What I am Thankful for this Christmas Season

There have been years where I have shared something I’m grateful for every day in the month of November. I wanted this year to be that year as well, however, life has been a little full, and I haven’t spent a lot of time on social media, even if I have spent a lot of time counting all my blessings.

Before the bustle of the Christmas season I wanted to take a minute and share a few things with you. In no particular order: 

I am grateful for my kids. 

I am grateful for the opportunity to watch them grow, and to see them devote time to the things they care about. It’s an honor to watch them improve in their skills and I have great joy watching them do their thing. Neither of them cared about theater or debate, and I thought I would be sad, but I’m actually so happy that they found what lights them up, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn about team sports. It’s a learning curve for sure, and lots of time spent sitting on the bleachers. I wouldn’t have any other way. 

I’m grateful for the ways my business has shifted and grown over the last year. It has pushed me and tried me in all the hard and best ways. I’m grateful for new partnerships with speakers bureaus, and especially Angela and Courtney at Midwest Speakers Bureau who have booked me 5 times since I did their speaker showcase in August. I also said goodbye to some of my income streams this year to give more space for speaking. And while that has been really hard in some ways, it has been incredible in others. In some ways, it feels like I am starting over and that is both exciting and terrifying, but I’m grateful for the chance to grow.  

And this gets its own line because I’ve been working on it all year: I am grateful for a brand new website. Grateful for Ben who brought it to life with his skills and I’m excited to finally share it! 

I’m grateful for God who has been incredibly patient with me this year. I probably cried more this year than I have in any other year. But I put Russell Nelson’s quote. “The joy we fill has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.” to the test. And while it has been some of the hardest hards, I have had so much joy. I had to create it, and I had to be intentional about it, and that joy has saved me through the grace of Jesus Christ. 

I’m grateful for the sound of laughter. My kids when they’re joking about teenage slang or teasing me, my husband’s laugh when he’s watching a sit com, baby giggles and laughs with friends. I also love the sound of water on the beach, and flowing in a river. 

I’m grateful for bright colors, beautiful artwork, the talents of my friends sharing their gifts, a beautiful sunset or a sunrise, watching someone serve, and exploring new places.

I’m grateful for the sun on my face, and will miss it terribly for the next few months. I’m grateful for crunchy fall leaves on my walks. I am grateful for this Mother Earth we get to experience and I’m grateful for the extra time I spent outdoors this years. 

I truly love to travel. I’m grateful every time I  get on an airplane or go on a road trip to experience something new. I love seeing people pass me in the terminal and wondering what their stories are. I love experiencing new food, new smells, and new things to see. The older I get the less I enjoy traveling without my family or someone to share it with, however, I have had some very sacred moments when I have traveled for work alone over the last 11 months. 

I’m grateful for family. Focusing on the people  who live in my home that I love most has taken extra time this year and I don’t regret a single minute. I am the happiest when we’re all together and it seems that life is pulling one or more of us in different directions at any given moment, so I’ve had to be intentional and protective about the time we do have, while also enjoying one-on-one time - especially as my kids get older. These three people are my whole focus and in the ups and downs, I’m so grateful we get to do life together. 

I’ve stopped believing that “Someday…” it will be easier. I spent this year accepting what is. My word of the year is Jubilee. There are multiple meanings and I need them all. I’m grateful that God trusts me with these people and trusts me with the challenges. I’m learning and growing and grateful for it all. 

I’m also grateful for the perfect mix fountain soda. I’m grateful for gummy candy and chocolate covered toffee. I’m grateful for a warm chocolate chip cookie that can make me forget about the world for a minute, and I love warm movie theater popcorn and movies. 

I also love holidays. I’m grateful for festive clothes and shoes and thrilled to be in my favorite season of all. Jesus Christ is at the center of my gratitude and I’m excited to celebrate Him for the next month!