On a happier note...

I'm going to steal an idea from Jess (hope you don't mind).

I'm thankful for....

My daughter. I feel so lucky and blessed to have such a happy and easy-going child. She is such a wonderful and sweet little girl. I can't even imagine what our lives would be like without her. She has enriched our world so much! I always knew that the love for a child was amazing and powerful, but I never would have imagined the strength of it. I would do anything for that child and her safety, happiness, and well-being are always on my mind.

My husband. As I was telling him about "The Plank" sermon at church the other day, I started to really think about J and how wonderful of a person he is. He has become such a loving, compassionate, and empathetic person. He loves our daughter so much. I love to watch him interact with her and love the look he gets in his eyes when he looks at her. He has become such a softy! I love it. I love that he stands up for "the little guy" and always feels the need to do what is right. I love how he loves me and all my quirks.

This pregnancy. I know it caught me off guard and has taken me some time to work through the fear, but never have I doubted what an amazing blessing it is. I know for both of us, there was a fear that we would go through what we did last time when trying to get pg again. I feel like God took away that struggle for us and blessed us.

My new jobs. How incredibly blessed am I to have stumbled into these job opportunities that are allowing me to be home with Jana and probably to be home with #2 as well. Many people only wish they could be at home and here I am able to do it. I never thought it would be possible. I always thought I would have to put our kids in daycare. And here I stumbled into a job that I enjoy and that allows me to be home. What a blessing!

J's family. What would I do without them? They are not only a wonderful family that we can rely on for anything, but they are some of the most wonderful people I have ever known in my life. And the best part is that it's not just his parents and siblings, but aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins too. I also feel so loved by them.

J's Mom. I know she falls into the category above, but I'm thankful for her alone as well. When I think about the kind of mother I want to be, she's it. We have so much in common. We both have mothers we love, but don't want to be like. We both have to make the conscious decisions to stop some of the "inherited" behaviors that crop up from time to time. She has become one of my best friends.

My family. While my family is farther away, I know they would be here in an instant if I needed them. I'm so fortunate to have a family that enjoys being around each other and makes the time to be together. I'm lucky that my sibs have spouses that they love dearly and who have added such joy to our family. We are so blessed by each other, health, and happiness.

My friends. I feel like I'm a horrible friend right now because I hardly keep in touch with my friends close by or far away. But, I know that they are always there for me. I am so blessed to have friends from all stages of my life: from Kindegarten, high school, college, and career. I'm blessed to have friends that I can talk with, run with, work with, etc.

My faith. I know it is something I have struggled with for years, but I feel so blessed to have never been abandoned even during my most questioning times. I feel like I'm being strengthened in my faith as I pursue my religious beliefs. Despite my doubts and uncertainties, I feel that I have always been reminded of God's presence in my life and he has never given up on me.

I feel that I could go on, but am starting to hear some russellings from upstairs and need to get her lunch ready.