, my wonderful husband is at the top of my list every day. I feel like I have been absent a little more than usual the past couple months. Between trapeze twice a week, added workouts, new friends, and some other things, I’m leaving Dave to manage the kids and house stuff more than usual. Do you think he complains? Never. I meant to blog about it yesterday, but should at least mention that he’s spent many hours over the past couple months building a built-in bench seat in our kitchen bay window. He just recently finished it all up, and it’s fantastic! You would think he’d been doing woodworking all his life. I’m amazed all the time at the things he can do, and I am so incredibly thankful for him every day of my life. I could go on and on, but you all know as well as I do that Dave is about as good as they get. I’m am one lucky gal, and I know a little boy and girl who would agree that we all hit the jackpot.
5. Speaking of a little boy and girl, do I even need to mention how thankful we are for Tyler and Ava? We have lucky parents to two healthy, happy, smart, funny, creative, caring, and passionate children. Somewhere along the line, they became 7 and 4 years old, and impress us every day with the things they can do. They are both doing well in school, and love learning new things. They are good to each other, and are finally at the age where they enjoy playing together. Babies are great, toddlers are fun, but there is something to be said for having children who can get their own breakfast in the morning. We went out with friends the other night who all have children younger than ours. I said to them all several times “it gets better, I promise!” Tyler is as creative and passionate as ever, and seems to be trying to find that next new thing that he pours his heart into. I just hope we can find something as exciting and interesting as space so we can all learn some new things. He is always working on some sort of project, and has grand ideas on how it’s all going to work out. He is definitely a unique kid! Ava, what can I say about Ava? Sometimes I look at her and think “how is it possible for you to be this cute?” She is such a great little helper, loves to color, could play board games for hours, and is quick to make friends wherever she goes. She loves everything and nothing at the same time—what I mean, is that she doesn’t have that one thing that she’s into like her brother always does. She will just kind of go with the flow. We are so fortunate that we have healthy, smart, well adjusted children with good manners, healthy habits, and a love of learning.
6. I have another new one that I feel compelled to add. It may seem a little out of place and big picture, but it’s important to note. I’m thankful that I was born in America, and not a third-world country. I have a good friend at work who has spent the last 7 years (summers, and other breaks) doing humanitarian work all over the world—India, Africa, Middle East, war zones, and some of the ugliest places on the globe. She spent the summer in SYRIA—amid a civil war, rescuing children who were victims of the ugliness in their country. Hearing her stories, I am reminded of how ridiculously lucky we all are to be here. Sure, times can seem tough, but just think for one second what it’s like in places like that. I’m thankful that there are people like Amy in this world who are willing to put themselves on the front line of the battle to make a difference in a place otherwise forgotten to most of us. It takes a special person, and I’m thankful to call her one of my friends.
7. I’m thankful for the memories and the influence on my life that my Aunt Joyce had. I saw her and hugged her, and told her I loved her for the last time, on a Thanksgiving day 3 years ago. I will forever have a bit of sadness on this day because of the difficult good-bye I had to say. I think of her all the time (what would she have thought of this trapeze craziness, other then to ask when she could come fly with me!?), and just dream of what it would be like if things had been different, if the stupid cancer had never taken her away from us. I’m thankful for the memories I have of my beautiful, caring, funny, generous and loving aunt.
8. Ok, this could go on and on, but I think I’ll just add one last important one. I’m so very thankful for Dave’s family. To Claire for her years of dedication to helping us raise our kids, to Tina for getting Tyler to and from school every day and for putting up with his crazy projects (his giant space shuttle lived in her kitchen for months!), to Kathy for always being willing to take the kids for a sleepover and for opening her house and pool up for almost every family gathering, and to Jen for helping out when Claire needs a day off. Oh, and Ed too—Ed is such an awesome Grandpa, and is clearly why Dave is the person he is today. Living so far away from my own family, it is so wonderful to have in-laws that I can count on every time all the time. Our kids are growing up surrounded by such an amazingly loving family, and I just know they’ll look back on memories of their childhood with all their cousins and be grateful.
I hope you all have plans to spend this Thanksgiving day surrounded by people you love, and that you’ll feel the warmth and love of this special season. I know I have so many wonderful things in my life that I am truly thankful for—those I mentioned, and the countless others that I didn’t. Lots of love from our family to yours on this Thanksgiving day. I hope it is a happy one for you, as I know it will be for us.
