It was my birthday week (as my eight-year-old niece wrote, “Mother’s Day and now your birthday. CRAZY!”), and that’s always a perfect time to reflect on life and all that I’m grateful for:
>> My loving family—from my husband and boys, to my siblings and their kids and my dad and stepmom—I am one very, very lucky lady, and there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t feel supreme gratitude toward each one of them. And even though my mom and grandparents aren’t with us anymore, I’m so fortunate to have had so many happy years with them as they helped shaped me into the person I am today. I sure hope they would be proud of who I am, how I’ve grown, and the four boys I’ve raised.
>> I am blessed to have dear friends that span my lifetime, and it was so heartwarming to hear from so many of them this week with thoughtful birthday wishes. I’m one of those rare folks who can say my best friend has been my best friend since the day I was born—but I’m beyond thrilled to be in touch with so many pals from elementary school, junior high school, high school, religious school, college, summers at the beach, the different communities where I’ve lived, my professional and volunteer work, family friends…the list goes on and on. I’m so happy and appreciative to have so many kind, caring people in my life, and to have been remembered by so many this week.
>> Home is where the heart is, and my heart is in my home. I’m so appreciative that our homes are filled with warmth, comfort, love and laughter, where we’ve been blessed to make many merry memories together as a family and with friends. I’m also grateful to be able to live in a community and metropolitan area that has so much to offer in so many ways.
>> I am grateful to have plentiful, healthy food that not only nourishes our bodies, but serves to connect our family. We adore cooking together as well as savoring scrumptious dishes—swooning about flavors, ingredients, the scope of creativity and the overall experience. Connecting over food is our favorite family activity, and it brings me endless elation just to sit and look around the dining table, wherever we are, and see my boys delighting in culinary bliss.
>> Ultimately, I’m grateful to have spent another year on this earth, healthy, blessed and filled with joy. I can truly ask for nothing more.
What are you feeling grateful for today?