25 Days of Gratitude: Day 6

I have six reasons to feel grateful today.  Originally, I was going to give each person their own day.  But, then I thought about it and realized that if I give each person in my immediate family their own day of gratitude (not that it's not deserved), there would be five days for which I could have expressed gratitude for something else.  Thereby, feeling even more gratitude and seeing even more of my blessings.  So, my six reasons to feel gratitude today:

Jon

I've told him many times before that he is the best-suited person for me.  He understands me in ways that I don't understand myself.  He always picks up the pieces for me when I fall short (which has been happening a lot recently).  I am so grateful that he is able to recognize a need and fill it.  Especially those needs that I do not realize are unfulfilled.  Sometimes I feel like he is my Emma ... and I am Mr. Knightly: I'm frequently trying to "help" him become a better person, and he bears it better than anyone I've ever known.  All the while turning the tables and making me his Emma.  It is a balance we have worked hard to achieve, and continue to work on each day.  And, I am so grateful that he holds up his side of the filled kiddie pool.  (Get it?  I can't carry a full kiddie pool by myself without splashing water all over the place, possibly dumping it all.  But, with Jon's help, we can carry the pool together with only a small splash here or there.)

Eliza

Sometimes I refer to Eliza as my "mini-me," or my "stunt-double" (the last one is in my head).  She is consistently the go-to for help, either when I need help, or when someone else needs help and I am busy.  I am so grateful to have such a responsible and reliable daughter.  And, I think it helps that she is a little bit like me: the rule-follower that she is.  I know how to talk to her because she thinks in the same way as I.  Truly helps me to be a better parent, and I am so grateful that I have her to train me.

Kate

Kate is such a blessing in my life.  She is so creative, I don't ever have to come up with a make-believe story for the children to act out: Kate has a plethora of ideas bouncing around in her head!  And, she's so much fun to be around because she is so talkative.  I don't have to worry about what we will talk about when we have our alone time: again, she has a plethora of ideas and topics.  It is such a joy watching Kate grow into her skin and find her place in the family.  While Eliza is the big sister to go to for help, Kate is the big sister to go to for playtime.  And, I love it.

Andrew

My first son has always given me grief, I think that's because after he was born I didn't know what to expect.  We had two girls, I knew what girls are like.  I had no idea what to do with a boy.  No, that's not entirely true.  I had no idea what to do with this boy.  His curiosity seems to get him into trouble more often than not, but I am so grateful for that curiosity.  It teaches him that he can do anything, it teaches him about the world around him, and it teaches me that he can teach himself and has the desire to do so.  Recently, he has been struggling in school, and my heart has broken several times because of his hurt during this hard time.  And, yet, he bears it well.  All he desires is understanding, not only for others to understand him and what he is feeling, but also he wants to understand.  I am so grateful for Andrew, he is always teaching me how to be a better and more understand parent.

Adam

This is my little clown.  Each day he makes me smile and laugh.  And, he's always coming up with fantastic stories and different ways to do things.  Adam is so much fun to be around.  He's a very happy child, and yet, he's very intense, which is when we hit heads (because, hadn't you noticed, I'm intense too?).  But, he is learning how to work hard, and while it is a struggle to help him understand why we need to work, he does try.  I just have to remember to guide him, sometimes he goes a little crazy and ends up doing more than what is needed (which results in a crazy outcome).  I feel blessed to have my own little ray of sunshine in my life everyday.

Maryanne

I think Maryanne and I share a very special bond.  Just thinking of her makes me get so emotional.  After fighting for her to come to our family, I think I appreciate her so much more.  She is also a "mini-me," being my right hand sometimes ... or taking my right hand sometimes.  Maryanne still follows me around, and loves to unload the dishwasher ... so she saves my back.  ;)  She really is such a sweetie, and while it can be exhausting dealing with her "fits," I am so grateful he still lets me snuggle with her.  I am grateful for her in my life; she can bring me joy just by sitting on my lap asking to read a book.

I am so grateful for my family.  I never thought I'd be in the place where I am right now, and I'm grateful Jon brought me here.  I don't know when I've ever faced so many challenges and received so many blessings.  My Heavenly Father truly knows what I need best ... my family.