Giving Thanks: The Highlight Reel

Hoo, boy, I don’t think I’ve made it any secret how much I love Thanksgiving. For a long time I was actually afraid to admit I liked it more than Christmas (Gasp! Shock! What? No!). But it’s time I was honest with myself. I love Thanksgiving the most, and I am not ashamed!

To everything there is a season, right? So settle down, all you starting-Christmas-before-Thanksgiving folks. (Just kidding. Go ahead and pop that tree up November 1st. You just do you, friend.)

In my little family’s lives and in our little corner of the world, there have been an innumerable amount of things to be thankful for just this year alone. But just because I can’t count them all doesn’t mean I’m not gonna try!

1. My Family. Big duh. My kids who inspire me and make me crazy. My husband who gets my crazy and loves me anyway. My parents and in-laws who made this parenting gig seem like a walk in the park. My sisters and brothers (both by blood and marriage) and nieces and nephews who are outnumbering us and are way cooler than we ever were as kids.
2. My Faith. I have a fabulous church family that celebrates and encourages my little family in every walk and stage of life in which we find ourselves. Every time I walk through their doors (whether they’re the actual sanctuary doors to the church, or the doors to a dear friend’s home, or the doors to Panera to meet for coffee and deep, silly conversation), I walk back out with a clearer picture of God.
3. My Job. I have witty, intelligent people I actually enjoy working with, a job that actually challenges and stretches me, and an office right across the street from Trader Joe’s AND Starbucks.
4. Our Friends. We live life with a lot of fabulous people who are blurring the lines between family and friends. These are the people who have seen me (and my kids) at my most chaotic and still show up (usually with wine) and let themselves in the front door. These are the people we belong to and who belong to us.
5. This Writing Gig. If I didn’t write, I would be the crankiest girl on the planet. Writing helps me make sense of this world, and I get to use the extensive vocabulary Dr. Browning forced on me in 11th grade English. Having the ability and space to write − and actually having people read my words − is a gift I will never take for granted.
6. Coffee. Everything else is just icing on the cake.

Your turn. What are you thankful for?

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Jessica Buttram parents, writes, laughs, and eats too much chocolate. She has no practical advice and zero life hacks to offer for this whole parenting gig, but she makes a mean grilled cheese sandwich, and that’s something, right? When she’s not bribing her kids with Doritos to make them sit still and snuggle for just a few minutes longer, she can probably be found vacuuming Dorito crumbs out of the couch. Her family is her whole world, except for the part that belongs to coffee. You can find her @jbuttwhatwhat and meetthebuttrams.com.