Thankful

I love Thanksgiving. I think it is probably the most under-rated holiday there is. It gets completely lost between Halloween (a holiday I'll really never understand the obsession for) and Christmas (which, yes-- can get very materialistic, but is still my favorite).
In my opinion, Thanksgiving is a holiday that is all about being thankful. (I really just don't buy the idea that the Pilgrims and Indians REALLY sat down and had a home-cooked meal all those years ago. Hey, if I'm wrong, I'll gladly accept it... it just seems way too optimistic to me.)

I love the concept of focusing on our blessings in life. How often does the world do this? What a cool holiday, right? Right.

So here's my top ten of what I'm thankful for:

1. Blaine.
He is my everything. Sounds cliché and cheesy but I don't care. I love this man with all my heart and soul and the best part is--so does he. I love knowing that he'd do anything for me. I waited almost 27 years for my soul mate and I couldn't be happier. I'm so thankful to be married to my best friend.
2. Jake.
Just look at this little dude. Seeing Jake for the first time was one of the most defining moments of my life. I'll never forget it... Looking at him and Blaine and feeling so much love. (Plus, my mom got to be there, which was really, really cool for me.) We just love this boy and are so, so thankful we have him as a part of our little family.


3. The Gospel.
I don't talk about it a lot on my blog, but I am so thankful for the Gospel. I have a testimony of my church and my Savior, Jesus Christ. I can't even begin to describe how grateful I am to my Heavenly Father and His son, but I will say that I'm pretty sure I don't deserve how happy I am.

4. My home.
I love our home! I knew I wanted to live here from the first time we looked at it. It's just so perfect for us right now and it really feels like home to me. We love our little townhouse and I'm so thankful it's ours. I can't wait to see little Jake walking around with us here.

5. Diet Coke.
There, I said it. I love Diet Coke. I've been in love with d.c. for years and years now, and well--it's been a great ride! d.c. has been there for me through good times and bad, and I really don't see us parting ways any time soon. Favorite caffeinated beverage: I'm thankful for you.

6. Pop-culture.
I am obsessed. Have been since before I can remember. Whether it's TV, movies, music, fashion, books, magazines... I love it! I've always loved pop-culture trivia--I rock at "Trivial Pursuit: Pop-Culture Edition" (with Melissa and Noah on my team, of course!), "Name that Tune" games with the itunes or ipod, and I'd be amazing at "Scene-It" if my even-more-amazing brother, Scott weren't always playing with me. I've said this many times, but I'm convinced that the sophistication of pop-culture and other media directly correlates to the sophistication of society. Yes, there is a broad range there to dissect and yes, I AM this nerdy.

7. My family.
I know you all think that your family is the best, but you are wrong. MY family is the best... It's always been a Lee joke that we are a bunch of elitists who think our family superior to all others. The joke is that we are completely serious. I thought we were the only ones who truly thought this of themselves, until I met the Carters. One Thanksgiving dinner in New Mexico, Blaine's brother, Brent said to me, "It sucks that you'll never have Thanksgiving this good with your family, huh?" I love it. I love that I can be a snob with both families and be right. I am so thankful for my perfect, awesome families.

8. Technology.
From my cell phone to my home theater... I am so thankful for technology. And, I am thankful I married a tech geek who loves to get me all my shows, music and movies... who is currently building me a ripping machine so I can put all my cds on our server.

9. My health.
I know it sounds lame, but I don't think I'm grateful enough for this one. I mean, I am a relatively healthy person. I have no real health risks. I just had a baby and besides the castor oil fiasco, it went very well--no real problems with the pregnancy/delivery/post-partum bla bla bla. I've been pretty lucky so far and I'm thankful for it.

10. Being a stay-at-home-mom.
As thankful as I am that I worked, and as much as I loved (and really miss) teaching, I am so thankful that I am staying home now. It has been such a blessing to stay home. I'm so happy that I can. I really believe it's a personal decision and I don't think a working mom is better or worse than a stay at home one. I'm just thankful for where I am right now, that's all.