Gratitude turns everything into enough.

Just like my friends at www.todaysletters.com say. 

Being a girl has it's ups and downs for sure. However, now that I consider myself more of a woman than a girl (thanks to childbirth, breastfeeding, and motherhood) I tend to think on the things that make me thankful I am a girl. 

Here is my off-the-top-of-my-head list:

- sharing recipes. I love trying new things and will loves consuming them. Sisters are wonderful for that as well as my sister in law and friends like Brittany, Hali, and Jordan. 

- bringing new life into the world. It can be painful at times but what a priveledge!! The Lord allows us to grow a human inside of us while providing extra blood and fluid for those 10 months. What a gift to be so in tune with our bodies. That cocktail of hormones released during an intervention free birth that give me, as a woman and mother the overwhelming bond, compassion, and nurturing characteristics needed to give my young my best. Simply incredible. Not to mention the extremely intimate and spiritual connection with my Savior and husband during the labor and birth process. Thankful for how He designed us and gives us all the strength needed to fully rise up to the calling placed on us for childbearing. 

-then there is the super power we have  to keep another human alive with just our bodies! No water, no snacks, just our milk. Milk that is specially formulated for humans. Not cows, not monkeys, not soy plants. Our human babies with growing human brains and bodies. Milk that changes throughout the day based on that babies needs. Milk that changes when exposed to a virus or cold. On top of all of that the milk we produce for boy babies and girl babies is even designed specially for their individual needs as male and female human babies. Amazing!!!

-the way we as women can connect with one another. It seems like we are much better than men at "getting real" when we find our "person". We can share our dreams, secrets, goals, and fears with one another and feel understood, encouraged, and loved. There are things in men that are so attractive and show the other part of God's image but I can write more easily about women because I experience that within on the daily. 

- our need to create or be creative. Some women like to make their homes beautiful, some like to host beautiful dinner parties, some love to do fancy hair and make up, some like to craft jewelry or wreaths, some like to knit, crochet, sew, or quilt. There are so many creative outlets and I love that most women are in tune with their need to leave traces of their beauty on their surroundings. Plus, what a great way to pass along pieces of ourselves to our children, grandchildren, friends, and loved ones.