it's not always easy...

... but I'm still trying. My gratitude challenge may be officially completed, but I have an echo of that thought still bouncing around my head. Like yesterday, after I started up some laundry and decided that sure, I could grab a shower even though the kids were all a bit hyped up. Just a quick shower- no biggie. Not more than a minute or two in, this is the scenario I find myself in:

Very low water pressure with lukewarm (but quickly cooling even more) water raining down on me. (sprinkling down on me, more like it), accompanied by random screaming from Red, "No no no no!" from Pudge, and lots of "Guys! Guys! Enough! Stop!" from JAM.

While I attempted to rinse conditioner from my hair with dribbling cool water, I also screamed to called out to Red to come into the bathroom so I could at least try to talk her down from the brink of insanity. After the third time of full-name-usage, she finally came into the bathroom where she proceeded to sit on a stool and sob as if the world was crumbling around her. Which apparently is the definition of not getting to use the toy she wanted.

So, the voice rattling around in my brain told me to keep calm and find even a little bit in the craziness to be thankful for. Here's what I could muster:

*Cold water or not, I'm happy that I had a shower to use. I don't ever really feel human until after my morning shower, so I have to remember to acknowledge this grace.

*I'm thankful that JAM cares enough to try to settle the bickering that occurs about 27 hours a day between Red and Pudge.

*Healthy lungs, healthy vocal cords, healthy tear ducts for my histrionic middle child. Check, check, check.

*Huge amounts of gratitude that lovely hubby would be home soon, as well as for the simple fact that I have a partner to tag in when I really need a break.


So on this turkey day, as we focus once more on the things we have to be thankful for, it's good to remember that sometimes you have to scratch the surface a little to get to the good stuff.


Happy Thanksgiving to you all!