Thanks

I've been reflecting a lot lately. As the new parent of a small child, one receives a lot of advice. Probably the most oft-heard is to "live in the moment" and appreciate the small things.

So what am I grateful for this holiday season? I could list the many things, but I think its easier to sum it up with this-I couldn't tell you the last time I had a bad day. I've had bad moments, bad hours even (particularly the wee ones). But I honestly can't remember the last time I've gone to bed thinking, "Thank God this day is over." It struck me that this is what happiness IS; good, safe moments that quietly outnumber those of suffering, anxiety or sorrow. I am lucky, and I am grateful for this happiness. I know there will be hard times and I cannot hope to avoid the sorrow that life inevitably brings. But I can hope to get through the bad and always return to this.

That said, I bring you a pictorial of Thanksgiving Day at the Small house. There should be more photos of our dinner with both sets of grandparents but someone forgot the SD card for the camera. Someone being me.


Our wildlife tree! Since the idea of a live Christmas tree in the house with a one-year old inspires visions of constant "no"-ing and/or lights and ornaments on only the upper half, we decorated a tree in the backyard with deer corn, peanut butter birdseed pinecones, barley biscuits and cranberry garland. Hopefully we'll get lots of critters to the banquet and it'll be a fun yearly tradition.


What Thanksgiving would be complete without shooting?





And finally, what I am most thankful for, every moment of every day: