I should add...

It’s Sarah who keeps this family running and heading in the right direction.  She’s the Captain and the Engineer of this ship.  All too frequently, I take for granted all of the things she does for this family –because she does so much.   What are we having for dinner tonight, tomorrow, the next day?  Do the kids have enough warm PJs that fit?  Why did our water bill go up this month?  What are we getting Dave’s niece for her birthday?  What’s the optimal way to pack for this vacation?  Are we investing enough?  Where is that smell coming from?  These are the question that are always on her mind, and they’re questions that never occur to me (especially that last one, because I’m always the one responsible for it).

These kids keep us busy.  They get into things (Teddy), or they sleep terribly and force you to be up and on from dusk to dawn (Veronica).  And there are the days where naps are totally uncoordinated and its twelve straight hours of kid watching.  At the end of one of those days, I’m taking off my shirt and shouting “it’s Miller Time!” the second the kids’ eyes are closed.  Sarah?  She’s squeezing in the chores that the kids didn’t let her get to during the day.  Girl works hard.  Girl’s work day is long.  And the salary is not so hot either.

When you’re so good at something, so dependable, you never get the thanks you deserve.  Or maybe you get one off-hand thank you that’s supposed to last you the rest of your life.  So this year’s post is about slowing down to say, Sarah – thank you.  Thank you for taking care of us.  Thank you for loving us so much.  You’re the best, beyond what I’d even hoped.