Thankful Days 26/27: Nora & the Farm

I am thankful for my baby niece Nora, who lights up the world with her smile and makes the most hilarious noise when she eats, like she is some kind of engine revving up to take on the world.  She lets me pick her up and play with her and smiles at me even though we haven't met too many times, and she is the most adorable and beautiful little girl ever.  I am thankful for this farm where my sister lives with her little family, with the husband who loves her and who fits together with her so well, and who holds his daughter and carries her around while he works like they're two peas in a pod and it's just meant to be that way.  I'm thankful for this peaceful place away from the crazy world where my little niece will grow up, and the loving parents who will raise her, and the chances I will get to come here over the years and spend time with all of them.  Who'd ever have known that one day a little piece of my heart would live on on farm 30 minutes outside Colville?  But it does.

Thankful Day 25: Modern Day Travel

I am thankful for cars and highways and airplanes.  Without them I would not be able to spend Thanksgiving in Colville with my Dad and sister who came all the way from the east coast, and we couldn't have made the journey here in 9 hours.  Yes, it seems like a long way to drive, but think of the alternatives if cars didn't exist or if the roads didn't go through.  We might not have any.  I am with my family because of the technology we have the infrastructure that's in place, and for that I am thankful.

Thankful Day 24: Lifelong Friends (Suman)

I am thankful for lifelong friends.  I got to have coffee with my friend Suman today.  We have been friends since 9th grade (holy shit, that's going on 20 years, AGH!), and in the last few years we've only seen each other about once a year, but we always manage at least that.  When we meet for coffee or drinks it's like no time has passed, and I am so thankful for this kind of friendship - the kind that feels like it will always be there, no matter how long it's been since you talked, and where the other person knows you from when you were young and you grew into adults together.  Sorry, I'm sap-tastic right now apparently.  Seriously though, it's awesome, and I had a great time catching up.  We always say we'll do it more often or sooner, and hopefully we will, but even if we don't, I will still know that my friend is out there if I need her.

Thankful Day 23: Tara

I am thankful for my friend Tara. I met her a little over 10 years ago through our mutual (awesome) friend Brooke, and shortly after that she founded the book club I've been in for the past 10 years. When I started having dinner with one of Brooke's other friends, then joined that club, I could never have imagined the love, support, and kindness that would be brought into my life. Tara's birthday is November 25, so I've made it a tradition to go down to Seattle for the weekend for my birthday and plan a birthday dinner to celebrate. I look forward to it for the whole year, and it's one of my favorite nights, spending time with my friends and celebrating one of the funnest, nicest women I know. Here's to you, and happy early birthday!

Thankful Day 22: Nail Polish

This may seem silly, but I am thankful for nail polish.  I love painting my nails, and sometimes trying my hand at nail art.  It makes me happy.  I'm glad that people keep making more colors and coming up with crazy ideas for me to try!

Thankful Day 21: Water

I am thankful for clean, cold water.  I drink a lot of water, I've always liked to, but since I started my diuretic medication I drink A LOT.  I like it ice cold.  I don't think very often about how easy it is for me to walk in the kitchen, pop in some ice cubes, and fill my bottle with cool, clear water from the tap.  There are so many people in this world who don't have that.

Thankful Day 20: Grandparents

I know that more than one of my thankfuls has been about Sam, but a lot of stuff is going on with him right now, and this has been an opportunity to see the side of it that warms my heart and gives me confidence instead of making me feel stress.  I am so, so thankful for Sam's Grandparents, and their involvement in his life and education, and support of us as parents.  Today Sam's Grandpa Rich came up to go to a meeting at Sam's school with us, and I was really glad he was there.  It was a long drive for him.  He helped a lot and partly because of that help, we are to a place with Sam's school where we feel much more confident and understanding about the IEP process and what's going to happen from here on out.  Sam is so lucky to have grandparents who have so much knowledge and care about him so much, and I'm lucky to have their support in all we do.

Thankful Day 19: Professionals for Sam

I am thankful for all of the professionals who have helped us with Sam and all the different issues that have come up.  We went to an amazing open house at Sam's eye doctor tonight about Vision Therapy, and every time I talk to someone new I get a little more of this big picture of how everything with Sam is all linked and I can see how his development has progressed.  We have been very lucky to work with some amazing professionals for OT, Encopresis treatment, Eye care, all of it, and hopefully will continue this great luck into the future.

