What I’m Thankful For
First and foremost, we are both thankful that Mrs. Simpleton is pregnant. That’s right – we’re going to have a baby! I may have hinted around about it in a previous post, but we didn’t want to tell anyone until she was further along. Now she is almost twelve-weeks and things seem to be going just fine. So on behalf of both of us, we are most thankful for the chance to start a family. And all we hope for at this moment is a healthy child.
How lucky am I? How thankful am I? When you think about it, the odds of someone being as lucky as me are astoundingly slim. For example, let’s start with the fact that I am alive. I am here at this time, in this space, in this country, on this planet, in our solar system, within our galaxy, which is only a tiny little thing when taken in perspective against the whole of the universe. Much of this factors into the fact that I can breathe the air in this atmosphere, drink the water and not float off into the sky for lack of gravitational force. And none of that is to mention the simply unfathomable series of reproductive events that has taken place since the dawn of man in order for my specific and totally unique DNA to be put together by chromosomes from my mother and father. Had just one of those thousands of couples mated with someone else – or heck, even together, but a month later – I would not…. BE.
Not only AM I, but I AM in a time of relative stability. How many other times in history has man had the leisure to ponder such things and live for reasons other than feeding him/herself? I can think of a few, but together they are but a tiny blip on the line of human history. Even today, there are people in the world struggling just to put food in their stomachs. They don’t have time to write what they are thankful for on a blog over a cup of coffee in the morning. So not only was I born now, I was born here – in the United States (not Haiti or Bosnia), to a living and kind mother who raised me within my close extended family. I went on to college, and can make a decent middle-class living working from home. That middle class income here in the US is probably among the top percentile on a global scale. I have a loving, beautiful, understanding wife. I am healthy; no major disabling diseases, nor mental or physical abnormalities that I know of.
Starting with the entire universe and the span of all eternity – all the way through the random coupling of human beings over hundreds-of-thousands of years, all of the knowable and unknowable factors have come together to make me – a thinking, reasoning, self-aware being – alive right here, right now, with all of these advantages. WOW… It makes the odds of winning the lottery seem a lot easier, doesn’t?
I am thankful to BE.
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Category: Family, Rants, Simple Thoughts, The Transplants
We believe that humankind has lost some important things in the march toward progress. That is not to say progress and simplicity are mutually exclusive. We believe we can have both, and this site catalogs our journey as we try to do exactly that.
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The Old-Timers
Congrats to you both! A thankful Thanksgiving it is!
Congratulations to both of you!! What a beautiful post.
Congratulations on your wife’s pregnancy! And you thought life was an adventure before…just wait, now the real fun begins.
Wow; congratulations, you two! And have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Contests! So exciting for you two. Selena is due in March, we just found out ourselvesnnot too long ago. It’s a wonderful feeling!
Congratulations! I love good news on good days. Even on bad days it help turn things around.
Huge Congrats!!!!! Mrs. Simpleton – welcome to the sisterhood
Now that’s gonna be one grateful child….
Mr. and Mrs. S -
Congratulations. You two have really been busy! ; )
I hope you had a great holiday. Many more to come!
that is wonderful news you guys!! enjoy this most wonderful time!!
Congratulations!
I just discovered your blog and really enjoy reading all the posts. It’s nice to know there are like minded people in the world. Living in Texas can make it feel like I am the only one!
Congratulations on your pregnancy!!
It’s official, truly awesome Everett!
Get ready for a hell of a ride buddy!
Eric
Congratulations on the baby!
And I get tripped out when I ponder how I wouldn’t exist if my parents had mated a month earlier or later. It’s really insane, this whole thing called existing.
What wonderful news, congratulations! Great post, you indeed put so much into perspective.
Congratulations! This is funny … I just noticed a bunch of items Mrs. Simpleton queued on Ravelry, and I came dashing over here to see if you had announced something related to those items, and here you have! Enjoy the simple beauty of expectation …
Congratulations! We are very excited for you both!
Great news! Congratulations!
Congrats – what awesome news
Very well expressed. You are going to make fabulous parents. I am so happy!
Congratulations! Yes. You and your wife are truly blessed.
I’ve been reading your posts for awhile, and I always enjoy them.
Congrats on the baby!
Are you planning a home birth? I had my daughter at home, and it was a great experience.
Awesome!! When is she due? We have a little boy on the way – due April 3rd! It’s definitely been an amazing experience so far.. starting a family is pure bliss.
Rini,
Thanks for reading! She’s thinking about a home birth but is still on the fence. She wishes she could do something in-between like how some cities have birthing centers with midwives as well as doctors and all the equipment for emergencies, but they don’t have that sort of thing around here.
Beryl,
She’s due in late June or early July. We’re starting to get more excited as she actually begins to show. We are very much looking forward to starting a family to.
Mr. Simpleton,
I also wanted to birth in a birthing center, but had the same problem of no availability. I was surprised when I found out how many emergency situations my midwife was prepared for: hemorrhage, shoulder dystocia, prolapsed cord, ect. And she’s able to handle all this without a c-section. I encourage you to go meet some midwives and home birthers. With whatever you choose, Good Luck!
Best wishes for a happy and healthy pregnancy! Your next simple living challenge will be staring down Babies R Us, which recommends a list of 200 — that’s right, 200 — products for new parents. Gag!
Yours in seeking simplicity,
Emily
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