Jessica Kelso

Today I’m thankful for my sweet husband.

I’m thankful for his love. I’m thankful for his sense of humor. I’m thankful that he wakes up earlier than needed a lot of mornings just to make me coffee. I’m thankful he’s the most attractive person in the world. I’m thankful for his wonderful family. . . who have also become my family. I’m thankful for his randomness -like dancing horribly to George Michaels, “Faith” in the car. I’m thankful he’s secure enough in his masculinity to even be able to do that. I’m even thankful for his flaws, because they are good flaws. Flaws that I know I can deal with for the rest of my life. I’m thankful for his willing heart to help others. I’m thankful that he is a social butterfly, since I can be socially awkward at times. I’m thankful for his past, because I know it’s helped shape who he is today. I’m thankful he’s my best friend. I’m thankful he makes pancakes every Saturday. I’m thankful he won’t let me walk in the door without giving me a hug or kiss. Even if I’m not in the mood, he follows me around the house until I give in. I’m thankful he pays the bills, because I’ve never been very good at that. I’m thankful he puts up with my flaws. I’m thankful he is an amazing provider. I’m thankful he tells me I’m beautiful every day, seriously. . . every day. I’m thankful he cooks dinner when I’m completely worn out and want nothing to do with the kitchen. I’m thankful for his health and that I get to wake up next to him every morning. I’m thankful for our past together, and I’m completely excited about our future!

(The list goes on and on. . . I’d just hate to make anyone else wish they were married to him!)

Today I’m thankful for my beautiful home.

I’m thankful for the real hard wood floors and big walk in shower. I’m thankful for all of the flowers that we haven’t managed to kill yet. I’m thankful that we get to live in this beautiful home and somehow manage to pay our mortgage payment every month. I’m thankful for the gas fireplace that keeps us warm on these cold Florida nights. Okay, okay. . . we have to keep the windows open to even have the fireplace going, but it’s still nice. I’m thankful for the huge backyard that will someday be filled with kids laughing, swings swinging, and treehouses to hide in. I’m ever-so-grateful to  our house for not needing any major repairs since we moved in. I’m thankful for PLENTY of storage and wonderful neighbors. I’m thankful it sits tucked away nicely in a cul-de-sac. I’m thankful for the smell, the sight, and the overwhelming amount of love felt when I walk in the door. Mostly, I’m thankful God has blessed me with such a beautiful home that I can take pride in every day.

I know there is only a week until we all gather around the dinner table and stuff our faces full of yummy turkey, stuffing, and pies. . . but I thought I could go ahead and be thankful for one thing every day until then.

Today (and every day) I’m thankful for my wonderful parents.

I’m thankful for their selflessness. I’m thankful they raised me in church, so I knew from a young age how much God loved me. I’m thankful they fought for their marriage through hard times, and are still together to this day. I’m thankful that they never forced me to be someone I wasn’t. I’m thankful for their forgiveness day after day. I’m thankful that they picked out a nice name for me, knowing how much worse life could have been with a name like “Talula does the hula“. I’m thankful that they live 5 minutes away so I can go see them anytime I want. I’m thankful for their devotion to God, their marriage, and us kids. I’m thankful that I got dad’s sense of humor and mom’s tender heart.

I wasn’t able to pick the family I was born into. . . but if I could have, they are it. I will never be able to fully repay them for the love they have shown me or the gifts they have given, but I will try my best to pass on all of these things to my own children someday.