A thankful list, on delay
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Every year so far in my blogging life, I've listed 50 things I'm thankful for. But I was pretty sick on Thanksgiving, so I didn't end up getting to make my list.
I thought about maybe just skipping it altogether, but several of you said you look forward to it each year and were bummed not to see it.
So, I thought I'd write up a list now, because it's not like thankfulness has an expiration date.
And as always, these are not in order of importance, because that requires way too much thinking on my part.
(reusable plastic bag from Grove.)
I am thankful:
1. that my nose is in good shape this year. Last year at this time, I was recovering from my nose surgery, and my nose feels much better this year!
2. that my breathing is so good. I breathe through my nose ALL THE TIME now, which is miraculous compared to pre-surgery, when I breathed through my nose almost 0% of the time.
3. for my new counters and backsplash. We've had the original counters and tile since we bought the house 12 years ago, and this summer, we took the plunge and replaced them. Now my kitchen looks so spiffy!
4. for Mr. FG's job. Because a paycheck is a fabulous thing.
5. Mr. FG's flex hours. Longtime readers will remember that he's had some kinda nutso work shifts, and now, he gets to pick his own hours as long as he's there for core hours. So fabulous.
6. for health. My family has minor, everyday sorts of health problems, but nothing serious.
7. for my house. I don't think I'll ever be able to say that I adore my house (the design is, like, my least favorite ever), but we've made it a lot nicer since we moved in, and I am content with it, even if I'm not in love.
8. for Hungry Harvest. I love the work that they are doing (feeding hungry people and saving food from being wasted). So often, it seems like cool programs such as this only exist in hip areas such as the Northeast or the Pacific Northwest and I'm super happy to have it in my neck of the woods.
9. for our king-sized bed. Mr. FG wanted one forever, and my frugal self was resistant. But we sized up when we replaced our mattress last year, and I must say, a king-size is quite luxurious.
10. for our cars. Even during our leanest times of life, Mr. FG and I have always had reliable, safe, and relatively up-to-date vehicles.
11. for my van. I have to add a separate line-item for this one, because I do still really love my van. It's a 2012, so it's not exactly brand-spanking new. But I still kind of think of it as my new van, despite the scratches and wear and tear. And I think it still has LOTS more years of life in it, so, relatively speaking it is still sort of new. 😉
12. for my trip to South Dakota in March. It was bittersweet, to be sure, but I am SO SO SO glad I went.
13. for 20 years with Mr. FG. Not everyone gets to have that long with their spouse, and I'm grateful.
15. for the stage of independent kids. There are very lovely things about the more dependent stage too, of course. But since I'm in the more independent stage, I'm going to revel in that. 😉 And if you're in the dependent stage, you can revel in all the upsides of that.
16. for the friendships that I've had in the last few years. By the end of this year, two of my besties will be living multiple states away, so I'm sad about that. But I am grateful for the time that they did live here.
17. for Lisey's sweet heart. I love to see her compassion for others.
18. for Call the Midwife on Netflix. It's gotten me thru several rounds of sickness this year!
19. for my book club. I've never been in one before, but a friend from church invited me to hers, and it's so much fun. Also, it's making me read books I'd probably never pick up otherwise.
(Tutorial for making the dip-dyed bookmark is here.)
20. for a 3-year gap between Lisey and Sonia. Because that means I soon get a break from teaching a kid to drive! Joshua and Lisey are 19 months apart, so I barely finished with Joshua when Lisey got her learner's permit. But once Lisey gets her license, Sonia won't be eligible for another two years. Woohoo!
21. for driving times in the car. I am indeed looking forward to a break, but the upside of a learning driver is that you get lots of one-on-one time in the car. Maybe not always the most high-quality one-on-one time, but it does get better the more hours the kid drives.
(The first 10 hours are a little....whoa.)
22. for hugs from Mr. FG. Pretty much my favorite thing in the world.
23. that the shortest day of the year is almost here. I really hate the dark days of winter, so I'm comforting myself with the knowledge that the days will start inching toward summer-length in just a few weeks.
24. for the joy of having nearly-adult kids. Joshua and Lisey and Mr. FG and I have some fun times late at night these days. 😉
25. for the love of God, which isn't dependent on my behavior. I'd be in trouble if it was!
26. for my therapist. She's helped me through some tough stuff and I am grateful for that.
27. for lovely blog readers. I'm really lucky to have you all reading here. And commenting! Supposedly people don't comment on blogs anymore, but you guys do, and I love it.
28. for my height. I'm 5'8" and I love it!
29. for how capable Joshua is. He's driving, holding down a job, (and learning new skills at the job), handling a full load of college classes, playing in the band at his church, saving most of his paycheck...just being quite an all-around responsible person. Which is such a lovely thing to see as a parent. Yay!