Thankful Day 18: Acts of Kindness

I am thankful for random acts of kindness, today especially the hot cup of coffee on the way to work on a cold, rainy day courtesy of Leah who pretty much always makes me smile.  Cheers to Facebook for random friendship and connections, and to the little things that make my days.

Thankful Day 17: Music

I am thankful for music.  Sometimes blaring the right music and singing at the top of my lungs is almost as good as a therapy session.  Going to musicals and listening to songs that speak to me in my bones and singing my kids their favorite songs at bedtime.  Life would be dull without it.

Thankful Day 16: Washer & Drier

I am thankful for my washer and drier.  Because my cat barfed all over my bed today and I'm so glad I didn't have to wash all of that by hand.  And with the amount of time it takes me to do laundry WITH the machines, I can't imagine how long it would take if I had to hand wash everything in the tub and then hang it to dry, especially since my house is tiny and it rains all the time.

Thankful Day 15: Electricity

I am thankful for electricity.  Seriously.  Because ours has gone out twice in the last week and then I just sit here thinking about how dark it is and if I go to sleep how will I know when it came back on and whether the food in the fridge is still good, and then I think - man, I have a magic box that keeps my food cold so it doesn't go bad.  THAT IS SO COOL.  Electricity.

Thankful Day 14: MOM!

I am thankful for my Mom, Edie!  She is really the best mom ever, I couldn't ask for a better one.  She went to visit my sister over in Colville last weekend so I haven't seen her in a week.  If I go more than a week without talking to her I start to get Mom withdrawls.  For real!  I just love my mama, that's all.

Thankful Day 13: Honeycrisps

I am thankful for Honeycrisp apples, because they are delicious and my favorite.  I especially love the big juicy ones from Bellewood acres, grown right in Bellingham.  Best apples ever.

Thankful Day 12: Fleece Sheets

I am thankful for fleece sheets.  It's getting cold and dark outside and I just want to be cozy.  I am feeling especially this way tonight because I am SO tired after staying up too late the last 2 nights.  I always get cold in the winter so after I'm home from work I pretty much always have either slippers and a sweater on, or have a blanket on me.  I love crawling inside my bed when the fleece sheets are on and snuggling down deep.  I am also thankful for Helene having introduced me to them and gotten me my first set!

Thankful Day 11: Veterans

I am thankful for my freedom.  Nowhere is perfect, but my life is pretty good here.  I am thankful for the veterans who have given up a lot to fight for that freedom.  Whether or not I agree with every single fight, I will always support the people who are out there standing up for me.

NaBloPoMo/Thankful Day 10: Book Club

Book club in Bellingham!

I am beyond thankful for my book club.

We have been meeting for almost 10 years.  In that time, we have seen many pregnancies and births, we have seen deaths, we have seen injuries and illnesses, hard times, times to celebrate, and everything in between.  We have read 100 books together.  We meet once a month, alternating between the homes of our members.  We talk about the books we read, then we move on to talking about how we are doing.  A large part of the focus will often land one or two specific ladies each month - those of us who are most needing to reach out and find support or guidance.  Some months it's 3 hours, other months we are together for closer to 5 or 6 and all find ourselves surprised at how late it is.

Christmas potluck & gift exchange 2011

We are a diverse group of women, several stay at home moms, a couple of working moms, one with no kiddos.  We all know each other in different ways, and the common link for most of us was the woman who started the club.  We come from different walks of life, and different backgrounds, and have different views on many issues.

Once a month, we gather.  We laugh together, eat together, drink together, sometimes cry together, and it's always a time that rejuvenates my soul.  We celebrate birthdays together with nights out several times a year, and most years we take a weekend trip to a beach house or somewhere fun with our kids.  Last year I am pretty sure we had 20+ kids and 6 adults in one house.  It was awesome.  We have had grown up sleepovers, and next year we'll be going to Suncadia for a weekend to celebrate our 10 year anniversary.

Me and Tara, who started the book club

I cannot imagine my life without these women.  They are some of my best friends in the world, and going to book club is always a highlight of my month.  These women have supported me through the hardest times in my life, and I know they will always be there for me.  When I sat in that room 10 years ago and met some of these women for the first time, I never imagined what this group would become, and how large a part of my life it would be.  I couldn't have.  This is my tribe.  And I feel so, so blessed.

