Thanksgiving

Kevin is quite fond of talking about how much 2016 has sucked, with the obvious and amazing exception of this amazing kid:

Thanks to my mom for the amazing picture.

He's right. There's been so much bad this year. So much loss, so much pain, so many challenges. But a few weeks ago, my mother-in-law said something that strikes me just as hard today as it did then, a reframe that eases my heart and gives me hope for the future:

We just need to remember as 2016 the year you beat cancer, rather than just the year you had it.

Debbie is a very smart lady, even if I do beat her in Phase 10 a lot.

I beat cancer. I made and grew and delivered a healthy baby boy who has captured my heart in ways I didn't know were possible.

How I feel when I look at Finn. Also: otters and puns.

I was  am constantly overwhelmed by the love, generosity, and support of people we know and people we don't know. I didn't just survive, I thrived. And I'm thankful for the opportunity to continue to do so.