As the scent of pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg fill our home, a feeling of warmth washes over me.

While Christmas evokes feelings of joy and anticipation, Thanksgiving fills my heart with a sense of gratitude and an overwhelming longing for tradition. Traditions are the stuff that memorable childhoods are made of and I’m hellbent on creating memorable family traditions for my children to look back on someday.

As we enjoy our Thanksgiving meal, we’ll continue our family tradition of sharing 3 things we’re each thankful for this year. It’s a tradition that I look forward to and one that I cherish. The sweet (and sometimes funny) things my children have expressed gratitude for over the years have served as confirmation that maybe I really am doing something right. That maybe I’m not ruining them. That I’m not a bad mom after all.

And that they really are good kids.

I’m so thankful to have them in my life and I can’t imagine what I would’ve become or where I’d be right now if I weren’t a mother. My children make me laugh and sometimes they make me cry, but there’s no doubt in my mind or my heart that they’ve made me happier than I ever could have dreamed. I am so incredibly blessed and unbelievably grateful for my 4 children – Amaya, Andre, Alana and Alyssa.

My husband and I have been married for nearly 3 years now. He’s my lover and my best friend. His honesty and faithfulness are unwavering and his love for our family know no limits. He is God’s answer to my prayers – the strong, kind man I waited years for. He fell head-over-heels in love with this once-single mother and her 3 children, and the feeling was mutual. Our lives haven’t been the same since.

For my wonderful husband and best friend, I am forever grateful.

And finally…

It’s one of the most basic needs we as humans require: Shelter

Over 671,000 people in the United States are homeless.

As I sit here in my comfortably heated home, I can’t help but feel unbelievably grateful that we have food, clothing and shelter. That our basic needs are provided for. That we are not part of the statistic.

Before you sit down to dinner with your family this Thanksgiving, won’t you join me by helping those in need? Donate to an organization like the National Alliance to End Homelessness or give of your time and talent to a local shelter. Every little bit counts and paying your blessings forward is incredibly fulfilling.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. May your hearts and homes be filled with love and laughter always.

*In case you missed it: I’m giving thanks, bloggy style. Head on over to Our Mommyhood to check out my bloggy list of gratitude.