Welcome back to 30 Days of Thanks! It’s almost Thanksgiving, and I’m not fully ready (but still excited).
Day 15: Your favorite memories
In a week, our son will be one! Naturally, I’m reflecting a lot on the day he was born. Holding him for the very first time is the most tender and wonderful memory I’ll have. I’m so, so grateful for this little boy.
Day 16: A book that made you think
I read The Secret History of Home Economics three years ago, and I think about it regularly. I have an extended rant in my review of the book, but know this: Home economics was likely one of the most practical classes in high school curricula, and now it’s fading fast. It’s the area of study that taught people how to – I hate this term – adult, and we all needed it.
Day 17: What you love about nature
While I have a lot of indoor cat hobbies, I feel very much at home outside. I think that has a lot to do with growing up camping and in Girl Scouts. I’m grateful to my parents for instilling this appreciation for nature in me as a child. I’m also thankful to my husband for committing to thoughtful stewardship and care of the natural world, especially in the spaces we’re lucky enough to own.
What I love most about nature right now is sharing it with my son. He loves being outside. He loves everything from a walk in the park to playing in the leaves to sitting out at the campsite. Seeing the world through his eyes is a joy and something I’m so thankful for.
Day 18: Tasks that bring you joy
My husband and I agree: Baby chores are the best chores. He loves washing baby clothes. I love putting them away. I love running baby errands. He loves washing baby dishes. Parenthood has unlocked a lot of joy for both of us, even in the seemingly mundane.
Day 19: Lessons you’ve learned
This year I learned how much the ordinary can be wonderful. I’ve learned how simple things, like a morning walk to McDonald’s with my son or a solo trip to Costco, can fill the metaphorical cup. Not everything needs to be Pinterest-perfect; I knew this already, but now I also feel it.
Day 20: Where you find beauty
We have an extremely small yard. It’s not glamorous, it’s not fully landscaped, the lawn is full of weeds and bumps. But as I sat in the back yard this fall with my son, I thought it really is beautiful out here. It’s small, but I’m grateful to have a small patch of ground that we call ours.
Day 21: What makes you laugh
We listen to a lot of Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend in this house. We had on the Chris Fleming episode recently and realized we had never seen any of GAYLE. So we’ve taken to watching an episode or two on occasion, and it gets me every time. Thankful to still be able to tap into the glory days of YouTube and discover something that keeps us laughing.
I’ll be keeping up with this series all November long. Share what you’re thankful for below! I’ll be back on November 30 with this month’s last installment.
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