I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude. -Brene Brown
Isn’t it true that life is made up of ordinary moments that amount to an extraordinary life? This time of year, we generally find ourselves reflecting back on the ordinary moments that are so special to us and fill us up with gratitude and thankfulness.
Several of the Rochester MN Moms Blog contributors took some time to reflect on what gratitude meant to them this year. Additionally, we want to add that we are incredibly grateful for the Rochester, MN community and to our readers. We are overwhelmed with your encouragement and support of us in this endeavor to encourage and equip our parenting community.
Life is richest when you have people to share it with. This year I am particularly aware of that and am 
reminding myself to be grateful for the residuals associated with it. I am grateful to have laundry to do, beds to make, toys to pick up and dishes to wash. There’s beauty in the mundane when you reflect on the reasons why those tasks exist in the first place. I’m thankful for emails and texts to answer because they represent people to whom I’m connected. (Sadly, my delinquent replies do not reflect my gratitude.) I’m grateful to have people to fight for and, at times, fight with because those, too, reflect connections with people that are worth putting effort into. And, because I’m striving to be more authentic, I’m grateful for frivolous things, too, like friendly baristas at Moka, Instagram filters and cherry ChapStick. —Shawna
This year, I’m thankful for the opportunity to watch my oldest son learn how to read. As a little girl, I was
an absolute bookworm, and it’s been such a joy to watch him discover. Sure, there are 
days when I just want to yell out whatever word he’s currently guessing….errr….patiently trying to decipher. But the rest of the days, I get teary-eyed thinking about the worlds he can now explore. —Heather
This year thankful thoughts have been sparse. In January, my depression decided to pay a visit. It has been a tough fight. There have been days when it has taken every ounce of my willpower to keep the car on road and not drive it off a bridge. I would go to sleep at night dreading having to get up and live for one more day…depression is rough friend. It is hard to be grateful when you are barely holding on to the sweetness of life. And I know life is sweet and good but sometimes I don’t feel it. So, this year my thankful list is a bit bittersweet. Every year doesn’t have to be full of rainbow and sunshine. Some years are just hard and that is okay.
I am thankful for my story.
I am thankful for vulnerability, for tears, for understanding hearts.
I am thankful for donuts, lattes, smiles, Kleenex and cookies.
I am thankful for quiet moments.
I am thankful for space to write.
I am thankful for kind words and good books.
I am thankful that even though I may not feel like loving life today, I have been given one more day to live.
—Allison
Things I’m especially thankful for this year:
1. Family. Extended, immediate, unborn and four-legged. My family is my heart and soul.
2. Health. Something that’s perhaps too easily taken for granted until it’s compromised.
3. Shelter. Every night when I crawl into bed, I can’t help but feel an enormous sense of gratitude for a warm, safe place to sleep.
4. Creature comforts. Namely, mocha coconut Frappuccinos, my slow cooker, heated seats, and a hot shower.
5. The kindness of others. The world can be a scary place. I take heart in knowing that the good really does outweigh the bad, sometimes you just have to look really, really hard.
6. Christmas. I love Christmas. My tree has been up and lit since the beginning of November simply because looking at it makes me happy.
—Sarah
This year I have a lot to be grateful for. There are two things that I am most grateful for this year. The first thing that comes to mind is my grandmother. She passed away in October, but I am so very grateful for the example she provided my family. She was an amazing woman of God and I am so thankful to have had her for 29 years of my life. Another thing I am grateful for this year is our home. After spending the first four years of our marriage moving and living in apartments, we were able to buy our first home. We are so grateful to be able to have a place to host friends and family. And of course, I am thankful for my two beautiful girls and my amazing husband, who I look forward to spending the holiday season with! —Hannah
I spent Black Friday 2014 and the next 5 days in the Cardiac Critical Care Unit at St. Mary’s Hospital. It 
was the culmination of 15 months of tests, doctor visits, ER trips, and hospital stays that made 2014 one of the most challenging, painful, confusing, and lonely years of my life. When I left the hospital several days later with a diagnosis and treatment plan, I looked at life through new lenses. Today I am grateful that I am able to be the mother I want to be to my 2 amazing daughters, support my husband as he supported me, have a career that challenges and energizes me, and give back in whatever way I can. Our experiences in life shape who we are. Through my experience I have learned to be thankful for each day and to not let life pass you by – grab ahold of each opportunity that comes your way. We only get 1 life to live, how will you live yours? —Mamie
As I reflect on 2015, I realize that the year has been punctuated by transition. For a Type A girl, this doesn’t come super easily. The being said, without the aforementioned transition, I would never have had the opportunities that I did. There is so much in my life that fills me with gratitude. I’m grateful to a dear friend for reaching out to challenge me to consider starting Rochester MN Moms Blog. I’m thankful for a supportive husband who thought about this opportunity for 1 second before he whole-heartedly supported me and has continued to be my biggest fan. I’m thankful for my faithful, trusty, lovely Rochester MN community that I’m just so crazy about who has surrounded me and encouraged me and believed in me and Rochester MN Moms Blog. I’m thankful for my sweet daughter and an active baby boy who will join us so soon. Cheers to this year and many more transitions next year that can only bring strength an growth. xoxo —Becky
I am thankful for my kids. I have no idea if its anything I have taught, but they are full of grace, forgiveness
and compassion. I love seeing the day, the week, the world through their experiences, I learn so much from them, and their fluid and flexible minds and hearts, and they make me not only a better mom, but a better person. —Nicole
This year I’m so thankful for my little family and the addition of our daughter last week. We feel so fortunate to live in America where we have the freedom to celebrate this holiday as we choose. Our table is filled with family we cherish and an abundance of tasty food. I’m also grateful for the reminder to reflect on our many blessings. —Sara M