Thankful Day 9: Babysitter Jen

Today I am thankful for our main babysitter these days, my friend Jen.  Having a babysitter I trust who can often accommodate fairly last minute requests is beyond awesome.  Funny that this is the context we reconnect in these days.  I never would have imagined it 14 years ago when we were teen line volunteers at Whatcom County Crisis Services (now Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services).  Life is so funny!

NaBloPoMo/Thankful Day 8: Facebook (Yes, Really)

Today I am thankful for Facebook.  Yes, it's true, there is a tendency to get sucked in and it can be a place to waste hours every day if you're not careful.  Sometimes I get annoyed at what I see there because there is so much tendency for untrue or ignorant things to be spread.  On the other hand, you do control your own friend list and activity so if it's bugging you too much, you can just make a change.  In the end, for me, the benefits far outweigh the bad stuff.

There's a reason this came up with me today.  If it wasn't for Facebook, I might never have seen this beautiful photo of my stepmom and little sister, Lianna, who live in New Jersey.  Up until 3 years ago, I used to get to see them 2-4 times a year.  Sam loves Lianna, and I loved going back east to visit because even though I only lived there when I was small I have a lot of family in the Philadelphia area and part of my heart is left there.  Then, life happened.  Neither my little family here or my stepmom are in a position to afford plane tickets anymore, especially with the prices that have gone up so much since last time we flew there!  Danny's over 2 now and needs his own seat, which means at least 3 seats, 4 if Justin went, and it's just too much.  I get to see photos of Lianna's life, and share photos of the boys with both of them easily, and today when I saw this picture, I was filled with love.

On Facebook, I get to see photos of my little, wonderful niece Nora.  They live about 7 hours from us, though they travel to Seattle often (at least 1-2 weekends per month), and I don't get to see them as much as I'd like.  I wish their
farm was in Whatcom County and we could spend our weekends there letting the kids play and run outside.  But, it's not.  My sister's not a big technology person, but she DOES run the Facebook page for their business, Olsen Farms.  And Nora has become somewhat of a little mascot for them!  They are such a family company, how could you resist buying meat and potatoes from them?  And shoulder bacon.  It's SO DELICIOUS.  And because Facebook is relevant in marketing, I get to see photos like this one of Nora and Brent on Halloween that I would never have otherwise seen.

I have gotten back in touch with my best friend from fourth and fifth grade who lives back in Michigan, and I absolutely love seeing her updates and pictures of her kids.  We had a special bond, and I love that we can be friends again.  I get to see photos of my Grandmother who has Alzheimers, and who realistically with our financial situation, I can't say for sure if I'll ever get to see her again in person because my Aunt shares the photos.

I have built communities there too that I just wouldn't be able to participate in "in real life".  With working full time and my commute and having 2 kids and errands and teaching classes, and not much money, I can't attend blog conferences, or birth related workshops, or chat with other parents at the park after school anymore.

Through my blogging, and connecting with other bloggers whose blogs I read, I have made friends on Facebook that I never would have gotten to know in real life.  I don't always talk to them a ton, but they make me really happy.  One of them is in Bellingham, and we have actually met and she helped me out with some issues I was having with my template on the Born in Bellingham site.

I have my wonderful communities related to birth, and have been able to get familiar with people in my local birth community as well as having a wonderful community of Birth Boot Camp instructors and board members who I communicate with and learn from on a daily basis.  They are there for education, for support, and for celebrating our students with others who understand the passion for teaching this curriculum.  Bellingham has its own birth community and I have gotten to know people through Facebook and our local professionals group and made connections that I couldn't have made without this networking tool.  I have worked with some people promoting my class, supporting our clients or students, and working in the community.

I also have my parenting groups and local mom, wife, and women's groups.  One of the things I miss most about being a stay at home mom is connecting and chatting with the other parents after school at the playground when the kids got off the bus, played, and ran around, and we got to talk.  No, Facebook doesn't replace this.  I still miss those moms and being part of my physical community near our home.  But it's 100x better than no support or commiseration at all.  I can get advice, I can help others with what I know, and some of it has lead to real life friends.  Friends like my my co-worker Kali who works with me because I went out on a limb and gave her info to my boss when she needed an internship, and like the women in my wife/marriage support small group that meet every month or two to support each other and help however we can.

It's pretty amazing sometimes.

Thankful Day 7: Therapy

I am thankful for my therapist. I have tried a few times before with false starts and feeling I didn't need to be there. This time it is different. I love my sessions, and after the last few years it is amazing to have someone I trust helping me figure myself out, even when it is really hard.