Thankful Thursdays

Coffee.

That's all I got right now.

Thankful Thursdays

I've had a lot on my mind this week.  Which job is best?  What should I do?

But you know what?  While I don't love the stress that has come of it, I can't overlook the fact that I am pretty blessed to have choices.  I have options.  I have a number of opportunities to choose from.

So that's what I'm thankful for.  I'm thankful that I have choices.

I can choose to stay home with my boy.

I can choose to go to work.

I can choose where I want to work.

And even in the midst of trying to discern which of the jobs I'm applying for would be best, the fact remains that even if I don't get any of them, right now I have a job to go back to if I want it.

That is a real blessing.

Also in the thankfulness vein, I have some great men in my life.  

The manager from my current job, who was interviewing me for one of the other positions I was considering (and turned down yesterday, which, may have been nuts, but, it's done), invited me to have a frank discussion about what options I might have.  He didn't have to do that at all, and he did it at the end of a pretty busy and emotional day for him, and I am so grateful for the way he has worked hard to make sure I have a job that works well for me.  

When I got home from that meeting, James was outside hanging diapers on the line.  I plopped down in a chair and tried to process some of my options with him, as he continued to hang dipes.  The sweet old Italian lady nextdoor was outside.  She waved to me, pointed at James, and said "Good husband!  Hanging clothes!"  It never occured to me - both generationally, and culturally, this would be a big deal to her!

Today my parents came over for lunch, and Mom stayed with Haydon while I went for a second interview (at the job I've decided I want...waiting to hear...).  I made an off-hand comment that it's tricky to get much done with Haydon so mobile now and mentioned that I had laundry that needed to come in, and be hung.  Before I know it my dad was taking off the diapers, hung out my laundry, and then finished putting away the food that had been left out from lunch.  

Lots to be thankful for.  Like the baby that's sleeping, the clothes that are drying, the food that I have to make for supper.

Thankful Thursdays

There's a reason I refer to my husband as 

"St." James

My man minutes before our wedding.

Ok, really, many reasons.

Thanks for helping me through school - and letting me finish first!

James is WAY better at organizing birthdays and making DELICIOUS cakes.
That look nice.
My attempts at a cake for him this year looked like a grade two science project.
(PS - it looks like that says "29" on there...let me assure you, it does not)

He still looks more like me, even though you're both bald.

This guy is the best husband and father to us we could dream off.  As I think about going back to work in the fall, and think about what the days will look like, coming home after being at work, nursing, having dinner together, making bedtime happen, trying to figure out how to include an evening or two out during the week to go to a Bible study or volunteer at church, and I'm exhausted already.  This guy's been doing that for almost eight months (minus the nursing).  He's up just as often as I am at night, he tries to make sure I have as much time for myself as possible, he does MORE than his fair share around the house.  

He's a Saint.

James, thanks for being you!  Thanks for being an incredible friend and partner as we do life together.  Thanks for the way you care for me, and the way you care for our son.  Thanks for the way you enable me to be a good mom, and the way you give SO much of yourself without complaining.

I will try to be as supportive of you as you take on school and being the at-home parent.  I won't do as good job as you do, I know it.  But I'll try.

I love you!

Thankful Thursdays

There is a blogger movement called "Thankful Thursday", and I think I'm gonna hop in the bandwagon.

This week I am thankful for grandparents.

Both James' parents and my parents have spent some time with Haydon in the past week that has allowed me to go and be more than a mom, and that is a very good thing.  On Saturday, I dropped him off with Barb and Tony and went for a stroll down Locke St, which was so nice.  Amazing what an hour of looking at pretty things can do :)

My folks came over on Tuesday, had dinner with Haydon and I, then stayed with him after he went to bed so that I could go to book club. (Sidenote - we discussed The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, which I HIGHLY recommend!).  Again, so good to go and be with adults for a night of good company, good discussion, and good food.

Thanks to our parents for parenting us, and supporting us as we parent!