My ThankList this Holiday Season

Three years and one week ago today, I was sitting in a hospital bed holding a precious newborn baby in my arms.  My life was instantly changed.  Our lives were instantly changed.  We didn’t know how much our lives would be changed, but now three years later, I am blown away by the parents, by the adults, by the family we’ve become.  Our lives were all changed again almost six months ago when we welcomed our second beautiful baby into the world.  And because of these girls, this holiday season, I couldn’t be more thankful.

I’m thankful for them teaching me what true love is.

I’m thankful for them teaching for what unconditional love is.

I’m thankful for them making me a more kind and loving person, not just to them and their father, but to everyone.

I’m thankful for them making me passionate about so many things that have helped other parents that I never knew I would be passionate about before – like breastfeeding, natural birth, and car seat safety.

I’m thankful for both of their births for teaching me how to truly trust myself and how faith in myself which has carried on into my everyday life moments.

I’m thankful for the moments that put a smile on my face.  Being a parent, I smile so much more than before.  Kids have a way of brightening your spirit by little things, silly things, memorable things, that you do together, and I’m so grateful to spend each day with them.

But most importantly, I’m thankful for Andrew. Without him, I couldn’t be thankful for the moments with the girls, the memories with the girls, and the gratitude I have for watching a father’s love for his daughters.  I couldn’t imagine life without him or our girls and I’m thankful for everyday that we have together.

American Greetings has partnered with United Way Worldwide for the ThankList campaign.  For every #ThankList shared on social media, American Greetings will donate $1 to United Way Worldwide towards campaigns for hunger prevention.  So I’m calling you out!  I want to see your #ThankList.  Living in a world where my newsfeed is filled with so much angry, let’s make the holiday season happy.  Research has shown that just writing out what you’re grateful for can trigger positive health benefits, so let’s get to writing! Share your #ThankList on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook and let’s make a movement for gratitude! And tag American Greetings if you can!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.