Count your blessings...

[Vegas_Dave]

Thanksgiving is my personal favorite holiday and always has been (I'm a foodie). This Thanksgiving is like no other as it marks 2 months of since my first born son (22 years old) passed, losing his multi year battle with depression. Ironic that it falls exactly on the date.

I'm thankful for so much, but my kids are by far, at the top of that list.

I've struggled with how I can lead my family through this holiday season, partially because I don't know how I'll get through it, but because I feel so genuinely ill-equipped to do it.

But that's parenting as a whole, being ill-equipped.

My son always joked that he was our practice child, and to be fair, he was. Every experience I had with him was my first such experience. But the more kids we had, the more I realized just how unique they each are, presenting a whole new level of all the emotions and experiences truly special to themselves.

So while I am still filled with sorrow beyond description at his absence, I'm so thankful for the 22 years that I had my first born son, Hayden, in my life. I wanted more, but I have to take what I was given, and know that I still have these other amazing 4 children to continue to experience life with.

Count your blessings
Count them one by one
Count your blessings
See what God has done