Giving thanks: Day 4

-
Today I am grateful we had enough money to pay for our propane, electricity, water, and a plane ticket for Scott to come visit at Christmas.  I'd go into all kinds of whiney details about how this was almost not so, but that would be boring.  I am trying to fit in Christmas presents for my kids, a little at a time, and learning to accept that there is only so much we can do right now.  I know if they were asked to choose between a visit from their Uncle and a mound of presents, they would choose Scott every time.  I'm proud of that.
Perhaps this year I will truly learn that it isn't the presents that matter, but the moments together.  Perhaps I will learn that it isn't the dollars spent, but the memories saved.  I am grateful I have enough long term vision to think about it this way, otherwise it would just be really depressing.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dear Carly,

-
Image
I assume that one day you will come to me wanting to know who you are, where you came from, where your other family is and why they gave you to us.  I offer you little bits of information already, but certainly not crumbs enough to satisfy the appetite.  Perhaps it won't matter to you.  I am assuming a lot, already, about how adoption will impact your life. People often wonder why adoptive parents are hurt when their children seek out biological roots.  I have the answer, and it's very simple.  Adoption - at its core - makes us question the legality, authority, voracity, and validity of parenthood.  For most adoptive parents, first you must come to terms with an issue that strikes at the foundations of mortality: fertility.  From birth, most of us are driven to form families.  First we are nestlings, nurtured and weened and eventually taught to fly.  Then we are nest-builders, filling our lives with the stuff necessary to drive life forwar...
Read more

Dear Santa,

-
I'm 32 years old and I still believe in you.  Each year I struggle with the idea of selling Santa to my kids, I wonder if they'll be angry when they find out I've imagined your existence.  And each year I'm reminded, in subtle ways, why I do it. Sure, there's the bonus of tricking my kids into good behavior - after all Santa is always watching.  But that's not it, not really. Right now there are a lot of 'ughs' and 'ohs' and 'too soon's go 'round.  Christmas carols already?  Aisles filled with ornaments and wrappings and ribbons when we haven't even cut the turkey yet?  Ugh, oh, too soon! But, Santa, you embody all that is good and right in the human being.  You are kind and gentle, happy and generous, hard working and persistent.  You don't let little things get you down, in fact they prop you up (go elves go!).  You're overweight, but who cares?  You don't see color, race, religion, or any of those artificial...
Read more

Dear Olive Garden

-
Image
Let's not lie to each other.  You know I love you .  What, with your all-you-can-eat garlicy, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth breadsticks ; your cheese topped salad goodness, your mouth-watering pastas (literally, my mouth is watering as I type this love letter to you) and soups - how can I not love you?  I haven't even mentioned desserts yet...lemon cream cake...... Where were we? Oh yes, you are everything a restaurant should be. Everything, that is, except cheap.  You're not cheap.  And that $5 off coupon you just emailed to me?  Well, that is just not getting it done.  I want to come visit you, I really do, but I need at least a free entree.  Better yet, $15 off and free drinks .  Then I might be able to come visit.  Until we meet again... xoxo , Me
Read more