This image is of Allie and Pandy. They were two and five.

They are now Alix and Amanda. They are 21 and 19.

This is a photo of them when I was a young single mama raising them on my own. I remember feeling terrified I wasn’t going to be able to make it. I was afraid I was screwing them up because I was all alone with them.

They didn’t always have new clothes or shoes and sometimes we didn’t even have electricity or hot water. We sometimes ate cereal for dinner. Well, they did, I skipped it because I was afraid there wouldn’t be enough for them.

All I could control was how I loved them so I chose to do it as hard as I could. I decided to love them more than I loved me, knowing there would be time enough for me later. I also decided I would always do what was truly best for them and not what made them like me. Really, no matter what.

My biggest fear was that I wouldn’t be enough.

Turns out, I was.

It sure got easier when Steve came along and swooped us girls up. Then they had it all.

But every now and then, I just look at this picture and remember. Remembering is what makes us thankful.

**Image by Brystan Studios