Thankfulness....

Thankfulness seems to be the theme this month. November practically requires people to be thankful. Everyone-myself included- is posting their daily dose of "thanks"on facebook and while it's still early in the month and everyone is still going through the "biggies" (health, family, job, saving grace...) I got to thinking about what I'm truly thankful for. While I'm extremely thankful for all of the "biggies" in my life too, I've really tried to think about what I am most thankful for this year.

 Time. I'm thankful for time. Time to make memories and time to reflect on memories already made.  This time of year is always begging for family and special moments with them. While I'm kind of a sucker in general for small things that make a huge impact, like playing in the rain, jumping on beds, or just taking a daily walk to our "bumblebee bush", something about this time of year just screams "bring-it-on"!

I'm thankful for the short time period in life that is called childhood. It's gone in a blink of an eye but the memories stand the test of time and only become sweeter with age. I get made fun of for doing things that Kidd-O will never remember, but I will remember. That is why we have a family dance party every night before bed. That is why I stop whatever I'm doing to read "The Foot Book" for the 1 millionth time that day. That is why I wanted his 1st Birthday to be perfect. That is why I will bake Christmas cookies while listening to Bing croon about a "White Christmas". And I'm guessing that is why my parents worked so dang hard to make my childhood so magical. And it was. Magical.

 I know I will remember having tea party's with my MeMa, and those Summer nights she took me out on the porch to listen to the rain. I will remember that my dad tucked me and my sister into bed every night to say our prayers and to tell us stories from his childhood. I will remember how he dresses up as Santa Claus every year and every year we know it's him, but still wait with anticipation for him to come through that door just the same. I will remember my mom's treats she made for my class and I will remember our family dinners that she made sure happened. And those trips to Disney? Well, those trips are why Kidd-O will have been 3 times before the age of 2. Praise the Lord for parents and for parents that make childhood oh-so-sweet.

Carpe that Diem, baby. You only have one life, and your kid only has one childhood. What will they remember about their time with you? What will your grandkids remember about you? Believe me, the gym can wait. That show can wait. That book can wait. Their childhood can't because when it is gone, it is gone. And the sad thing is, we aren't promised tomorrow. We have today. What will you do today?

 Yes, I'm thankful for the time I have now.