By Megan Loukota

In this holiday season, while the world around us declares that more is better, teaching our kids to be thankful for what they have can be a challenge. Today however, solidified for them (and me) why more is not always better and to appreciate the things that we have. I spent the better part of the day at the vets office with our dog, Roscoe. He is the same age as my oldest son. He is a farm and herding dog through and through. He protects our family and watches out for my kids. He is loved beyond compare. While the diagnosis wasn’t great, it was a great relief to know that it wasn’t the worst of what we were thinking. He has a tick related disease, treatable with antibiotics for a month, but compared to a diabetes diagnosis (what I feared) its all roses.

Sitting there, having time to think about all the things I am really grateful for, I realized how easy it is to succumb to the more is better, grass is greener on the other side mentality. I have a loving, adoring husband, that only sees the best in me when all I see are the flaws. Four beautiful children, all wondrously created in their own special way, to love me throughout my day. A farm, richly blessed to provide subsistence for my family. My health and that of my family. I find it far to easy to dwell on the negative aspects of life, especially when life hits a rough patch, but life is just too short.

I found out tonight that a fellow homeschooling mom and friend has breast cancer. When I think about the impact that is going to have on her family, my day seems so irrelevant. How thankful I am to have what I have and to have the understanding that I need to express that daily to my husband and kids. What better way to teach than to lead by example.

I have so much to look forward to in the coming months. A cow that is going to calf and kids that are so excited to learn about the birth process. A new potting shed/mini-green house so I can start my seedlings in March and have nice strong plants by May, so that this year I can go to the farmers market. A barn that is finally going to be jacked up, re-leveled, and finished so that we can get some sheep. New fence lines are going to be put up so that I have to feed out less hay and our animals have more space to roam. A new spaced that is going to be cleared for more fruit trees. I could look at this list and only see the massive amounts of work to be done, but will consciously choose to see the positive, the growth of our farm.

So, in this Christmas season, I am going to choose to be thankful for what I have been blessed with and share what I have with others. Life is too precious and short to dwell on what may have been or what may be. I hope that everyone has a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year and here is my challenge to you: Live in the moment, enjoy it for all it has to offer, and be thankful that you had the chance to live it.

Megan is a Christian AP momma, living her dream of being a domestic goddess to a wonderful husband and four beautiful kids. She loves to share her knowledge and experiences on alternative healing, vaccine injury in children, homebirth, attachment and natural parenting issues, intactivism, whole foods nutrition, co-op shopping, organic gardening, cooking, making your own bath and body products, sewing and crafting, and homeschooling/ unschooling. She loves being a momma and wouldn’t want to do anything else (even when life is not always a ton of fun). You can normally find Megan at Purple Dancing Dahlias.

Other posts by Megan Loukota:

Happy New Year

To Til or Not to Til

Do You Know Where Your Food Comes From

Down On The Farm – Howdy