I’m Thankful

Remember a few years ago when everyone on Facebook would do the 30 days of “thanks” during November on Facebook? Well, I have admission…I never did it. That trend started while we were still adjusting to the word “autism” and, if I’m being honest, I thought I’d never really have anything to be thankful for again. I would watch everyone with all their thankful posts and want to throw my phone against the wall. Well….several years, hundreds of prayers, and thousand of moments later…here we are. And even if I haven’t quite made “peace” with autism, we have at least created enough of a truce for me to find my thankfulness again. So… I decided to make my own list and yeah, I know I’m about five years late and it’s no longer the “hip” thing to do. But, if you know me, you know I’ve never really been on the cutting edge of any trend so, here we go my own autism thankfulness list…..

1. I’m thankful my son says, “I love you.”
2. I’m thankful my husband says, “I love you.”
3. I’m thankful it’s now November and culturally acceptable to listen to Christmas music.
4. I’m thankful my parents are such a huge part of Collier’s life.
5. I’m thankful for a Boy Scout troop who is so accepting of Collier.
6. I’m thankful for the dads of that troop who are such good leaders and examples for the boys.
7. I’m thankful for coffee (lots and lots of coffee).
8. I’m thankful my son can go to the grocery store without melting down.
9. I’m thankful God provided a way for us to homeschool Collier.
10. I’m thankful for an old friend who opened a door for me to work from home.
11. I’m thankful Collier likes to hug.
12. I’m thankful it’s Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake season.
13. I’m thankful Collier doesn’t think he’s too cool to be seen with me (yet).
14. I’m thankful that I wake up next to my best friend every day.
15. I’m thankful that my son has never wandered, and I’ve never had to hunt for him filled with fear and dread.
16. I’m thankful that The Office is on Netflix for 13 more months.
17. I’m thankful for the love and forgiveness of God.
18. I’m thankful for the friends Collier has.
19. I’m thankful Collier likes to go on vacation and doesn’t mind visiting new places.
20. I’m thankful for camping friends.
21. I’m thankful for stretchy pants after Thanksgiving dinner.
22. I’m thankful Collier can swim and pray for every autism parent who has lost a child to water.
23. I’m thankful Collier has no bowel issues (and all the autism moms say, “Amen!”).
24. I’m thankful Collier can ride his bike and loves to do so.
25. I’m thankful for Fannie Farkle’s corndogs.
26. I’m thankful Collier’s speech is improving.
27. I’m thankful that the only New Year’s resolution I kept this year was to go to a ladies Bible study- I’m not sure those women will ever know what that meant to me.
28. I’m thankful I get to be Bud and Elaine’s daughter.
29. I’m thankful I get to be Collier’s mom.
30. I’m thankful I get to be Brian’s wife.

So there’s 30 of the things I’m thankful for today. I know you’re supposed to do one a day but, much like Dickens’ ghosts, I got all my work done in one night. And even as I steamroll headlong into Christmas decorating (yep I’m that person), I want to keep the lessons of this Thanksgiving exercise with me as I go through the entire month of November.

I take that back….I want to keep the lesson of thankfulness with me through every month.

~ Amye