Thursday Thanks. Helping #19.

It’s the first Thursday of the new year and it’s high time I spent a little time in my Thanksgiving Chair.

Some of my friends got engaged last year. Some got married, some became parents, some had a milestone year.

But, for a lot of people I love, 2013 was a broken year flooded with bad news, deflated dreams and health gone kaput. It wasn’t my favorite year because, frankly, it wasn’t an easy one. But I am thankful for it. And the more I looked back on it, the more 2013 looked up. Here’s an itty bitty smidgen of the blessings I counted.

January:

We rang in 2013 with some of our dearest friends and hotfooted it into the new year full speed.

Tucker started reading more and more–signs, labels, recipes. And Jeff and I had to stop spelling secret things out loud.

Case’s contagious dino craze intensified.

And I kicked off what would become my busiest, best professional year to date.

February:

I got 1 year older and I got a bike.

March:

We celebrated my sister’s 30th birthday in the most magical way.

We danced. A lot.

April:

We spent Saturdays unplugged at the ball park. Tucker batted.

Case cheered.

They grew. I noticed.

May:

We celebrated our brand new 4-year-old spunk muffin–my own personal sunshine.

We unleashed the Jedi on Star Wars Weekend.

And we joined Forces with some pretty great friends.

June:

I started this silly little blog.

For possibly the only time this will ever happen, the boys were on the same team. Summer Flag Football.

Well, Jeff coached. Tucker played. Case chased the field’s wild peacock family.

Tucker had his first sleepover ever (gulp.) and said goodbye to his best bud who moved out of state.

I bought a fancy dress (for the first time in years, no lie) and went to a swanky industry soiree in New York City.

July:

Because I have the best parents (a lot of people think they do, but I know that I do), they came to keep the boys so Jeff and I could celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary a few weeks early. I will always remember our trip as one of the most wonderful weeks of my life. Plus, we hit all four Disney parks in one day: Grand Slam Dunk.

We also celebrated Tucker’s 7th Birthday a little early. Lego love for life.

Jeff had a birthday. And we popped into the Trop. Sat up top. Make me stop.

August:

I flew to LA for a shoot.

There was Pretty everywhere.

My boy, my little man, thoughtful old soul, turned 7 while I was away.

I hung out with my parents–just the 3 of us for the first time since ?–on a work trip in the Big Apple.

And another school year started.

September:

I realize just how much I love my husband each football season. His unshakeable fanhood has rubbed off.

October:

After so many seasons in the stands, Case finally had a team of his own. And an amazing coach.

Tucker perfected his slide.

And Gamps & Grandmama came to see.

During our 5th annual sister trip to EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival, Lindsey sat with me through 3 sets of Boyz II Men. Check.

Halloween was pretty rad, too. The boys trick-or-treated in my office, in the neighborhood and in the Magic Kingdom.

November:

We joined our church.

Jeff’s Movember team raised $2820 (and quite a few facial hairs) in honor of his dad.

And when we went to spend Thanksgiving with his dad in the quiet Carolina country, we had a good prognosis to be thankful for.

December:

In a season that’s bedazzled with busyness, sometimes you need something simple to slow you down. Like these December skies.

The Bucs did not have a winning season, but the Faith & Football event cemented one thing. Love has already won.

And I spent Christmas with my entire family–my husband, our boys, my parents, my sister and my brother. It. Was. Super.

At first mention, 2013 rings a little unlucky, a little sour. But, look at all the life, the fun, the growth, the triumphs, the good.

I’m so grateful that I re-measured the year.