A Time to be Thankful

This time of year is always when people share in abundance everything they are thankful for. I used to be one of those people. I feel like the only time I took time to appreciate what I was grateful for was on the "required" holidays. The only time I said thanks to my parents and give them special notice was on Mothers day and Fathers day, quickly forgetting the other 364 days of the year that they help me. The only time I would acknowledge things I was grateful for was Thanskgiving, and not the other 364 days of the year.

Okay that may be a bit of an exaggeration however I know that I was not thankful enough every day of the year, and maybe I'm still not but I do know that I have come a long way. In two days from now, the day after Thanksgiving will be the 10 month mark of the passing of my father-in-law. Although I did not get the privilege to know him all of my life as my Husband and his brothers did, I was blessed to get to know him for quite a long time. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of him in some way or that there is something that reminds me of him and the short time we did have together.

One of the main things that has changed about me since this unexpected event is my thankfulness. In every aspect this has changed. So often now I do take notice of tiny little things and stop to pause to really truly be thankful for them. I often get very excited over little small insignificant things that before I wouldn't have even noticed. I wouldn't have stopped to take a second look. I wouldn't have held my baby girl that much longer before putting her down, and the list goes on and on. I owe this to Dave because before I would not have stopped to realize how incredibly grateful I am for all of the amazing things in my life. 

I reflect on this time last year when we took a family trip to Florida. Although not everyone was able to join us we did have a really great time at a family wedding. Memories that I will hold dear to my heart, and yet again be thankful for. This time last year Dave was dancing with Rylee as she was just giggling away. We had an explosive diaper that took 6 people to clean up, and lots of laughs with cousins. We had our last Thanksgiving dinner with Dave, and ate pumpkin fluff. These things may not mean anything to you, but for me, it is one more small thing I am grateful for. Again, find joy in the little things, for you never know what tomorrow may hold. 

His chains are gone, he's been set free. Although we hurt here, we can be SO thankful that he hurts no more.