#314: 33 Weeks

It's amazing and surreal on Thanksgiving Eve to write this particular post...to think back on how much my life has changed since this project began, to think how much my life is going to continue to change. I felt when I began this project that it would be a year during which I would become more aware of my blessings, and unbeknownst to me it would also prove to be the year in which I would receive the greatest blessing. Today I am 33 weeks pregnant.

I considered not posting about my pregnancy; as is clearly a common writing condition I suffer from, it's often hard for me to find the words for the aspects of my life which are the most personal. And there's nothing in my life-- has never been anything in my life-- that is more personal than to be pregnant. But there's also never been anything in my life that I've been more grateful for, and so it felt imperative to close the year and the project to try and find the words, no matter how fleeting they are, to express my gratitude for the life I carry.

In the most fitting way, I learned that I was pregnant on Mother's Day. From that moment on my priorities shifted. Never before have I felt or understood in the way I do now how much bigger life is than ourselves. I cannot even comprehend how much more deeply I will feel this in the coming weeks.

There is so much I want to say and so much that is unsayable about how amazing it is to be pregnant with your first child...not just because the words are elusive, but because it feels right to only share them with your child. I can only assume that as this life grows within me it's absorbing the infinite love that courses through me, burrowing this into his or her bones so that it knows, always, that he or she is the totality of my best wishes, my greatest of hopes, and the blessing of all blessings...of course not just of this year, but from this year forward, for the rest of my life.

#283: Malorie & Jeff's Engagement

My pedicurist recently told me 2012, according to the Chinese calendar, is a lucky year, a year where many good things happen. That seems to be the case, because today I get to be thankful for yet another friend’s engagement. Malorie and her boyfriend Jeff got engaged while on vacation in Montanta this week, and I am so excited and happy for the both of them. Malorie is an absolutely amazing person and one of my best friends, someone who is deserving of every happiness, and I believe with Jeff she has found that.

#196: Ellie and Griswold

Malorie and Brianna both have had new additions to their families recently! Malorie is now the proud owner of the most adorable golden retriever puppy ever, Ellie, and Brianna adopted a super cute kitten, Griswold, to join her cat Rory.

Since adopting my cats I've learned how amazing it is to have a relationship with pets; I am so grateful that Malorie and Brianna have been able to give Ellie and Griswold homes, and wish them both health and happiness. Plus, I get to go play with a puppy and kitten now whenever I want!

Ellie On The Road

Griswold On The Hunt

#182: Friends' Engagements II

Saturday was an amazing day, because not one but TWO of the most amazing couples I know became engaged!

Sunday morning I woke up to a text message from one of my best friends, Beckie, spreading the wonderful news that Jeff, her now fiance, proposed to her Saturday night.

Then Sunday afternoon Erinn stopped by with an awesome Disney villains frame she bought for me, and naturally oblivious, it took me a few minutes to realize she was pointing at the frame with her ring finger. Erinn will be marrying Kegan's cousin Brian, officially becoming my cousin when she does so.

I am thrilled for both of these couples. Erinn and Brian are a perfect match-- chaos and order muppets, if you will. As I do with the whole Salge crew, I love Brian and really value having gained him as a cousin through my marriage. Erinn and I-- despite growing up in the same town and having connections through family and friends-- became friends ourselves once she started dating Brian. I consider her one of my closest friends, and honestly have felt like she's been family for a while now...it just gets made official, which is great! They are two of the most wonderful people I know, and I am so excited for their happiness.

I couldn't have chosen a better match for Beckie than Jeff; they are compatible in every way, and are equally great people. I love having gained Jeff as a friend through his relationship with Beckie; he's hysterical, kind, and most importantly treats and values Beckie for the amazing woman that she is. Beckie has been one of my best friends for nearly a decade now, and I've never known her to be happier than since she's been with Jeff. I didn't need to know them as a couple long to know that this moment would someday come, and now that it's arrive, I'm thrilled!

