This thankful heart

If you took the word "Thanksgiving"  literally, as in "I am filled with thanks" and you did not think of it in terms of turkey or games or cranberries then that would be a very hard thing to do. Because holiday's are defined by experiences with smells, tastes and sounds. Today is different for our family because there is no gathering at our place (first time in four years) and we've had to cancel plans with friends because of two wet-coughing nose-running boys and hubby is giving a presentation at work (remember this is a holiday that the eastern world does not recognize). So instead of creating a memory this year with traditions and friends and foldout tables to fold-up after guests leave, this Thanksgiving I am forced to rely primarily upon this thankful heart.

I am thankful and probably am the most sincerely thankful than I have been in a long time. Maybe ever.

It's been A Year. Roughly in this order my first born son turned three, sweet Asha was born four days later, I contracted terrorizing pain later to be diagnosed as tuberculosis in the leg, our family relocated to the USA for medical purposes, a sibling was conceived, Lukas had his second birthday, my brother-in-law married, my best friend from high school had her first-born son, and we returned to India with three "babies", pregnant and delirious with mixed emotions.

My heart is wondrous at it all and thankful..
.
for strong legs and a pain-free body,
a strong and healthy pregnancy with a strong and healthy baby inside,
a daughter who is not only different but prettier too, than boys,
a husband who weighed the cost of big decisions and then made his move with boldness,
an abundance of fish crackers and Cheerios for four months in USA,
parent's who LOVE us and support us unconditionally,
pregnancy highs that let me get some errands run,
pregnancy lows that are smoothed over with occasional naps,
a baby girl who chants "ma-ma-ma",
no side-effects to the med's,
an amazing team of surgeons, doctors and nurses,
a community of woman who dare to do life together,
neighbors who think my kids are cute and 100% well-behaved and like my baking,
a house helper who is loyal, trustworthy, hardworking and knows full-well that my kids are neither always cute nor well-behaved 100% of the time,
and lastly a husband who never complains that leftovers are served way too often. And the foods too salty.

Thankful.