This has been a strange year, from the stress of my teaching job, to the sadness of a miscarriage, to the tempered excitment at another chance at pregnancy and a change of gears from teaching to grad school,but through it all, I have plenty to be thankful for.

• My husband. Good goddamn, I have a great husband. All the low points of this year have brought us closer, made us a tighter couple, and made us have a shared appreciation for the high points.  I love him so much, and am so excited that my family is evolving with him as my partner.
• My family.  They are supportive of me, of us, of everything we do.  When I worry about the future, I am able to know that I’m lucky enough that things would never get so bad, because I have a generous family who wants us to succeed. They love my husband, they love me, and they are so excited to love the new baby.
• My friends.  I have great friends, wonderful friends who’ve opened their homes to me, opened their families to me, been there when things were bad and celebrated when things were good. 
• My home.  I love my not-so-big house, with it’s so-big yard and big ol’ trees. I love my neighborhood, I love my city, and I still get a little thrill when I pull up at night to see the porch light on.  It’s our home, and it’s so exciting to imagine sharing this home with our first kid.
• The internet. No, really.  I cannot imagine dealing with a miscarriage without it — no one close to me has had one, and it’s one of those things you don’t fully understand unless you’ve been there, and I truly don’t know what it would have been like without the IMs and others that knew exactly what I was going through.  On top of that, it’s the internet that is making having a baby more affordable, helping me make informed decisions, and giving me options beyond those two aisles at Toys R Us.  Aside from miscarrying and shopping, I’ve also been able to follow along with others’ lives, sharing the joy of a new baby, a new pregnancy, a wedding, professional accomplishments, personal accomplishments… and being able to listen in on the sad days as well, when things aren’t great.  If you’re reading this, I’m thankful for you.  If you see me in your stats, I’m thankful for what you share. 

I really wish everyone a happy thanksgiving, and I hope that you have a full list of things to be thankful of as well.