Me Trying to be Thankful for Something Beyond Pie?

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you're having a fantastic Holiday with your loved ones this year. And I hope the day brings light to what you're grateful for. 

Our list of things to be thankful for during this time is infinite… literally, so I usually try to think of just one thing that I'm particularly thankful for every year. Family, home, health, PIE(always)… etc. Ever since Darby was born though I've been thinking about one thing over and over and how there have been so many instances in my life that I would be completely lost without. That one thing is my Mother. I've always felt grateful for her of course, but this past year has really opened my eyes to how much she really does for not only me, but everyone around her. When we were joyfully surprised with my second pregnancy I didn't really know what was in store for me. Would it be just like my last pregnancy? Would I be able to control the morning sickness better this time? I really just had to take it one step at a time to see how things would work out. But things were Oh, so different this time around too. My last pregnancy I had just quit my job and David made most of his dimes through Chamberlynn(his band). So he was always around to take care of me. The sickness and months without keeping anything down were terrible, but it was beyond wonderful to have him right there to help me through it. This pregnancy, between working and volunteering David was gone about 60 hours a week. On top of that, of course, I had a toddler I was taking care of now.

I began to feel sick and tried to push the feelings aside. I began to not keep my food down, every once in a while, but pushed myself through it. And one day, I had pushed myself too far. I had become so weak I was literally crawling, trying to make it to the bathroom. My toddler was crawling all over me worried and needing my attention. My stubbornness didn't want to, but I broke down and called my Mother that day. She came over right away even though she was in the middle of something. She bought me some chicken noodle soup, made me get into bed, and took care of Everett for me. I was in tears. Yes, I was pregnant, and yes, I knew it would just get worse from there, but beyond all that I think I was crying because I knew that no matter what I was dealing with I would be OK. I had her. The person that's taken care of me since the moment I was born and she's still taking care of me 26 years later. 

I stayed with my parents while David was gone on a band tour and busy with other stuff. My Mom watched over me and Everett every single day. She brought me breakfast every single morning I stayed at their house. My Mother was always there for me. She took care of me and fed me during those dark months. She knows me and she knows I hide my pain well and she knows I'm stubborn and she continues to love me, help me, and encourage me. She eased my pregnancy pains the last few months. And after a few days of Everett being gone, while we were at the hospital and settling in with the new baby, he came home and I loved it but getting through an entire day felt almost impossible on my own with a new baby and him. I was in tears at the end of one day when Darby was about a week old. I broke down and called my mom. I felt so dumb. She had raised all three of her kids (all 18 months apart) by herself and I felt like I couldn't even handle two, 3.5 years apart. She genuinely explained to me that she understood, felt for my situation, and wanted to pick up Everett first thing that morning. She relived me from the worries that I was too weak and, holy cow, that meant so much to me during that time.

I never would have imagined that after all the days of yelling at each other(not that those are over hehe)she still has love for me.

Thank you for teaching me so many important things in life Mom. OK… one of those important things was how to make Thanksgiving pie, from scratch(particularly pumpkin cheese cake). I'm so thankful for pie this year, like every year, but before that, I'm thankful for the person who taught me, so well, to make it.

May your day be filled with love and gratitude.