I Am Thankful…

As Thanksgiving nears, I didn't really think I could let it pass without spending at least a few moments reflecting on the things I am thankful for…so here goes!

I am thankful for my family – they are my rock and my everything…without them I just can't imagine what life would be like. I am thankful that they are all individuals that have their own way of doing things, even if I don't always agree with it! I am thankful that my husband took our vows seriously and has stuck with me through thick and thin, sickness and health, better and worse. Lord knows we have seen both sides of ALL of those!! LOL I am also thankful for my extended family – they have contributed to so many of my happy memories all the way from childhood to today…

I am thankful for our military – especially my two boys. It is amazing to me that thousands of young men and women sign up to possibly sacrifice their life for our country. They leave their families and go off to faraway lands sometimes going days, weeks and months without communicating with their loved ones, all while being in a place they don't know and where danger could lurk around any corner. I am sure it is not easy, but they do it anyways. I am thankful for that. With that, I am also thankful for my country – I am so glad I live someplace that I can say what I want, worship how I want, spend my money how I want and more! There are many places where they only dream of being able to do what they want and the USA isn't one of those! I am so thankful I have been blessed enough to be born here and know what freedom is.

I am thankful for my job – for all the drama that goes with it at times…it just isn't all that bad! I get paid a good wage that provides for a lot and I can usually go home at the end of the day feeling like I made a small difference in my little world. I know lots of times it is easier to complain about it, but in the end, I have to accept that it could be a heck of a lot worse!! And I'm thankful that it isn't!

I am thankful for my friends – I could again say, for all the drama that goes with it at times…LOL But I am thankful for them. What would I do if I didn't have my good friend that I trust (you know who you are!) that I can talk about anything with; or what would I do if I didn't have a friend that understands where I've been because they've known me for the past 10 years; or if I couldn't get together (way too seldom might I add) with the goddess girl that pours the wicked wax; or what would I do if I didn't have a terrific group of ladies that I could look forward to sharing lunch with each Wednesday? Life would just suck without those things!! J So I am very thankful for my little circle of friends – and I'm thankful that I have learned who my real friends are…

I am thankful for so much more…like sunsets, smiles, a laugh, football, a good movie, a good cry, a good book, Google, steak, my Saturday morning breakfasts with hubby, my students who always keep life interesting, candles, fires in the fireplace, crunchy leaves, bubble baths, dew on a blade of grass, the smell of baked goods in the oven, mist coming off of water, a beautiful moonlit evening, my bed, my home office that is my favorite place in the house, Black Friday shopping…I could go on and on!! There is just so much to be thankful for and it is something that I have to remind myself sometimes in these bleak times of financial distress…but there are so many simple things in life that it is important to be thankful for them every day and not just on a certain day of the year. So to all of those that contribute in any way, large or small, to my list – THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF MY LIFE!!! It is you who make it worth living…