In a year where we, as a collective humanity, have been given so many challenges, we can still find so much to be thankful for.

I am thankful for Todd. He works so hard for us. At a job he doesn’t love and in a home where he often meets hostility from his youngest kiddo and eye rolls from me. He loves us so much. So much so that he agreed to go to therapy with me. We have weathered so many storms together and he always is there to take my anger, frustration, fear and inability to talk. He shares his wicked sense of humor when I can’t find my smile and love even when I don’t deserve it. And he still likes holding my sweaty hand.

I am thankful for Jackson. He is a light in my life and gives me so much joy. He is my easy kid, but I try not to take that for granted. He is living his best life at the best university on earth and I’m so proud of him. I’m grateful for the random phone calls to share an experience or a frustration, for the silly snaps he sends me daily and I’m grateful for the love he gives so freely.

I am grateful for Tommi. He is my greatest challenge and my greatest gift. He is my shadow. He continues to teach me daily about mental illness, being unique, being genuine, powering through anxiety and now gender health. He is smart as a whip, mean as a snake and loving as a puppy dog. He is in my consciousness nearly every minute of a day, and he definitely receives my most fervent prayers.

I am grateful for my mom and dad, Tina and Kyle and my family. They are simply the best with their unconditional love and support. I love you all with all of my heart.

I am grateful for my mom village, my amazing friends local and afar and the women who I’ve found to support me through PFLAG, GenderNexus and Proverbs 31. You all fill me up in different ways that keep me moving forward when I’m not sure I can. Special shout-out to Tosha, Ali and Stacey. I love you all so very much.

I’m thankful for Brad. For his guidance, support, validation and spirituality. He sheds light in those dark spaces, he leads me to honesty, he welcomes my tears and he listens and laughs with me. God led him to us 3 years ago as someone who could do the BrainPaint I was hoping would solve Tommi’s problems but he has become so much more to us.

There are so many other things to be grateful for: jobs, health, home, food and faith. God richly blesses us and while I’d like to think we show our gratitude daily, I know that is not the case. It will be my goal to be more grateful in 2022.