I'm Thankful For...

Sometimes I get lost in the daily grind of life. I overlook the fact that I say "NO!" more times than I say yes to my children. I stumble wearily through days with little sleep and a lack of energy and my patience is gone and I'm so overwhelmed with the new baby and a 3 yr old and just... OH MY GOSH!

I'm thankful for my husband... for ALL he does for me and for our family. His patience, although I know it's as gone as mine sometimes, is also seemingly endless. He steps in all the time, and works overtime when I've hit a spot in my day where I just can't take anymore. He loves me unconditionally - stretch marks, bad hair, whatever the case may be. He overlooks blemished skin and baby fat and doesn't say a thing when I sit in the same pajamas for two days straight. He still loves me.

I'm thankful for my Stevie. For the moments when she tells me "I'll wash Ava's hair tonight mom, it's one less thing you have to do." For the days when she comes home from school and says "I made 115 on my spelling test!" For the times that I realize how big she's getting... when she asks to get rid of the things that she enjoyed as a younger child.... when she asks us to buy her the things that will carry her through to her next stage in life. I'm thankful for how beautiful and smart she is, and SO thankful that she has friends and that she's so well liked in school! She's a great kid, and for that I am blessed.

I'm thankful for my Ava. So blessed with her life, her extreme personality, her mood swings and temper tantrums... amazed by her common sense (she blows her sister out of the water on this one!) Thankful for her beauty, for her kisses and hugs... for the nights that I tuck her into bed - and go back to find her with her blankie and her thumb, still my precious little girl. Thankful that she's in German kindergarten and starting to speak the local language.

I'm thankful for my Victoria. Thankful that she cries in the middle of the night (for at least she has breath Lord.) Thankful that she eats, and that she poops, and that she SLEEPS! I'm so thankful that she's healthy, and just as beautiful as her sisters. I'm thankful that she has completed our family and that the new chapter in our life has begun.

I'm thankful for my Zeus and my Athena... for the sweet white cat who cuddles at the foot of the bed all through the night. The same white cat who cuddles on the kids' pillows when I'm gone with the military, keeping watch as any good mother would. My sweet Athena, who pats me on the forehead at night so I'll lift the covers and let her in. My black panther, Zeus, who is not shy about letting you know when his food bowl is near empty. My little man, who begs to cuddle in my lap - so jealous of the new baby! My big teddy bear...

I'm so very thankful.... for you see, these make up my family - my home. Who needs turkey and pumpkin pie when you've got hamburger helper with a little bit of baby puke on the side?? I LOVE MY LIFE!

I promise the cake wasn't crooked when I picked it up from the baker's house!