Thankful

Horrible... freezing the tushie off in the beginning of a morning walk

Lovely... coming home to open arms, kisses, and I love you's

You know, I am a really lucky woman, and I mean REAL lucky.  I have the most wonderful children any mother could possibly ask for (yes, I am biased).  I also happen to have a pretty wonderful husband.  As I look at other married couples from a distance, I count my blessings each and every day for what I have.

When my dear sweet beloved husbands sees that something NEEDs to be done around the house, he DOES it.  Not waiting for me to finally get around to doing it, or thinking about doing it, then not do it, he just does digs in and gets it done.  He lets me be my own person as well.  He helps me by encouraging me to get out and spend time with myself, with other women... WITHOUT the children in tow, for a few hours each and every week.  I am a better wife and mother because I am able to take time for myself.

I am a very busy person.  Yes, I am a stay at home mom, so you think that I should be able to do it all on my own, and generally, I do.  But, besides 'just' being a stay at home mom, I am a homeschooling mom.  I am constantly on the go.

This time of year, I am extremely busy... and I mean extremely BUSY.  You see, we don't buy Christmas gifts for family members (immediate or extended)... I make them.  Sometimes, Nat and the kids chip in and help make gifts.  I do a lot of knitting, crocheting, and sewing this time of year, so from October all the way through an all nighter on December 24, I am constantly getting materials, making gifts from the heart, and so forth.  And the house seems to fall apart, especially when I am trying to do all the above as well as school with the kids... there just isn't enough time in the day for me to 'clean' the house as well.

This is where I become the luckiest woman EVER!  My hubby doesn't complain about the house becoming messy or the laundry piling up.  He steps up to the plate and gives the extra 75-80% that I am lacking and just does the work for me.  Yes, he is still working during this time as well, but he also knows, this time of year just STRESSES me out.  I am ever so thankful to have married a man who is willing to do WOMEN's work to help me out and not take advantage of me or expect me to be wonder woman.

I say that this is a stressful time of year for me, because...

I make and spend hours and hours on gifts for family, and most of them don't even thank or seem to appreciate all the hard work that I do for them.  They seem to be ungrateful for the time, love, and effort I put into making such gifts.  Do I expect recognition and praise, of course not.  I just wish that they would care enough to pick up the phone or write a note to say "Thank You."  How hard is that to do?

So, to make it all bearable, I remember (once the holidays are over) just how grateful I am for the husband and children I have, who do love and show me the appreciation for the things that I do for them.