Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, the turkey's been carved, our family has departed and I've once again stuffed myself way over capacity. We had Thanksgiving with Greg's family this year and it was a very nice time. I'm still anxiously waiting to hear from Greg's mum to verify the gluten-free dinner I prepared was indeed gluten-free. This is the second gluten-free Thanksgiving dinner I have done and I'll say that I have all the respect in the world for the people who live this way every day. I'm sure it's something you get used to but I was a nervous wreck! The counters were wiped down early this morning and "the boys" were warned against touching my counter tops or they'd be in serious trouble! I literally broke down and cried when Greg asked Ian to carry through a cooling rack (that recently held gluten full chocolate chip cookies) and he deposited it right on top of my gluten-free cookie sheet (I bought brand new disposable ones so I didn't have to worry about any contamination from my stones and cookie sheets!). Ian looked at me like I'd lost my mind (clearly I had), and just kept saying I'm sorry mumma, I'm sorry! Poor kid. Anyways, there is so much you have to think about when preparing gluten-free food from the ingredients themselves, to what you cook them on. The only thing that was not gluten-free was the gravy, even then, I had full intentions of making that gluten free as well but Donna said she doesn't eat gravy anyways, so I just used the jars Greg brought home the other day, it was 10 minutes before serving time and I was spent so that was much easier!

I have so much to be thankful for this year.

My loving husband who takes so much from me. My emotions are consistently on the edge of late and I never know what to expect from myself. Looking at it from the outside must be a scary place to be! I'm so lucky to have him keeping me sane and loving me all at the same time!

My amazing son who I just thank God for every day. It's never a dull moment with him, and he is really shaping up to be a great kid. He's still 6, I need to remind myself just about every day, but he really is a good boy.

My daughter, can you believe I'm saying that? We are so fortunate to have been chosen to be her parents. I can't wait until next Thanksgiving where we can be celebrating her first Thanksgiving with us!

Our other family members who have all been so supportive of everything we have been through in the past few years. We are so lucky to have you all so close by, I wouldn't have it any other way!

Our friends, old and new. I never feel alone, it's just amazing, so thank you...

Lastly I think one of the things I've learned this year is to put things in perspective. Yes we have had our struggles through the past few years, but we have our family, we have a home, we have the means to feed our family, and we feel safe. I think about Ana's birth mother today, and of the fact that these things we take for granted are likely not true for her, and because of that she made the decision to send her child to a place where she would be safe and not suffer due to lack of food or shelter. I am so thankful to this woman for allowing us to raise her daughter. It is a gift without measure, I hope I get to thank her personally some day.

I said to Ian today, "Ian, what are you thankful for?"
he said "you and daddy, Ana, God, my friends, and Milo"
a few minutes passed and he chirped up again "oh and the nerf gun Uncle Shawne brought for me!"

He is six, isn't he?!