Tuesday Ten: Things I'm Thankful For

It's probably a little bit cliche given Thanksgiving is in two days, but that's okay. It's always a good thing to look over your life and count your blessings. And - the good news - ten things is really just a drop in the bucket.

1. My faith. Life would be nothing without it.

2. My family. From dh to the kids, my dad, my mil, extended family, "adopted" family - they all make up pieces of who I am, and I am thankful to have had them all play a vital role in my life.

3. My home. I'm so thankful for this home that my dh has worked his heart out to get and keep for us.

4. Four beds made every morning, without a word from me. This represents more than a made bed - it represents four children who are learning to be responsible for themselves. Likewise, the empty dishwasher means that one of them - without prompting from me - decided to empty it because they know having it empty and waiting is a bit help for me (with 6 people there is always something waiting to go in it!)

5. Mike's job. It represents a lot of things for me. It is stability, it is hard work, it is a gift, it is the financial backbone (and really, the entire skeletal system, lol) of our family, since we are a one income household. As an added bonus, the company itself is family oriented and a positive, healthy work environment. It's a good fit, not just for Mike, but for our family.

6. Food, and enough of it. I sometimes complain that I would like this ingredient or that ingredient (I've mentioned I love to cook?!) but when it comes down to it, we don't go hungry, we have plenty of food, and there are lots of opportunities for me to cook. I can't say that I have ever been in a situation where I have not had enough to eat - God has always provided for us, even when things were at their worst - and I can only be thankful for that.

7. Good friends. I am sometimes baffled, and overwhelmed, by the sheer volume of friends that I have amassed along the way. For a girl who had only a couple of friends and was often very lonely in high school and my brief venture into college, I can't help but be continually aware of it. They span a wide age range and geographical distance, different ways of thinking and contrasting life situations, both in my daily life and online. And they're people with whom I know I can trust anything, they are true, genuine, real friends. What a gift that is.

8. Books. I don't remember a time when I couldn't (didn't) read. I would rather have my books than all my yarn, my pots and pans, a tv. A well read book is a friend, and a good book can sometimes put a world that seems off kilter back into its proper perspective. At least for me.

9. My cats. All that adoration and disdain wrapped up in such a gorgeous, cuddlable little package. There is nothing like having a friendly cat (or three) on your lap, or waking up on a cold morning with a warm, purring weight curled up on the small of your back.

10. Changing seasons. I can't imagine living somewhere I couldn't enjoy the stark beauty of snow, the pale green budding beauty of spring, the vivid colors and scents of autumn, even the shimmering heat of summer (although I am thankful that summer is only a few short months here). They are all beautiful.