30 Days of Thanksgiving (part 1)

It's hard to believe the month of November and the 30 days of Thanksgiving is almost over.  I've thoroughly enjoyed reading the daily updates complete with pictures from those who've been participating in the 30 days of Thanksgiving!  There is nothing more contagious than a joyful, thankful heart.

Here is my list for the 30 Days of Thanksgiving:

1. The snow that's gently falling outside today.  It is so beautiful and peaceful!

2. My husband.  I'm thankful he chose to work from home today.  It's so nice having him available, even if it's just to share a funny comment or two.  I'm thankful that he is able to get a lot more work done by being away from his office.  He has almost zero distractions while at home, except from me of course!

3. Our wood stove, humming along and heating away.  So far this season, we have yet to use our electric heat!  I just love the coziness of a wood stove, there's nothing else quite like it.

4. The strand of colored lights that I put over our mantle.  At night, these lights go on, and oh how I love to look at them!  Christmas is less than a month away!

5. All you blogging ladies.  Your prayers, encouragement, understanding and your simple presence in my life.  Thank you for welcoming me into this wonderfully prayerful community!  I don't know if I would be where I am right now if I hadn't stumbled across this little corner of the internet.

6. My Grandma in heaven.  Thank you for always praying for us.  I have so many wonderful memories of you and am so thankful for the holy and loving life you led.

7. The sweet kicks of my baby.  Who am I to be so blessed to be a mother?  Words simply cannot express the wonderment and awe I have at being pregnant.  Me.  A mother.  A mother to my daughter. Tears fill my eyes just thinking about it all.

8.  Confession.  Thank you Jesus, for the sacrament of Confession!  I always have to write my sins on a piece of paper so I am not worried that I left anything out.  There's nothing like tossing that sheet of paper into our wood stove after returning home from Confession.  Thank you, Jesus, for giving us all so many ways to grow closer to you and to remain in the state of grace.

9. Humidifiers in the winter.  When you live in New England, and more especially, when you own a wood stove, you really cannot live without these water misting gems.  

10. My lovely home.  Our house is a cape.  It's not huge, but it's cozy and beautiful.  We bought when the interest rates were super low (maybe they still are?) and if it weren't for that, we may still be renting.  The low interest rate allowed us to afford to sign up for a mortgage.  God and St. Joseph's hand were in it through the whole process.  I really cannot think up or picture a better house than the one we have!

11. My Mom.  She just emailed me to tell me she has the pack n' play that she bought for baby bear in her car and she'll be bringing it over tonight!  She said, "I think it'll be great for you! (Tell baby bear she's going to like it!)" hehe  I am so blessed to have a Mom who is so loving, generous and oh so excited to be a Grandma.

12. Water.  This is something I think I take for granted way too often.  I have this mega huge water jug, and by mega huge, I mean 64 oz.. huge! And I have it with me almost all the time.  I started drinking lots of water when I found out I was pregnant and I haven't stopped since.  This jug of mine makes drinking lots of water really easy.  I'm guess I'm really thankful for both water and my water jug. :)

13. My extended family.  I come from a small immediate family, but I have a very large extended family.  I have a few cousins my age who are like sisters to me and we have been best friends our whole lives.  I often take this for granted and sometimes I think, doesn't everyone have cousins they're close with?  Then I remind myself to be thankful for my wonderful, faith-filled extended family.

14. Gluten-free and dairy-free foods.  I have no proof of this, but I feel inwardly convinced that the gluten-free and dairy-free diet I have been on has helped make it possible for me to conceive.

15. Along those lines, I am thankful for the Gi.anna C.enter in N.YC.  About a year ago, I had my first appointment there and would never want to go anywhere else.  The staff is caring, helpful, and prompt.  And the doctor there is very knowledgeable, respectful, understanding and a real inspiration for hope.  She even called me right back on a Saturday in order to set up an immediate blood draw for me when I discovered a positive pregnancy test.  At the same time she called in a script for oral progesterone, just in case, and I had that in my hands the same day.  Then, she monitored my progesterone throughout the first and most of the second trimester and made the whole process so easy for me.  I cannot thank her and her team enough!

16. My comfy robe.  I had been searching for a zip-up robe for a while, and S.ears came to my rescue!  A couple weeks ago we purchased a lovely green robe and I have been basking in it's comfort ever since.  I love to throw it on over whatever I'm wearing, it's lightweight but warm enough for winter.  Sometimes I feel frumpy in it, but my husband has assured me that it's okay that I wear it often!  Thank goodness for comfy robes and husbands who like them!

Stay tuned for the second half of 30 Days of Thanksgiving!