Delivery Man

#30 - I am thankful for my husband

So here we are in the month of December and I'm just now getting around to writing my last "day" of thanks. I always save him for last because it is so hard for me write about him with out rambling. 

Our relationship got a slow start .. like we met at a birthday party and it was almost a month before he called to ask me out. Once we finally went on that date though we never looked back.

From the beginning I could see what a kind and genuine person Paul was. He is the most loyal person I have ever known.  

For years I worked in IT and he will tell you that he never really understood what my job entailed. I climbed the ranks and responsibilities grew - there were late night meetings, there were calls in the middle of the night, and sometimes I was summoned to on site meetings and visits. He took all that in stride - you don't have to understand it to respect it - and that he did. We never really talked about it but I could tell that he was proud of me - he celebrated every promotion and raise no matter how small. 

We had both been married before. We both knew what unhappy and broken looked like, more importantly, we knew what it felt like. Twelve years after that first date .. we are as happy and as committed as we were then. 

We promised this time would be different and he has delivered. 

#30 - I am thankful for my husband

Sugar and Spice

# 29 - I am thankful for our girls

Nothing about having kids was easy for us. Just about every part of the process was work. 

I puked from conception right up through delivery ... NO exaggeration. I was on medication 24 x 7, both times there were ER visits for IV fluids, there were "emergency" ultrasounds. All that drama should have been a good indicator that we were getting girls. 

They were the tiniest little people. If I ever doubted the existence of miracles these two changed that.

Brooke

Kristen

There have been little bumps in the road along the way .. Brooke's struggle with an asthma diagnosis before age 1, Kristen's need for significant corrective eye surgery when she was 3.

They have grown a lot since those pictures. They are two completely different people, polar opposites.  I call them "My Ying and Yang"

One is chatty, affectionate, sensitive, and worries about, well, everything.

The other is quiet and shy but fearless. She'll climb to the top of the monkey bars and then wonders how she'll get down. She worries about nothing and if I didn't know better I would SWEAR there are times when she is mentally flipping me off.

A few weeks ago we had Christmas pictures taken ... this is my favorite one. It fills my heart with joy .. it won't be the one I send on our cards but it captures their spirit and personalities.

They are both in school now and we see them growing so much - socially AND academically. Their vocabulary is unbelievable and they are so full of curiosity and wonder. 

These two complete our story. They make our house a home and turned us from a couple into a family. I used to dream about getting married and having kids. I waited a LONG time for that piece of the puzzle to snap into place. 

Let me tell you, THEY, were worth the wait.  

# 29 - I am thankful for our girls

SOCIAL !!!!

#28 - I am thankful for Social Media

Yup, it is true. I appreciate and find value in Social Media. I Facebook, I Tweet, and sometimes I Pin and Instagram. 

I find it fast, easy, convenient. I find it is a "one stop shop" to keep people in the loop.

Yes, it has some downsides. People OVER share ... I mean REALLY over share.

People climb on their virtual soapboxes more than they should and more than they probably would in person.

People are bolder than maybe they would be in person because there is less accountability. 

Despite all that, it works for me. It allows me to keep my friends who aren't here day to day involved in the comings and goings in Romanskiville. 

It allows us to stay connected when my parents journey south for the winter.

It is a way for me to share my writing with a bigger audience.

And there was that Apple Pie Sangria recipe that has changed the face of every fall and winter gathering that I will have or attend.  

For me the pluses far outweigh the negatives. 

#28 - I am thankful for Social Media

Giving Thanks

# 27 - I am thankful for this day

This has been a challenging year  ... there has been heartbreak, uncertainty, so much change, and so much unsettled.

All that being said, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It is a chance to gather family and it is all about the food. There are no gifts required. If you are not responsible for the turkey and trimmings it is pretty low stress.

I love how you can wake up slowly on Thanksgiving morning and you aren't rushing to the tree or to Easter baskets. 

This year we stayed in our pajamas until after 9 am. The girls watched the parade and played with their dolls. I was able to sit with my cup of coffee instead of carrying it around while I pack lunches, backpacks, and briefcases. 

My parents hosted a delicious and plentiful meal in the afternoon. All four kids played together like the best of friends. The boys watched football, the ladies scanned sale flyers and there was PIE!  Amazing PIE!

It was a simple day but after this year with job loss and finding new ways we were able to focus on all that we have. 

Sometimes you get so distracted in the day to day you forget all you have to be thankful for. I am thankful that, Thanksgiving, the actual day and celebration reminded me. 

We are so VERY blessed.

# 27 - I am thankful for this day