This post: The Ordinary, Imperfect Life of a Perfectly Grateful Mom 

I lead an ordinary life. Not only is it ordinary, it’s far from perfect.

I don’t drive a fancy car. I don’t travel to exotic destinations. I don’t have a high-profile career where people look up to me hanging on my every word. And, although my husband and my children are extraordinary in my eyes, to the rest of the world, they’re just ordinary.

My house isn’t perfect, my children aren’t perfect, and I’m most definitely not a perfect mom, a perfect wife or a perfect person.

But, amidst this perfectly ordinary, imperfect life, lies a mom who is perfectly grateful, content with crazy days and good days, bad days and even crummy hair days.

Perfect isn’t my goal. Extraordinary isn’t my goal.

Real is my goal. Grateful is my goal. Living in the present is my goal.

A life of purpose, that’s my goal. Not so I can shine in the eyes of the rest of the world, but to shine in the eyes of those who matter most.

In this season of thankfulness and giving, this grateful mom is thankful for my everyday life – for the extraordinary and the ordinary, the perfect and the imperfect, and the simple, unembellished moments that are a reflection of my life. My grateful starts here…

I’m grateful for bad days and poor grades, Rolaids and being a jack of all trades.

I’m grateful for happy hearts and head starts.

For inside jokes and a myriad of hopes.

I’m grateful for family laughter, endless chatter, and even the occasional difficult subject matter.

I’m grateful for sweet hugs, my teens’ shrugs, and extra-large coffee mugs.

For rolling eyes, deep sighs, a beautiful sunrise, and salty fries.

I’m so very thankful for messy rooms, quality brooms, flowers that bloom and sweet perfume.

I’m grateful for loud sleepovers, easy leftovers, and much-needed makeovers.

For life’s simple pleasures and hidden treasures.

I’m grateful for late-night conversations, graduations, simple vacations, and cancelations.

I’m grateful for quiet minutes, concert tickets and unexpected casual visits.

For dirty dishes, midnight kisses, and celebrating birthday wishes.

I’m grateful for friends that care, kids that share, the open air and getaways to anywhere.

I’m grateful for lazy days, the morning haze, holidays and memories of yesterdays.

For sticky floors, open drawers, and the warmth and beauty of beachy shores.

I’m grateful for winter flurries, endless hurries and yes, I’m even grateful for relentless worries.

But mostly, I’m grateful for my many blessings, for new beginnings, and joyous happy endings.

For pumpkins pies, family ties, and extra-long sappy goodbyes.

I’m just a mom who’s grateful for everything ordinary…