Giving thanks

We are so blessed. Two wonderful kids. A happy, healthy marriage. Families that we enjoy spending time with and miss when we're not with them. Jobs that we like. I really have nothing to complain about.

Recently however, I've noticed that Ty has been complaining more frequently. And as I thought about why he's doing it, I realized that he was learning it from me. No matter how blessed I've been, my complaining has gotten worse over the past couple of years. And as I hear myself tell him that instead of complaining about what he doesn't have he should focus on the good things he does have, I realized that I needed to listen to that advice myself.

So, in this season of giving thanks, we started a new tradition. Inspired by a blog post I found while searching for ideas for decorating kids' rooms, we created a "Giving Thanks" calendar. For the last two weeks at dinnertime, we each said what we were most thankful for that day. Tonight, we read them all at our Thanksgiving dinner. Here's a sample:

• Halloween candy (Tyler)
  
• Hiking in the woods (Me and Tyler)
  
• Playing Pirate ship on the playset (Ty)
  
• A hunting trip (Jeff)


• Megan's hugs (Me)


• Having Daddy home (Me...he's been travelling a lot lately)
  
• Tyler's smile (me)

We hope to continue the tradition throughout the year. Maybe with enough time, Tyler and I can both turn our complaining habit around.

PS: If you want to see more pictures of two of the biggest blessings in our lives enjoying the season, click on the picture above.