Love What You Got.

Last night before bed as I stood in my little girl's room praying with her, I could not help but feel.
She was tucked in, looking like the baby girl my heart longs for her to stay, and I was taken aback by a wave of emotion that emptied in my heart.

I consciously listened to the prayer I was reciting and found myself thanking my Heavenly Father for the stuff that so often in my past I've taken for granted.
People often say things like, "I'm grateful for food, I'm grateful for the roof over my head, I'm grateful for my family."  And, trust me, I am guilty of rolling off the standard phrases more often than not.

But, last night I realized that I mean it.  Every word.

I've said aloud a few times, that I think the Lord knew what he was doing when we ended up on a crazy path last year that circled us back into our home.
I needed to understand, I needed to feel gratitude, I needed to show gratitude.

My most important prayers are the ones that tell the truth.
The prayers of gratitude at 1:00 in the morning, after a long and tiring day, and I realize that my right leg has not ached once...not once. The prayers of gratitude sent at 5:00 on a Wednesday afternoon as I walk to my car from the grocery store, and realize that I made it through without a scream from Deak.  The prayers of gratitude that are sent at 9:00 as I put my not so little girl to bed, listen to her recount the plethora of reasons as to why her bedtime should be extended, and feel nothing but love.

I feel so lucky that the experiences I've had in my 33 years of life have lead me to a place where my heart can swell with gratitude over healthy bodies, uneventful grocery store trips and drawn out bedtimes.

I am grateful.