The Thanksgiving Post

First to start it off the turkey! (I wish I had little resin pilgrims and indians in my thanksgiving decorations, but I don't. I have tried looking for them with no success. No one sells thanksgiving things. I think I might try two last stores on Friday, better late than never, then give up until next year.)

My thanksgiving thoughts-- what I am thankful for:
1. My religion
2. My family, specifically my two boys,

but also I am grateful for the families my husband and I grew up in, although since I now have my own family I appreciate them more.
3. My country, my liberty
4. The fact that I did not have a preterm baby!
5. Did I mention my son? he gives the sweetest kisses, and hugs

6. Did I mention my husband?

(I had never seen this picture before I found it on my computer today. Taken in the line of duty as a scout master.)
7. That this is my second pregnancy so I know there is an end insight.
8. I'm also grateful that I have a place to live, my husband has a job, I have food to eat, all the material stuff, but I don't think any material stuff would matter if it was for the previous blessings.

I know I don't appreciate my family enough, I try to appreciate my son enough but I'm sure one day I'll look back and think I missed it. Although that's not really my personality, I figure I did the best I did at the time. President Monson words, from October 2008 Conference on Sunday Morning have been popping in my head for the last month and half.

If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.

I know I will miss the tiny fingerprints so I try to soak that up, but I have a hard time believing I will miss the toys EVERYWHERE and all the laundry. I am not yet to the point of trying to appreciate the laundry, but I am trying to not hate the toys. I do appreciate when my son puts away his clothes without the threat that I will take away his Thomas underwear, does that count? I also appreciate having a washer and dryer within the locks of my house. This is the first time in my marriage I haven't had to walk outside my front door to do laundry and boy do I love it, even if my laundry has doubled for some reason.
There is nothing like looking through my photos to make me realize how fast life goes by. If I didn't already think about enough I can't believe how big my son is getting.