{Be Styled} Wearing Gratitude
I can’t believe the holiday season is here! These weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas truly are the most wonderful of the year, I think. I’ve been reflecting all month long about what I’m most thankful for, and the list seems to get longer by the day. The past year was FULL of change for me and my little family. One year ago, we found out we’d be moving from Seattle to the east side of the state thanks to a long awaited transfer with my husband’s job. We’d prayed about it for years, and finally our time had come. We sold our home, packed up and moved in 3 weeks. Last Christmas we found ourselves in a tiny rental home, boxes everywhere, and we were all sick with terrible colds. My husband was so sick, he couldn’t come to Christmas day festivities with family. It was not the Christmas I’d envisioned. The proceeding months were occupied with house hunting, a new {and extremely stressful} job for me, and raising a busy toddler. Each day, however, I continued to count my blessings despite this hectic season in our lives. We were connecting with old friends, making new ones, and enjoying being so near to our families. I made a decision to leave the hectic job a few months later, and walked into another unexpected position which allows me much more time at home with my son and more time to devote to other freelance writing projects. One of the most wonderful moments came in August when our son, who was born with a severe congenital heart defect, was taken off all of his heart medications, due to his good health and prognosis with his defect. He continues to bless us with his wit, joy and silliness, and we don’t take any of it for granted. My husband and I were able to escape on a much needed vacation this fall as well, which allowed us to reconnect, laugh, stay up late and sleep in!
As I type, I’m sitting in our new home watching our son and my husband play on the floor. The smell of fresh-from-the-oven pumpkin bread is wafting through, and my meal-planning list for Thanksgiving Day sits to my left. I’ve thought about where we were a year ago and I’m in awe over answered prayers and gifts of grace. This is why I love keeping a journal; I can always look back and see where I was. I can re-read desperate prayers and note how they’ve gone answered. I’m extremely grateful for this space to write each week, and I’m thankful for all that Delight encompasses– being a part of this community truly is a blessing. I’m reminded that gratitude is an attitude of the heart, and we can reflect it in all we do. When it becomes a part of who we are, not just a duty but a way of life, we change from the inside out; and that transformation is an amazingly beautiful thing.
Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! –Anna
