Blessings and Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! What a wonderful holiday; a time set aside to count our blessings and recount all we have to be thankful for.

Lately I have been thinking about working part time outside the home. Most likely by my own fault, I have been feeling unfulfilled and not very useful just taking care of Wilder, the house and myself. I miss being in an environment with grown up stimulation and accomplishment where I can receive validation through acknowledgment of my work and monetary rewards. Scanning the classifieds, it's hard to find something that would make sense financially to do -I don't have any specialized or up-to-date skills (besides acting) that would compensate for child care and give us extra to put in the bank. Thinking back to my days in offices, I dread the life of a cubicle and it makes me super thankful that I get to stay home, nurture my baby and enjoy the spontaneity of no schedule, no boss (besides Wilder,) and no limits on the creativity we can enjoy in our lives.

Then as I think about someone else caring for Wilder while I "feel fulfilled" in a work environment (not that I'm knocking working mothers, by ANY means -I don't know how they do it all!) I can't imagine anyone else putting as much love into caring for my child as I do. I would miss lunch time where we chat and sing as he throws noodles all over the floor. I would miss putting him down peacefully for his naps. I would miss playing with him as he shoots all over the house, squealing with delight.

So I have discovered that my need for outside fulfillment can be satisfied in other ways. I need to connect with a mom's group. I need to invite my friends over more for adult (and child) stimulation. I need to find some fascinating books to get lost in. And if I only got to organizing my house a little, I might feel better, too :) The things I would miss out on while away at work are not worth the few dollars I could put in the bank. Brian is in full support of me staying home, raising our family. Yet he is behind me if I feel I needed to get a job to make me happy. Given the freedom and support to choose, I will take home life with it's minor problems over giving up so much precious time with my little man.

This year I have so much to be thankful for. The first thing that comes to mind is my healthy little boy who is a constant joy (and is currently pulling everything out of the dog cupboard and throwing it all over the floor.) I am thankful for a husband who exceeds my greatest expectations and is such a wonderful friend and buddy even though we're half the world away. AND I am thankful that he will be home early! Most likely we'll have him back by mid-March/April --and THAT'S something I am ecstatically thankful for!! Our wonderful home, the great community we live in, the freedom to live and pursue our dreams and happiness, the abundant supply of food, clothing and amenities... I have countless things to be thankful for this year. And I am thankful for all the Thanksgivings to come when Brian and I get to spend them together with our fabulous little family.

Brian, he is DEFINITELY your son. "STOP TAKING PICTURES, MOM!"

I hope each of you takes time today to connect with what you are thankful for and how we've each been showered with blessings this year. I know there are terribly hard days and seasons in our lives, but the faithfulness and love of God knows no bounds and picks us up to carry us onward into wonderful places of rest and blessing. I thank God for you, my friends, and thank God for Thanksgiving!