Written by Elizabeth the day before Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving is only a day away.  I've got to finish up preparing the dishes I'm bringing to the pot-luck Thanksgiving dinner that we will be attending.  This year I'm contributing stuffing, cranberry sauce and apple pie.  We'll be celebrating with my sister's husband's family.  They'll be eight children (ages 8, 6, 4, 4, 3, 2, 1, and 9 months) and nine adults.  With this many people getting together and so many of them being under the age of six, I'm anticipating joyful chaos with a dash of sugar-highs and sprinkled lightly with temper tantrums. And every year, as I make my Thanksgiving goodies, I take time to reflect on the many things for which I am grateful.  Here are a few of them: I'm thankful, first and foremost, for my family: for my kids who are the light and joy in my life.  Even though they are not the best-behaved children on the planet, I'm convinced that mine are among the most entertaining.  They may prefer climbing on the dining room table and swinging from the chandelier to sitting and quietly eating dinner--but they make me laugh every day and I will always be thankful for that. I am thankful for my husband, who is an incredible father and loving partner, who rubs my shoulders without asking for anything in return, who cleans without being asked and who is an amazing musician. I'm thankful that my younger sister lives less than a mile away. Our kids are growing up together.  That means so much to me.  And I'm thankful for my parents who are my rocks, my best friends and two of the most generous people that I know. I'm thankful that in this time of economic uncertainty that my husband has a job and job security.  I know many Americans don't have a job to be thankful for this year. I'm thankful that there are companies, like Thirsties, that still believe in things like "Made in America," taking good care of employees, and being green---from their products to their packaging, and in reducing waste and making the planet a better place for our children.  I wish there were more companies like Thirsties and I believe that one day, there will be many more. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.  Here's to peace, contentment and gratefulness for all of the good in our lives.