Sretan dan žena!

Happy International Women's Day!

I'm not sure there are many Americans who know this day exists, but here in Croatia it's a pretty big deal. According to wikipedia, some parts of the world use March 8th to show respect, appreciation and love towards women while others focus on women's social, economic and political achievements. Here in Croatia it's definitely the former rather than the latter.

So I'll take this opportunity to offer one big reason why I'm thankful for each of ladies I'm closest to. 

Emily: Thank you for your smile. It makes any day better, no questions asked. 

Petra: Thank you for your untiring love for our family. You often stay up later and get up earlier than I do, showing that being a mother of three under four is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. Yet you do it so well. 

Mom: Thank you for caring enough for our family to dedicate your early mornings to prayer. Yours is the standard I look to.

V: Thank you for your selflessness. You are a model to all of us who want to be better at caring more for others than we do ourselves. 

Grandma: Thank you for your creative dedication to staying connected. Faithfully sending us homemade cards while taking the time and energy to use facebook and Skype show how much you care for us despite the distance. 

To those women who often feel under-appreciated, whether it's a card, flowers, or something said in gratitude, may you receive a sense of how you have contributed to someone's life today.  Happy!