This month, so far,  has been a little bit crazy and it has me {once again} remembering how fleeting this time in my life is.  We're a full week into November and 2 weeks from Thanksgiving...hard to believe.

Being thankful is a mindful thing and, I believe, takes practice.  It's honestly part of my everyday self-talk to remind myself to count the blessings in my life.  I hear myself grumbling and in the back of my mind my small, personal Jiminy Cricket is whispering..."remember...you have a lot to be thankful for".  And, of course, I do.  I suppose that some people don't have that voice...I'm thankful that I do...only I'm still working on that voice becoming louder and louder so that it's bouncing around in there taking up all the room so that the grumbles are only a whisper.

So, I haven't been as productive as I'd hoped.  Things I wanted to accomplish haven't been.  I've wasted some time being upset about it, but then decided to mindfully embrace where I am.  I have 3 small children who need attention, time, and a Mom who can "go with the flow".  Right now homework, practicing reading and math, having a healthy dinner to eat,  and getting to bed on time is the priority.  And as we Moms know, that's no easy task...

And all this talk of Thanksgiving has made a difference for the kids.  Colin, completely on his own, started listing the things he was grateful for the other night while I was tucking them in...which then prompted Ty to do the same.  And, Ty got in the car yesterday and said "Mrs. Filkins is already talking all about Christmas!  We're the only ones who care about Thanksgiving...everyone else just wants to skip the holiday."

It makes me so proud of them...and for that I am thankful!



*tomorrow I'll post their Mayflower pictures we worked on this weekend...