I'm so thankful for...

...alone time with my husband.

Katie is so much fun to play with, and we tend to devote all our time to her. But we've been a lot more deliberate about finding little moments. A smooch in the kitchen during dinner prep, a game of Mario Kart after munchkin goes to bed, the "how was your day?" conversations that we had been forgetting. It means the world to me.

I'm so thankful for...

...my family.


I am incredibly lucky to be married to my best friend. Jared has been my rock through so much hardship, and I am so grateful to him. He's the person I want to spend my time with, the person I want to try new things with, the person I want to grow old with.

And my daughter is pretty amazing. I'm very blessed to have been entrusted with the the care of this wonderful individual.

My family is my haven. I'm grateful for them.

I'm so thankful for...

...my Oil of Old Maid.

Oh yes, I am. I'll be honest and say I'm pretty low maintenance. Seriously, this is the most expensive weapon in my skin care arsenal. I tried it because I had seen excellent reviews pop up online and in the magazines at the doctor's office. It's the biggest change to my regimen since...I started washing my face, maybe?

And I love. Love. Puffy heart love this stuff. It makes my skin feel so smooth and soft, and I think it really improves my skin tone. Sure, I guess I could be talking myself into seeing a change, but wouldn't that be worth it, too? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, after all.

I'm so thankful for...

...the life I am allowed to live.



We just read this book for book club, and it has made me so grateful to be a woman, but especially to be a woman who has a respectful, loving husband. I'm grateful that I can have a career of my choosing, that I am allowed to be educated, that I chose the man I want to spend the rest of my life with, that I can choose the number of children I want to have. None of these decisions were made for my by someone else.

I highly recommend this book. Wonderful, gripping characters. It was fascinating to read about the struggles of women in other parts of the world.

I'm so thankful for...

my freedom...

and all the men and women who have made it possible for me and my family to live happily and safely. I will never forget the sacrifices they and their families make in service to our country. My father, my grandfather, my father-in-law, my brother-in-law and now my nephew pledged their lives in service.

This picture is of Jared's dad, Dennis Whitney. Katie was looking at the picture, and I was explaining that it was her grandpa. She whispered "Pop Pop..." and then yelled, "Daddee!!!" There is kind of a family resemblance.

Semper fidelis. Adapt and overcome.

I'm so thankful for...

this smile...

and all the giggles, silliness and fun that goes with that smile. I'm grateful that my girl has such a sunshiny soul, one that appropriately balances her need for structure, and her independent, stubborn streak. My girl is my world, and I'm thankful that world is so often such a happy one.

Popping out to say hi!