My friend Bonnie put up a wonderful post the other day on her blog about what she was grateful for this holiday season, and she inspired me a little to share some of the things I am grateful about as well. These are in no particular order, and some of them are probably a little obvious, but oh well.
1| I am the most grateful for the upcoming addition to our family. What many of you don’t know is that Joe and I tried for almost two years, and we were getting closer to the point where we didn’t think it might happen. Now, with just five weeks left until the little guy arrives, I am so grateful that we didn’t give up.
2| I am grateful that Joe and I have such a solid relationship, despite deployments and other events that could have worked to pull us apart instead of push us together. And, even though it did take us some time to be able to start a family, I am grateful for every second that we had together just focusing on the two of us.
3| I am grateful that we are back in an area that we can enjoy our family being so close, despite the fact that it means that we had to move away from some of them to get here. This is the first chance in our married life that we have had the ability to drive ten minutes down the road and spend time with any of our family, and I am grateful for the new types of relationships that has cultivated, even though the last six months since we have been here have been some of the hardest for my family.
4| I am grateful that my mom and I have this time to spend together, particularly now when I need her advice the most. Over the last few years, we have both worked to put aside past differences and celebrate them instead even when we don’t completely agree, and I am grateful that we did that work before Joe and I moved back here, so we can more fully enjoy this time now.
5| I am grateful for all the friends I have made over the last 10 years that have been my family while living in other states, going through deployments, and enduring all the other perils of Army life.
6| And, however strange it may sound, I am grateful that I am a person that takes on too much. I said many times before this semester started that this fall was going to be easy. I actually thought I was giving myself a break. And, needless to say, it has been anything but. Teaching two classes and taking two classes while pregnant has not been an easy thing to do, but it reminds me that I can do it.
I am grateful that my natural inclinations allow me to take on the hard stuff. Without it, I would not have told that West Point cadet that I wouldn’t stop harassing him until he agreed to marry me after five emails over ten years ago. And, I wouldn’t have been able to teach consistently over the last nine years, something I truly love, despite the moves, killer grading schedules, and economic downturns. And, I wouldn’t have the family of friends I do because it does seem like I always pick out the hard ones!
I am grateful for picking the hard way, for the days when I know I can do it, but even more so for the days when I am not sure that I can. So while I know the people who love me the most have the inclination to tell me to slow down, you will have to understand why I don’t always take the advice. Pushing on has worked out for me so far! And, as my best friend once told me, sometimes I need you to tell me “you can do it” instead of “it will be over soon”!
Love it!
I’m so honored that I inspired you. It’s usually the other way around!:-)