"(They're) out (there) on the front lines, sleep in peace tonight"

Day Eleven: The obvious thanks today is for those who have served in our armed forces and have taken it upon themselves to, without thought of the consequences, protect the rest of us and allow the rest of us the peace of mind to continue our day to day lives. I don't think one has to be a overly patriotic to be awed by the courage it takes to be willing to die, be injured, etc. in the line of duty. In fact, I think anyone not in awe of someone willing to travel thousands of miles to possibly die for the rest of us back home is someone who needs a very serious wake up call. Many of us go to work every day and our biggest concern is whether or not 5 o'clock can come quickly enough to suit our needs; how different our society would be if we all went to work every day not knowing if we would even live to see 5 o'clock. Regardless of how one feels about the wars and battles America has fought and about the reasons for each, we must all recognize the fact that these men and women do what they do with or without our support- and so therefore deserve it all the more. So thank you, veterans and those on active duty, for being who you are, what you were, and what so many others only dream they could be.

(Lyrics courtesy of Toby Keith/Chuck Cannon, "American Soldier")

Excuse the Mess, but We Live Here

Day Ten: You said, it Roseanne Barr! I am thankful for the mess in my home, for it reminds me of all the things in my world that are far more important than clean floors and an empty sink.

I don't remember anything about the cleanliness of my parents' house other than Saturday mornings were cleaning days and mom hated when we dusted around (as opposed to under) the tchotchke that overwhelmed her shelves. Was their house dirty? No. Then again, would I remember if it was? Absolutely not. I try to remind myself of this when I scan the disarray ever-present in my home and wonder how much therapy it will cause my children to need later on.

I kept a tight ship once upon a time. It was easy, with only two of us, to keep our house clean, neat, organized, etc. After we had Taidhgin, the house remained spotless, more or less. After Eibhlin came along, the house was clean. After Connlaodh was born, we moved into tolerable. Now, with the addition of Uilleam, I am lucky if I can see the kitchen island, let alone wipe it down. I used to do it all, but now I contract out my work: the four year old vacuums the living room, the eight year old wipes down sinks, and the six year old cleans all of the glass. They work very hard, they aim to please, but without fail there are streaks, crumbs, and more left behind. We do what we can, when we can, and that's all we can. What does this mean? It means that my floors and counters, as with the rest of my life, are a practice in organized chaos. Four kids, three dogs, one cat, and a husband all amount to endless sweeping, wiping, vacuuming, etc....if that's how I would choose to spend my time. Instead, I have given up the impossible dream and resigned myself to a house that is by no means clean- especially by the standards of some folks in my world- but is more of a home than I ever imagined I would be fortunate enough to have.

Don't get me wrong- I am in awe of anyone who has four kids, three dogs, one cat, a husband, a full time job, AND a spotless house....obviously she is amazing at time management and I wonder how much she would charge to come take care of my home. Until I meet Wonder Woman, however, I will be content to be grateful for the fact that I have learned to function in the clutter and that I know that one day I will miss the insanity that causes it. If keeping spotless floors and counters means I can't cuddle on the couch or hit the playground with the kids, then so be the dirty floors and counters- they'll still be there for me to clean long after the kids are gone.So, dear tile, we can rekindle our love affair then. And, let's be honest, Dr. Seuss nailed it when he said, "And this mess is so big ... And so deep and so tall, We cannot pick it up. There is no way at all!” (Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat).

Many eThanks

Day Nine: I love the fact that modern technology allows me to take the pause necessary to collect myself after reading a b.s. email, text, etc. In the old days I would have to just lose it on the phone or in person and deal with the consequences. Thanks to electronic communication, I can bite my electronic tongue and proceed down the path toward a more gentle discourse without fear of reprisal. Now if only I could master the act of pause, breathe, relax in real life. Baby steps, baby steps.

A Tribute to Emerson and to My Gal Pals

Day Eight: Ralph Waldo Emerson said, " I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and new." Today this sentiment meant that much more to me, as today was the day of our November Girls' Night Out. Once a month, every month for the last three years, I have had the honor of meeting up with some of my brilliant, funny, beautiful girl friends for drinks, food, laughter, and tears. The restaurant changes every month, but the faces, for the most part, are constant. Emerson also said, "The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it." My monthly "home", then - be it BJ's, Gloria's, Babe's, or any one of the dozens of restaurants in the Metroplex -is among the most finely decorated homes in the world. I am indebted to these women for what they have given me over the years- love, belly laughs, support, rounds of drinks, food samples, encouragement, and the opportunity to wear my own hat for a while, play my own role, be something other than a placeholder for someone else. For these few short hours every month (though it used to be long hours back we when first started and closed the bars down!), I am truly thankful.

So I'm Late....and You Know What THAT Means

How many of you are right now saying, "You are kidding me? She's knocked up AGAIN!?" (Yes, I see all hands are now in the air). Okay, so no, I am not pregnant. But I am late- in action, in will, in thought, etc.

I have been reading my friends' blog and Facebook posts for the last week and have seen a pattern among them: many of their posts start with "Day Number" and are followed by a note about something for which they are thankful. Some of the items for which they are thankful are deep, profound, touching...others are small, trivial, and important in their simplicity. What has struck me most, though, is how each day these friends sound more, well, thankful. Happy. Content. Secure. Gracious. HERE.

