30 Days of Thanks – Days… (the rest of them)

I wrote blogs for 17 days of things I was thankful for and I was going to finish out the rest of the month’s posts, but today got me thinking. I’m thankful for a lot. And some things are minor and petty. Others are pretty big.

I’m a pretty lucky girl. Today I donated blood at a blood drive that a friend organized. She pulled this drive together after her baby girl passed away in October. Her daughter was born with a bad heart, and as it turns out, she also had a bad lung. The odds were against her before she was even born. She only lived 19 days.

Today my friend was asking about Lucas. She’s seen the countless photos on Facebook and thinks he’s adorable. I couldn’t argue with that. I began to complain about his sleep habits – or lack thereof. And about halfway through my complaining of lack of sleep, I realized at least my son is here with me. She also asked about maternity leave, and when I mentioned that it was hard to leave him, I also remembered that she’s returning to work soon and doesn’t have a baby to leave with her mom or babysitter.

I’m so thankful. He was born healthy. And with few complications. I didn’t have to schedule his delivery at a fancy hospital several hours away just to be sure he’d have a shot at living. The first two weeks were the hardest, but it is getting easier.

And I have nothing to complain about.

My family is relatively healthy (including my dad who fought cancer this summer.) I have great friends, a decent home and a good job. I have the ability to exercise, while some people don’t have that. I may have difficult days, but I have so many things to be thankful for. And I am.

So as we begin December, I’m grateful. I’m vowing not to complain about my lack of sleep – because at least I have a reason for my exhaustion. I’m also going to try not to complain about my job, because at least I have one. I’m also not going to let the holidays stress me out. I need to take it all in and remember all of these people and things that I have in my life.

I’m so thankful.