Plus, they're both bound to have kickass weddings, so there's always that to look forward to...

#180: Pete's Homecoming

My coworker Donna jetted off to California today, to be able to greet her son, Pete, an active marine corp officer who returns stateside tomorrow. This was a trip she wasn't sure would happen, so I am thrilled and thankful that it's become a reality. Donna is an all around amazing woman, one who deserves and will inevitably get her own post in this project. One of the qualities I most admire about her is her dedication as a mother. She has two children, a daughter in addition to her son, Pete, and although I do not know them well, I know them through the undying love and admiration she has for them as their mother. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be a military mother-- I cannot imagine the stress, anxiety and worry that must bring. Rarely does Donna show this (although I am sure it's ever present), because through Donna, I've witnessed the other side of being a military mother-- the pride, honor, enduring love and strength. I am grateful for Pete and his sacrifice to our country, to Donna, for hers as well, and that they both get the opportunity to be together on this joyous occasion.

#155: Roma's Adoption

I recently discovered that the shelter from where I adopted my two cats has a twitter account. Scrolling through their previous tweets I came upon one from February, announcing that one of their residents, Roma, had been adopted. I was so excited to learn this because Roma is the brother of my two cats.

When we adopted Kennedy and Noel as kittens we also met Roma in the foster home where they were being raised. He had already been adopted, and would be picked up the same day we came for the girls. After we had them for a week a woman from the shelter called to check how Kennedy and Noel were doing. I gushed about how quickly I had fallen in love with them and how well adjusted they were, and she said, "I wish I could say the same for their brother." Roma had been returned within 24 hours because he "cried too much." While the shelter tried to insist it was just an adjustment issue-- the poor baby had just been taken from his sisters and mother and was living in a new place, after all-- but she decided she didn't want him. In the end Roma and his mother went to the shelter itself. Shortly after they were both adopted, together, but that adoption only lasted a year. The woman who adopted them decided she wanted to offer childcare within her home and thought she'd be limiting herself by having cats. Roma and his mother found themselves back at the shelter.

Kegan and I have stayed involved with this shelter. We volunteer there and make financial donations when we can. Each time we went we would seek them out and spend time with them. They were very attached to one another, so the shelter was making an effort to find someone who would take both of them. When we went by this past Christmas we discovered their mom had been adopted...but Roma was still there.

It was hard to see him. I felt bad he had his mother, whom he had been so close to, taken away from him. Because he looks just like Noel, it was sad to see him in a cage; I couldn't help but see my own cat with a different fate. Honestly, I considered taking him home. Kegan, surprisingly, was the one who talked me out of it. We already had two cats, and three seemed excessive. Also Kennedy and Noel get along so well, we didn't know how the dynamic would change by adding an additional cat. With a heavy heart I left the shelter, and just began praying that Roma would find a home, one that would be lasting.

I am so grateful he's been adopted, and I truly hope that this is his "furever" home, as the shelter would say. (Yes, so corny. But I couldn't help myself.) For anyone that has ever considered adopting a pet, or has the means to, please consider it. There are so many Roma's out there...so many pets who are simply looking for a family, care and love. I guarantee you, from personal experience, you'll get that back, and more, in return.

Roma Love

#92: Engagements

Within just a week two of my friends have gotten engaged. I loved getting the news and their stories. It's such an exciting, wonderful time for a couple. Both of my friends, Tara and Tina, are women who have so much love to give. It is wonderful to know that they will be spending their lives with men who make them unbelievably happy, and reflect back into their lives the depth of love they are so deserving of.

Engagements, in general, are really wonderful. When you think about the "news" you get in life, it's usually of the bad variety. I can't even watch local news anymore, because it seems to be negative story after negative story. Maybe that gets more viewership, but I for one would prefer to be surrounded by positivity. That's why I love to hear about engagements...it's news of the happiest variety. Today I am thankful for the engagements of Tina and Tara. You want nothing more for your friends than their happiness, and I am thankful they are at the threshold of their "happily ever afters".