e-mail
Today is Tuesday. Thanksgiving is Thursday. Enter pre-holiday panic.
Well, maybe not panic, but definitely a step up in our day to day routines. We are hosting dinner this year, and even though it’s a small endeavor due to a recent move, it’s still, well, an endeavor. There’s the main course (which in our home is tofu instead of turkey) to prepare, a plethora of sides to time just right, homemade scones and pumpkin pie, and a legion of crafts to complete our festivities. This year, the kids are really into the “prep work”. They both love to help out in the kitchen, but making paper turkeys out of hand prints trumps mixing pretty much anything in a bowl. At 2 & 1/2 and 3 & 1/2, this is the first year they’re both really involved with the pre-gaming of the holidays. As a mother, I find the holidays to be even more magical through the eyes of my children. Thanksgiving is proving to be no exception.
Today, Bear turned to Beauty in the midst of coloring place mats (which I will laminate prior to our big dinner) and said, “Beauty, thanks for being my sister. Oh, and for not taking my Thomas’ toys, too.” Beauty replied, “Thank you, buddy. Love you, buddy.” Insert highly emotional mommy moment here.
Sappy? Sure. But as the years go by, I find myself counting my blessings more and more. I’m blessed with an amazing family, amazing friends, and more than anything else, amazing children. Being a mom–both through biology and adoption–is the number one item on my list of blessings for which I’m incredibly grateful. Having two children ten and a half months apart in age can be a little challenging. There are days I count the hours until bedtime, but there are also days when as soon as bedtime comes, I wish it hadn’t come so soon.
Being a parent–whether biological or adoptive–is a true gift beyond what words can express. This year, I find myself revisiting thoughts of thankfulness again and again regarding Beauty’s birth mom, M. She falls under the gratitude category of “my amazing family”, and I tend to think about her even more during the holiday season as I’m certain she thinks about Beauty just as much. I’ll never deny that adoption is in need of reform, but I’ll also never deny my gratitude at the family it has built out of love.
Thanksgiving is a great time to reflect upon all that I have been given, but I try my hardest, especially at the holidays, to keep these thoughts always at the forefront of my mind beyond the realm of the annual day of thanks. Life gets crazy. I’ve been caught up in the paperwork process regarding our second international adoption. I’ve been unpacking boxes. I’ve been going to bed fully tired every night. But every day I wake up to two beautiful smiling faces. Every day, I hold a child I’ve yet to see or meet in my heart. Every day, I meet new trials and tribulations with a husband who is also my best friend. Every day I know–without question–that I am so beyond blessed. And really, every day is my Thanksgiving.
