Full of gratitude.

I am full to the brim with thankfulness this year. Overflowing, even.

I am so thankful for the little people in my life. My sweet boy who lights up my life, makes me laugh each and every day, helps me grow and learn so much. My wild girl who brings joy to my heart, with her adorable smiles and the best hugs, her sneaky antics, and the way she curiously observes the world.

Of course I'm thankful for lots of bigger people too. Among them is a husband who is as involved a father as he could be, who keeps me grounded and keeps me laughing (sometimes at myself).

I'm thankful to have the last year of our lives behind us, to leave some of the pain and frustration, but thankful to carry on those lessons learned and perspective gained in those difficult times. Although it's not perfect, I'm thankful for the season we're in. Thankful for our relatively good health, for little things like warmth in our home and cupboards full of food. For cars that drive us where we need to go.

For the new babies around us, and for the much-prayed-for baby growing in the belly of a dear friend (who I'm guessing will be happily passing up a glass of delicious wine this Thanksgiving).

We're thankful God is giving us an opportunity to help plant a new church, even though we're sad to leave behind the church we've called home for over 7 years and friends we've grown to love like family.

If I counted a day of thankfulness for everything I'm thankful for, I could probably go on for a year. A few days ago, Carter was running around the grass playing with his sister. Completely unprompted, he paused for a minute and sprinted over to me and said "I just told God a nice thing. I told him 'we're so happy you made us!'" I can't come up with anything better than those precious words. I'm so happy to be here, in this life, and so thankful for all the many, many blessings I've been given.