Happy Thanksgiving!

Things that I'm thankful for are too numerous to count, but I'd like to inventory at least some of them. I'm thankful beyond articulation for being born into the best family in the world. I couldn't ask for a better mom and dad though I can aspire to be an equally good parent to my child. I'm thankful for my sister, my best friend, and for living long enough to share the joy of the birth of her first child. Im thankful for my extended family who gave me so much throughout the years and who continues to support and love. I'm grateful for falling in love with the man who became my husband and later the father of my daughter, Mia. The man who has been providing support through thick and thin. I'm thankful beyond comprehension for birthing and raising the most incredible child. I'm thankful for every moment with her and for being able to provide for her and for watching her grow. I'm grateful for all that Mia teaches me, for all the love that I get back. I'm thankful for the myriad of friends who have been enriching my life and for the occasional strangers who touch my life in a more subtle way. I am thankful for all the opportunities I've had and for opportunities to come. I'm grateful for living in a community that cares.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Last night, as heavy snow flakes were descending upon us, Derrick Mia and I braved our neighborhood's streets. We went trick or treating. Our snow gears were covered with our warm costumes, protecting us from the elements. We've been awaiting snow flakes, and of all the potential nights and days, they chose to arrive on Halloween. We asked for them, so we weren't going to complain, and with a group of good friends, we hit the streets. The wind was blowing, and the falling snow managed to stick to our faces, brushing against cold cheeks and making our eye lashes sticky. But we were unstoppable! The kids, driven by the prospect of collecting more and more candies, were leading the pack, and Mia, my sweet little lamb, seemed so very happy, running and skipping through mounds of snow, indifferent to the harsh weather. For these moments, she seemed like a child should be- worry free. Running from one home to the next with her friends, she seemed free. For these moments, she didn't have to bear the difficulties of having a mother with terminal cancer. She was out and about with her parents and her friends, happy as every child should be. I pray that one day, as Mia reflects on these moments, they'll appear as pleasurable and as magical as they appear to me.