Still thankful

It seems a little late for a Thanksgiving post, but a) I was feeling under the weather over the holiday and didn’t much feel like writing, and b) gratitude doesn’t have an expiration date.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year because it’s the perfect time to reflect on the everyday blessings that are easy to take for granted in our busy lives. My family takes turn around the dinner table to say what we’re grateful for (usually while wearing a paper napkin on our head—a weird, inexplicable Ryan tradition).

Allow me, then, to pretend I’m wearing a napkin-hat and share a few things I marveled at over the holiday weekend. How—I mean how?—did I get so lucky? I am thankful for:

These photos were taken at Dorris Ranch, one of my favorite places on earth.
These photos were taken at Dorris Ranch, one of my favorite places on earth.
Peeper loved the tractor!
Peeper loved the tractor!

These goofballs. There is absolutely no one else I’d rather spend my days with.

Puddles - Ten Thousand Hour MamaFamily. Half my siblings live on the opposite end of the country and spent Thanksgiving with friends at a cabin in upstate New York, but my younger sister and her hubby braved the holiday traffic from Seattle to stay with my parents.

I didn’t see my relatives often when I grew up, so I especially value the time Peeper gets to spend with her grandparents, aunties, uncles and cousins. Plus, she’s always learning something from Auntie Amy—this time it was the best puddle-stomping techniques.

Grandpa Shempy joins Peeper for craft time.
Grandpa Shempy joins Peeper for craft time.

Abundance. We have more than enough to meet our needs. Our plates are full, our homes warm, our needs met. We have medical care. We are safe. Our water is clean.

Beyond basic necessities, we are surrounded by those who love us. We also have the opportunity to love others. Is there anything better than that?

Bubbles - Ten Thousand Hour Mama IMG_6367Growth. Now that I’m a mama, I get to see the world through Peeper’s eyes. She finds joy in everything—sprinting around her grandparents’ house, feeding Grandpa Shempy’s fish, picking up sticks, hugging Finn and chasing bubbles, to name a few. I, then, get to delight in the these things even more because of her toddler enthusiasm.

The world can feel depressing and cold, especially if you spend much time listening to the news. We could all use more wonder.

Toddler smiles - Ten Thousand Hour MamaI hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, too! What are you grateful for?

0 thoughts on “Still thankful

  • December 4, 2014 at 11:03 am
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    Such beautiful photos! I think our thanksgiving gratitude should extend many many days after the holiday 🙂

    Reply
  • December 4, 2014 at 12:14 pm
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    What a lovely post! I’m so glad you had a nice Thanksgiving!

    Reply
  • December 4, 2014 at 1:41 pm
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    That last photo is the perfect essence of child wonder. We can all use more wonder in our daily lives, it’s true. Lovely post!

    Reply
  • December 4, 2014 at 4:23 pm
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    Great post! Really captures the spirit of the season!!! <3 <3

    Reply
  • December 4, 2014 at 10:20 pm
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    Such a sweet post. I’m currently thankful that my family is relatively healthy. We’ve had a very rough year with lots of health scares. To have everyone healthy and happy is just the most amazing and wonderful thing. It was a very happy Thanksgiving. And, if you ask my son what he is thankful for… the answer would be, “cars.”

    Reply
  • December 5, 2014 at 12:03 am
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    This was beautiful. I’m grateful for the power of kindness. I think it moves my heart and others’ hearts as I practice it and teach it to my children. 🙂

    Reply

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