*Thankful For*

 Have you ever tried to explain "thankful" to a six year old boy? If not, you should try it. Really. Last night, I sat down with Joey and we talked about things we are thankful for. Joey was telling me about "stuff" that he really liked. I was telling him about love, people, places, family...mooshy stuff. Recently, Joey learned to ice skate and roller blade. He would sleep in his skates if we let him, I'm more than sure of that. So, Joey told me he was thankful for his skates. So, the Mom in me was happy that he was grateful that he owned skates. But, I wanted him to be thankful for the fact that he has legs and strong muscles and the ability to skate. Then he said he was thankful for his hockey sticks and his golf clubs. He is thankful for steak {oh, boy!}. He is thankful for tech decks{mini skateboards} and for his puppy. However, I wanted him to understand the bigger picture here. I wanted him to be thankful that he lives in a country where children have a childhood, I wanted him to be thankful that he is free to skate after school. I wanted him to be thankful for being healthy and that he has a home and not just for the things that fill the house. And, I know that he is. I know that my son is grateful because we are raising him to be an "aware" child of the world around him. He won't grow up only knowing about the few things that are in his general surroundings. He will know about the sick, the poor, the hungry, the homeless and those that fight for our freedom. He will know about the children that live in other countries that live in huts and don't own shoes, he will know about the kids that don't know where they will get their next meal. He WILL know all of this someday. Sometimes, this Momma has to remember that someday he WILL know all of this. It's my job to teach him SO many things that I sometimes forget that he has to learn and discover somethings for himself. So, after we discussed how lucky he is to have skates and legs and muscles to skate, we discussed Grandma. Grandma bought Joey his skates last year for Christmas and provides the best Sunday afternoon entertainment and kisses and hugs. We are thankful for Grandma. Then, we discussed Pop. Pop was in the military and protected our freedom. Pop teaches Joey each and everyday about everything from hockey to saving money. We are thankful for Pop. Then we discussed Pop Pop Timmy. Pop Pop bought the golf clubs that Joey is thankful for and he is a doctor that keeps so many people healthy. Pop Pop Timmy sends us state of the art vitamins that keep us healthy. We are thankful for Pop Pop Timmy. We talked about how every toy and every steak dinner requires work and that we are lucky that Daddy goes to work everyday to provide toys, clothes and yes, steak dinners for us! We are thankful for Daddy. We are thankful for all of our "things" but Joey decided that based on all of the people and things in his life that he is mostly thankful for "being him." Funny. Because this Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for Joey being Joey too. Chances are, if you are reading this blog...I'm thankful for you too. Happy Thanksgiving!!
    I blinked.... And we went from this little blonde haired boy who couldn't figure out how to smile for pictures without scrunching his nose....

To this big shot, who's still got his Momma's heart! 

Here are two family photographs... young and OLD!