feeling thankful this holiday season

Carriage Ride at Acadia National Park

‘Tis the season to be thankful, and I have a lot to be grateful for in my life. My family and our health are always top of the list. Here are a few more of the things for which I am thankful:

At our son’s graduation

Spending the holiday with our kids. This is something we took for granted when they were young and we all lived under the same roof. It takes a little more effort after they’ve gone to college, especially when we’re gallivanting around the country.

Visits with our family and friends. One of the best parts of our year on the road so far has been spending time with our families and our friends. We mapped out our first few months to include an annual camping trip at Taylor Park, our son’s graduation, our daughter’s birthday (okay, two days early, but I don’t think she minded celebrating early), a visit with my aunt, uncle and cousins in Oregon and my brother’s and nephew’s weddings. Not only have we attended these special occasions, we’ve been able to stick around and just be with the people we love.

Camping with our daughter

The ability to take this trip and recharge with my husband. Life is short. I believe that when you are presented with an opportunity, you should take it.

A career that I enjoy, clients who allow me to work from the road and the technology that makes it all possible.

The chance to travel and explore new places. Walking on the beach at Coos Bay at sunset. Eating fresh seafood on both coasts. Discovering that Idaho has a wine country. Cheering on my cousin’s son at his first high school football game and our niece at her volleyball game. That moment when my dog realized that there was a loose, meowing parrot in the vet’s reception area. Finding out that the dog can still jump a six-foot-tall wooden fence. Taking a carriage ride through Acadia National Park in the fall. Strolling through Colonial Williamsburg on a sunny autumn day. Waking up and realizing that all four of us are under the same roof again, at least for a little while.

Life is an adventure, and I’m thankful for it all. Thank you for reading. Stay tuned for more Tales From the Empty Nest.