A little thankfulness...

This year has been a hard year.  In fact, we've kind of had a rough (going on) 3 years.  When I think about all of the stresses that we've had, my head spins.  Death, birth, moving (internationally), new jobs, lost job, retirement, illness, new schools, leaving friends behind, finishing a degree, starting a degree, car accident (minor), new driver in the house, and one who can no longer drive.

Somebody stop this ride...

I want to get off

Then I think about all of the things we've done this year.  We hit the States with the intention of making a new life.  But the thing that I liked most about the old life is the way we would go out and experience life.  Our kids will know things because they've seen them.  We're all reaching a point (except for the little one, of course) where tickets and trips are better gifts than things.  Through our time in the Army, we've been offered so much of the world to explore.  I'm only sad that we didn't have more time to go more places.  The cost of that was being so far from friends and family.  But that was okay - social media has made the world a much smaller place.

I'm happy to say that we have continued to be modern suburban adventurers.  We continue to experience life.  We go to concerts and travel, but we've also been able to catch up with some people we haven't seen in a very long time.  I've been able to spend time with cousins.  It's nice to feel like part of a family - something bigger than our little nucleus.  I've seen friends that I haven't seen since a high school reunion (or two).  I'm thankful that we have my mom who makes things happen.  She jumps on opportunities.  I hope that I've inherited that trait.  I hope that my kids will continue to see the world as a playground.

So, despite the losses we've suffered and sacrifices we've made and challenges we've endured; there are an equal number of magical moments.  Where, for an instant, we've been immersed in the human experience.

For those moments - I'm truly thankful.