Finding My Thankfuls (Woo Hoo!)

These are my peeps.

And my dog.

And they warm every part of my heart.

=

Our Christmas this year had some highs and lows.

But my focus is on the highs.

On the thankfuls.

I am thankful for a teenager who can still snuggle right in with her dad to listen to The Night Before Christmas being read on Christmas Eve.

I am thankful for girlfriends who are like family to us all.

I am thankful for the love I see between my children and their dad daily.

I am thankful for my sisters-in-law.

I only managed to get a picture of one, Linda, but I am thankful for all three.

And my two brothers in-law as well.

And the seven Putnam nieces and nephews.

And for the fact that my Sunshine could almost fit in as a triplet among her twin cousins.

I am thankful for my mother and father in-law (not pictured).

And for Grampy Batch who at 98 is as sharp a whip.

I just noticed how similar their poses are – my mother in-law and her Dad – just opposite hands.

I am thankful that I have been deemed most likely to “Woo hoo” in the family.

I now hold that title with pride – but I am more than willing to share it if anyone would like to increase their frequency of “woo-hoo”-ing.

I am thankful for gifts that make everyone crack up.

I am thankful that my in-laws decorate every nook and cranny with Christmas decorations and twinkling lights.

And even though I am sure it is exhausting for them to take it all our and put it all away, they work so hard to bring Christmas cheer for when we all come home.

I am thankful that their version of vintage decorations is because they still have them and treasure them.

I am thankful for a visit filled with laughter.

It was just what I needed.

And that is my plan for 2014.

No specific resolutions - just going to try each day to find my thankful.

And count them, even on the dark days.

Woo hoo!