I was just witness to a Christmas commercial on the television. The catalogues are coming in force through the mail. The radio is abuzz with ways to survive holiday travel and my initial reaction is to take my sleigh down to Whoville and steamroll the brainwashed consumer machine that starts turning over earlier and earlier and earlier each year. Deep breath…all better and sorry for my little freak out. I am, despite my cynicism, thankful every single day of my life for so many beautiful and amazing little things that make up my days. I wake up thankful and go to sleep on my worst day thankful. Did I mention I was thankful? As we all rush frantically towards and through the holiday season I am going to take a little time to slow it down. Cliché…yep…turkey and Hallmark and family oh my. Here are just a couple snapshots that make me happy and cause me to pause for a moment to reflect on my little speck of existence in this vast and deep tapestry of life.

My Monsters

As I have said on countless occasions my family means so much to me. I love my girls fiercely. They make me laugh and giggle and spin in circles so fast I cant help but fall over. They pick me up and dust me off and love me so hard it brings tears to my eyes sometimes when nobodies looking. Dara, Kate, Lila, and Abigail too…you ladies are my sun and rain and sky. You are my world on fire. You help me be who I was meant to be. I am thankful to be in your lives.

Adventures Big and Small

I have learned that adventures come in many shapes and sizes. All are important and necessary in my life. They are necessary to my own self-growth and they are important to share with my people. I get to take my daughters on hikes so that they can witness the things that I find so incredible. I get to share the stars with my wife so that she can understand how vast and profound my love for her is and will remain. I get to explore in solitude so that I might come home with a new fire in my soul. Adventures big and small are to be celebrated. I am thankful for them all.

My Dream Job

Those that know me already are aware of this, but I am going to say it anyway. I have my dream job. I am a stay at home dad. I am lucky to be able to support my family in this way. I feel connected and involved, and I see things that I fear I would otherwise miss out on. The sacrifices are big and scary, but for us, in this moment, it’s right. I am thankful to be able to spend this time with my little girls.

Breakfast Burritos

Sorry folks. No pictures here. When this mighty meal hits my plate I get a little tunnel vision, and don’t stop to take a picture until it’s too late. Regardless there is no praise too high for this glorious wrap of breakfast awesomeness. There is no day that can’t be crushed when a breakfast burrito is on the menu first thing. Breakfast burrito….I am thankful for you….so much….ps…coffee and tater tots…you guys kick ass too.

The Wild Magic of our Natural World

This world we get to live in is complex and beautiful and desolate and grand. We humans are a small part in the fabric of time. The destruction of our wild places is heavy on my heart, but there is magic in how nature heals and this gives me hope. There is magic in the eyes of our children and I want to show my daughters how to love the beauty that surrounds them. Perhaps with the magic of love and effort and compassion we can all heal the wounds of this world.

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