I will be the first to admit that I don't spend a lot of time acknowledging the gifts in my life as much as I should; how many of us really do have that kind of time to spare? Hmm. Given the fact that most people walk around ready to lash out, be a victim, take advantage, be hurt, give hurt, cry, scream, sigh, etc. I guess the real question is how many of us should be making that kind of time. So I looked into what could be the catalyst for this thanks-giving being done by my friends and I came across 30 Days of Thanks. This is where I realized I was coming into the game a little late...apparently this project began on 1 Nov. Well, better late than never (especially in the case of my period, for those of you interested in knowing where I stand on that subject these days!).

I don't think giving thanks is merely a religious thing (or only a Pilgrim thing, either). I think it's a human thing. So, in an effort to allow myself the opportunity to be human for a moment, I decided to go ahead and back up, run through some quickies (no pun intended), and get myself caught up. I am sure points will be deducted for this being turned in late; hopefully I complete my assignment well enough to at least pass.

Day One: I am thankful for having finally gotten a phone plan (and phone!) that allows me access to Pandora (yet again, better late than never). For an hour every morning while at the gym, I can relive the music of my youth- yes, my angry youth- and work out harder, smile a little at some memories (cringe at quite a few more), and simultaneously be 16 again AND be okay with my 36 year old gray hair and wrinkles. Thank you, Pandora, for being on my phone.

Day Two: I owe a world of thanks to Children's University for making Connlaodh feel smart, big, wonderful, proud, and HAPPY to be going to school. Connlaodh spent last year fighting us tooth and nail, every morning. He cried, he threw things (including himself), he BEGGED to stay home. This year, thanks to Children's University and Ms. Jackson (his teacher), he is a totally different child. He is excited to learn, to share what he's learned, and to be a part of a school. Just writing this brings tears to my eyes because I can, right this moment, hear him say proudly, "Mom, open up my folder. Look what I did today!"

Day Three: Being thankful for one's family is a given- and I will get back to them later- but for today I have to remark on a family other than the one with whom I share genes...

I have the best not-related-by-blood families in the world. Whether it's at the dojo, school, work, or play, I am so fortunate that we have fallen in with some of the best people. Everywhere we go in our lives, there are people with whom I would trust my children, my heart, my world. These are people who, for no reason other than because they rock, come to bat for me, us, etc. These are people who, without having to be asked, fill the gaps where they see them. These are people who know when to step aside, know when to step up, and know when I need some help to stand. They ask for nothing in return other than the same...and that I gladly give. I think of all the folks in our world who helped us in the last year especially, even if their help was simply the phone call that kept me from losing it, and I am so thankful, so thankful.

Day Four: Mrs. Jennifer Nations and the Ditto Dashers track club are day four's recipients of great thanks. Mrs. Nations reinstated the track club and, with the help of some Ditto moms who are lucky to be able to volunteer their time the way they do, also reinstated the Ditto Dash. Taidhgin and Eibhlin took to the club- and running!- and we started something as a family that has been fun and terribly rewarding. Thanks to Mrs. Nations and the track club, we ran a number of fun runs last year as a family of five- and then six!- and are planning on doing the same this year. I also have the good fortune to be able to volunteer with the track club this year and that is unbelievably uplifting! Who would have thought that by spending my time with 100 elementary school students I would come home feeling something other than a need for a stiff drink? Ha! But I do- I come home happy, both with my kids and with myself. I see more family runs, post-run trips to IHOP, and laps on the Ditto track in our future...and for that, I am truly grateful.

Day Five: I am thankful that Pre-K/K football is over. I know that sounds terrible, but holy crap is 8 am on Saturday morning a beating! Don't get me wrong, I am so glad that Connlaodh found a sport that he actually wants to do again, "Mom, I cannot wait for next year when I get to play REAL football.....TACKLE football!", but getting all six of us out of the house by 7:30 has been damn near impossible. So, thank you, Arlington Optimist, for providing Connlaodh with a niche...and for letting me sleep in next Saturday.

Day Six: My neighborhood is pretty freaking awesome. There are very few places left where a mother can send her four year old, six year old, and eight year old out to play for hours on end and know that they will not only come back safe and sound, but that someone will call the minute they go astray. When we bought our house eight years ago, we bought it for the size, the location, and the loft. Little did we know that, eight short years later, we would be in a position where those aspects of our home could be easily replaced elsewhere, but the neighborhood- the people, the kids, the safety, etc.- could not. I am so fortunate to be able to say, "Go out and play and don't come home until I call you!" without fearing for my children's well-being. My only fear is for our neighbors' sanity; one day with all of my kids is enough to drive anyone insane!

Day Seven: Thank you to my son, Taidhgin, for reminding me that there is still a shred of decency and compassion in the inherited hearts of the world. Taidhgin knows there is no Santa Claus (sorry, I didn't ruin that for anyone, did I?) and has done an amazing job of keeping the secret and sharing in the fun of watching the other kids believe. So tonight, when he handed me a letter he had written after Art Class, I was blown away how, in the midst of what was apparently a complicated and difficult Christmas list to write, he took the time to remember his siblings and remind ME to remember them, too:

Controlling for the obvious spelling issues, let's look at what is so amazing here that is brought me to tears: 1) he knows how to properly use the post-post-script abbreviation and 2) he says, "Don't show the kids!". I don't know what tugs at me more- the mere fact that he remembered them and asked me not to show them his letter or the fact that he refers to them as "the kids"; how old does that young soul feel some times? I love this boy for so many reasons; for today, I love him most for reminding me that while we often spend so much time thinking about what WE want, we need to spend just as much time remembering what others NEED.