Thankful Days - Womanhood

Short Story: I'm going to write each day this week about something I'm thankful for. Today's choice is my monthly, but you'll have to read below to find out why. Scan about one-third or halfway down... or even the ending if you're really short on time. I understand. :)

Long Story:
Although Thanksgiving isn't until Thursday I'm usually beginning to prepare for it today. The house is getting cleaned up for company, laundry gets caught up so we don't have to be bothered when company is visiting and I'm making sure I've purchased everything for the Thanksgiving meal. Tuesday I'll enjoy the arrival of company and begin some baking. Wednesday there'll be a few more early cooking preparation, kids home and enjoying our company. Finally, Thursday will be the big day of cooking, visiting with family and enjoying some special foods that I only eat this one day a year.

This is one of my favorite holidays. First off, because I love to cook and set out that huge meal and watch others enjoy it. I've even learned how to enjoy it in moderation myself. I also love being reminded of all the things I'm blessed with in my life.

So, this week I will post each day about something I'm thankful for. I was beginning to get vexed the other day, but decided instead of stewing about things I can, or can not, control I will find the blessing in them.

My vexation began when I found myself mindlessly eating a few evenings. Each day I said I wouldn't do it and then even just last night I did it again. I felt rather out of control, and while I know my "binges" now are nothing like what I used to eat before they are still not healthy or necessary.

Suddenly it dawned on me that this urge for sweets, then salty, then sweet again was the habit of PMS in my life. When I began getting upset over a few things that weren't as big a deal as they seemed I took a look at the calendar.

Yep, I've a feeling I'm getting close to what we ladies delicately call "TOM" on our blogs - Time Of the Month. Joy. I envy those who have small, hardly noticeable monthlies, because mine comes in like a storm every month. I get very emotional, painful and lose most of my eating discipline (or so it seems) most every single time. [sigh]

But...today I've chosen to be thankful for this regular occurrence in my life.

I remember the arrival of my first "TOM". One of the first thoughts that went through my head was "Now I can have babies!!!". Yes, you can laugh, I'm laughing myself as I type. [giggle] I knew this necessary evil was required to fulfill my dreams of motherhood someday, so I was beyond thrilled when it finally arrived.

Well, my friends, God blessed me with three healthy, beautiful children within the first five years of my marriage.

My first pregnancy brought identical twin girls that were born completely healthy at 36 weeks. They were so healthy the pediatrician stood in the regular baby nursery while the nurse prepared beds for them. She was sure the preemies were going to the special care nursery that she had nothing ready and even argued with the doctor about where they needed to be. When he stood firm that there was no reason for them to go to special care we knew we'd been blessed with healthy babies.

Just under three years later a little boy joined our family. Again, perfectly healthy, and to my joy and surprise he nursed like a pro (this hadn't gone so smoothly with the girls). I was also able to have a VBAC with him, which was a blessing to me.

All my babies were happy and healthy babies, and so far we've enjoyed almost 13 years with the girls and 10 with our son. God has been so good to us, and it all started with TOM.

So, today I'm grateful for womanhood, more specifically TOM. It's not fun, and can be downright evil at times. I think it's actually one of the biggest demons we women fight in the midst of a weight loss journey. Yet, had it never arrived in the first place, or if it didn't work properly, I might not have been able to conceive and give birth to my three children. And they are a blessing I will never regret having in my life.

p.s. If you'd like to share something you're thankful for, feel free. If you'd like the little button I made for these posts, leave me a comment with your email address and I'll email it to you. I created it with a digital kit from Shabby Miss Jenn.