Thankful

Chris and I have so much to be thankful for this holiday season. 

We are thankful for two beautiful children.  Both of them have changed our lives in different ways.

Mason continues to amaze us in the ways he shows us how smart and perceptive he is. The stories we hear from daycare and school make us giggle because we know exactly what the teachers are talking about - he's got a sense of humor, a real understanding of emotions and a genuinely good heart.  Getting him into daycare was a challenge this fall, but we are so thankful for the great friends he has made.  At a recent drop-off, Chris was stopped by a parent of a fellow student.  She expressed thanks to us for having Mason at their child's daycare because it teaches her child that all kids are unique and special.  We know! :) We have a very unique and special one!  We are glad to hear that Mason is touching other hearts the way he touches ours.

Jordyn continues to amaze us with new expressions and sounds each day.  She is a very good-spirited baby and rarely fusses.  She seems to be just as perceptive as her big brother, quieting down when she hears another baby cry.  I am taking in as much of the "baby moments" as I can because I feel like we missed out on so many with Mason when we were distracted by the stress.  Going back to work part-time (at least temporarily) was the best decision for Jordyn and I.  I get to spoil her on our days alone and miss her just enough when I go to work that I savor each moment together a little more.  She is going to be a wonderful little sister and we are excited to see her grow.

We are thankful for our new home.

We are lucky that we were able to build the home we dreamed about for our family.  Each detail was carefully planned out so that we can spend our next 30+ years here.  Although building a home can be stressful, its done and we get to enjoy the newness of it all.  We love hosting, starting a fire in the fireplace (more Chris than I), and relaxing.  If anyone would like to come over for dinner - let's book something! :)  I've already got a wine night on the calendar with the girls!

We are thankful for our great family and friends.

Thank you to everyone that came to our open house! We were so happy to share our new house with all of you and see everyone again!  Chris and I have been so busy the last couple years that we've lost touch with some very good friends but it was nice to catch up with some of you!  We hope to do that more and more...get back in touch with good friends and make more memories.  Our family is pretty awesome also.  Our family is so incredibly supportive when we need them, we can't thank them enough for all they do for us.  We hope that we are there for them when they need us too.

There is no such thing as a perfect picture when the kids are involved.  Kudos to Caleb, though. :)



It's becoming increasingly difficult to fit us all in one picture. :)

We are thankful for great jobs.
Chris and I are so thankful for jobs we enjoy, as well as the great coworkers that come with them.  By far the most important benefit we both enjoy is the flexibility our jobs offer when our family becomes our #1 priority.  But more than flexibility even, the understanding.  All of our coworkers have become friends.  Our jobs challenge us, sometimes more than we'd like...but it keeps our lives interesting.  We are thankful, also, for the income it provides to create the life we've always wanted - to be able to live in a nice home, support our children, maintain our hobbies, and hopefully, someday...retire and travel.

We are thankful to have faith.

Although we are admittedly not regular church-goers, there is definitely evidence of God in our lives and we thank him often. Even when things are hard, we have faith to pull us through it, making us stronger.  We don't always understand the hand we've been dealt, but there is a reason for everything and someday we will come to understand it all.  In addition to God watching over our family, we have many special angels that we are excited to reunite with someday. All of our angels are present with us and make their presence known in the most beautiful ways. We would like to thank all of them for their constant love.

What are you thankful for?