Feeling Grateful

Today I am feeling very grateful for good friends and a fabulous husband. I have a cold that has completely wiped me out, and on top of that, I've been trying to potty train Tyler, who has not been appreciating my efforts AT ALL. Yesterday I had about had it, when one of my good friends dropped off her little boy to play with Tyler (this was a good thing - he needed something to do!), brought me back a pizza for dinner when she picked him up and then took Tyler to her house to play for the afternoon. I spent the afternoon in bed with Ryan and then managed to get up just in time to go pick up Tyler. When I got home, James was working in the yard after being at the hospital since 6 am. He kept Tyler outside with him while I made dinner (if you can call throwing a pizza in the oven making dinner) and fed Ryan. After dinner, James did all the dishes - including all the dishes that had piled up since the night before - made brownies (and cleaned up everything after), swept and mopped the kitchen floor, vacuumed the family room and did a couple of loads of laundry. So thank you to both of you. I am so grateful for all the help and support - not only when I'm not feeling the best, but all the time.

This time out in Ohio has really taught me what it means to be a true friend. We are so lucky to be blessed with so many friends who have really become our family out here in Ohio. I am always so impressed with these women who I am blessed to call my friends. We are all, for the most part, very far from any family, have husbands that are very busy with school and/or work, and are raising at least a couple of small kids. It would be so easy to get wrapped up in our own lives, but instead, each of these amazing women look out for one another and find ways - sometimes small and sometimes big, but always appreciated - to help each other out. It's been amazing to me to watch and to learn from. I am truly going to miss these girls and the support system that we have when we move next year. I only hope that I can take what I have learned from each of them, and use it to bless the lives of the other women I come in contact with wherever we live next.