So grateful.

Juice and I were talking last night about how much we like Thanksgiving....he said "it's one of my favorite holidays because there are no expectations." I totally agree......besides fixing the meal, you really can focus on the meaning of Thanksgiving.....the gratitude.

This year has been one full of ups and downs for Juice and I.  We financially hit a rock last October when I was unable to get any shifts at the hospital for months at a time....this was actually the best thing that has happened to us.  We, at that time, re-evaluated where we are spending our money...and re-did our priorities.  We cut many, many things off of our list...and began to have a new found respect for every dollar that we bring into this house.  We realized at that time that our family and our health and our home are most important to us...everything else is an extra.  We completely changed the way we went about our lives, and began to count every penny as though it were our last.  We both still have our jobs, and are grateful for that....however we no longer take anything for granted....as we watch many neighbors and friends around us lose their jobs and their homes.  Although this was a hard year of adjusting, it has brought us sooo much closer as a family.  We have really spent soo much more time together around the house and the neighborhood doing much more meaningful activities.  We regularly play games together, spend time watching family movies, and just playing together. 

We have learned that we work very hard for our money, and we need to value it...and make it work for us.  We have been paying down debt and doing great.......paychecks are back again...and are on the right track.  Our children have learned great lessons also....as you can imagine...it has been wonderful for them.

We lost a baby last year, but were able to get pregnant a year later and are now due in April....we are so excited!  We have a beautiful home that we wish to stay in for a long, long time....healthy, smart, polite, respectful, energetic, active children that we adore.  We have so much support from family members, and numerous great friends...and live in a wonderful neighborhood.

We have so much.  And we are so grateful.

 "Life isn't always fair" as Juice always tells the children and I....and sometimes it really sucks!  But we are together and healthy and happy...and in the end...that is THE only thing that matters.....you are always going to have the things that go wrong....but no use dwelling over it....what's done is done...and you may as well pick up your chin and move forward......this is something my parents taught us first hand. 

We really are looking forward to 2010.

  We can't wait to meet the new little guy that will join our family...and the joy that a new baby brings.  We are grateful in so many ways.  We know you are all grateful too...and really hope you have a wonderful day with your loved ones...

 Happy Thanksgiving.