Thankful.

I am thankful.
I am thankful for inspiration…Inspiration in the form of a book…a video…a blog…a loving gesture of a friend…a friend that decides to run the race and maybe even 15 of them…the joy that swims across a toddlers face as he takes in the little things.

I am thankful for loving families…Families that are strong for each other…who wipe away tears…who laugh together…cry together…are each others strength…are each others biggest vulnerability…who hold hands…who squeeze hug…who tickle…who chase…who dance.

I am thankful for vulnerability…That intense vulnerability felt the first time you hold the child you just gave birth to or adopted…that’s felt when you open your home to a foster child…that’s felt in the happiest moments…and the saddest moments…that is felt when you reach out to a sibling you don’t really know…or one you spent your entire life with…that is felt when you are there for a loved one when you don’t really know how to…that is felt with a first kiss…and a last.

I am thankful for art…in the form of a healing poem…in the form of a photo that captures our happiest and our saddest moments and all the in between…in the form of God’s paintings across the sky (for no one paints the way God does).

I am thankful for light…that gives us life…that lights up the dark…that frames the face of a loved one…that shines through the kitchen window and brings on toddler discussions of how God has given us this beautiful sunset…that warms us through the cold…that melts away the snow….that is cleansing.

I am thankful for friends…old friends…new friends…friends who give you a sense of belonging that you may have never had…friends that remind you that you are imperfect and perfect all at the same time…friends that are talented in the kitchen, behind the camera, in front of a sketch pad, behind a sewing machine, with written word and spoken word…friends that tell you what you need to hear…and hold back what you don’t…friends that support you and tell you you’re crazy all in the same sentence…friends that trust you…friends that forgive you for not being the kind of friend they deserve…friends that pray for you and rally others to pray for you…friends that listen to you ramble about things that aren’t important to you…friends that make things that are important to you, important to them…friends that have taught their children to be someone who can be a role model for other littles…friends that are neighbors and share the bounty of their garden and their lives…friends that care for your child so that you can do the work you love…friends that love your child like their own.

I am thankful for family…family that remind you that you are not alone…that give you a healing hug, call, text, or email…that defend you and your heart…that are there for you in whatever way you need…that love your child like their own.

I am thankful for joy…in a gentle wake up kiss, the kind that’s from spouse and the kind that’s from a child…in a big belly laugh…in a shy little smile…in a big cheesy smile…in a head full of curls…in the pride of all the firsts…in a kitchen dance…in a cuddle…in a goodnight story…in a good book…in good food…in a hand held…in a tear…in a movie…in the rain…in the sunset…in the sunrise…in the silly faces…in the serious faces.

I am thankful for moments…when you realize you’ve found the one…when you see a loved one in a different light…when you give comfort in a hug…or you find comfort in one…when you find out you’re pregnant…when you give everyone the good news…when you win that game that you didn’t think you were ready for…when you hold hands or kiss for the first time…when you find what it is you were meant to do…when God is giving you a message so loudly that it feels like he is yelling at you in the ways you will hear him…when the path is so clear…when you are overcome with courage and bravery…when everything lines up just right…and when it all falls apart…when you are broken down…and built back up.

I am thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow and everyday.