30. for our fire pit. My dad helped* us build it a year and a half ago and we've used it a lot since then. Super fun.
*by which I mean that we helped him, really. He brought all the brains and skills. 😉
31. for kids who want to work. Sonia and Zoe aren't old enough for formal jobs yet, but they happily accept babysitting and pet sitting jobs when they come along. And Joshua and Lisey both were motivated to get jobs without any shoving from Mr. FG and me. Yay for motivated kids!
32. for Sonia's creativity. She's always knitting, baking, or otherwise coming up with something to make.
33. for Zoe's sincerity. What you see is what you get with Zoe, and as a people-pleaser/chameleon myself, I respect that about her. Also, I love that she thinks about things seriously and asks honest questions.
34. for the sun in my climate. We do get more gray days than I'd like in the winter, but there are a number of sunny ones mixed in there. And overall, we get a fair amount of sunshine. I really, really do not think I'd do well in a predominately cloudy climate...I'd be crabby all the time!
35. that Joshua's coffee creation won a contest. His coffee shop carries seasonal created-by-employees beverages, and he's created a drink every single season since he started working there a year ago. None of his attempts won in the first year, and even though it wasn't fun to be rejected, he kept picking himself up and trying again. Super proud of him for that! This season, his submission finally won and it's on the menu.
(Making it especially fun: his drink is based on my grandma's pfeffernusse recipe. She would be pleased, and probably somewhat bemused!)
36. for vision correction. Sonia and I both have bad eyes, and I'm so happy that we have contacts.
37. for Aldi. I love that we can eat fancy foods (prosciutto! dill Havarti!) and just everyday normal food at super great prices. My grocery budget would be in deep trouble without Aldi.
38. for ATK/Cook's Country/Cook's Illustrated. My cooking would be 7000% worse without the guidance of the smart and thorough people over there.
39. that women are currently speaking up about the wrongs that have been done to them. And that, at least to a large degree, they are being believed.
40. for good teeth. Aside from a few cavities, my teeth have been very boring for these last 39 years. And our kids also have had pretty low-maintenance teeth so far.
(Though don't worry...we do have a savings account in place for orthodontia, just in case. If we squeak by with none necessary, well, then, we'll just have some money to spend on something else more fun!)
41. for Ting. Even with four smartphones on our plan, our bill is astoundingly low. All the heart eyes.
(Honorable mention to Ooma for keeping our home phone bill so low too.)
42. for my kitchen gear. Slowly, I've amassed a small collection of really good stuff (using Cook's Illustrated reviews for guidance!), and I love it.
43. for my travels. This year I've been to Florida (twice), South Dakota, California, Texas, and North Carolina. That's a lot for me!
44. that Sonia and Zoe have each other. They don't always appreciate each other, of course (!), but this year I've been thinking about how lonely Sonia would be now without Zoe. Joshua and Lisey are gone a lot of the time now, and she'd be here all by herself if we didn't have Zoe. So, I'm glad we have a pair of younger kids after the pair of older kids.
45. for the way technology bridges geographical gaps. For instance, Sonia and Zoe video chat with their friend in Florida all the time, I can text my friend who moved to Texas, and I can chat with my uncle in South Dakota.
46. my Vitamix. I use this at least 5/7 days of the week, and can puree even things like kale. And raw beets. Totally worth the money I paid for it.
47. for friends and family with babies to share.
48. Dark chocolate. And cheese. And tea. And heavy cream. There are a lot of foods that are my faves.
49. for Milton Vincent's book, A Gospel Primer. Aside from the Bible, this is the book that has affected my spiritual life the most.
(The cover is boring and off-putting, so you just have to ignore that and press on. 😉 It's worth it. )
50. for another year to do a thankful list. Every year is a gift and not a guarantee.
That wraps it up! I like making a list this long because boy, it really gets you thinking.
If you'd like to join me, you can share a short thankful list in the comments (but maybe 5-10 things, because 50 makes a long comment!)
I'm thankful you slid #39 in there. That's a good one.
This year all the thanks go to having a perfectly healthy baby girl. After a false positive on a genetic test early on in the pregnancy, there were a couple of weeks (before another test occurred) when we thought there would be no baby in October. Or, if there was, that she would be severely compromised and not live very long. To say I'm thankful that was not the case is a vast understatement.
(And on a related note, I want to watch "Call the Midwife," but my MiL watched it when we lived in the same house, and I could hear all the sounds of women in labor from the other room. As a woman still in the midst of those childbearing years, I sympathize a little too closely with those women in the show. Maybe I'll try watching it next year when my own labors are not quite so fresh in my memory. 🙂
#39...yes. On the one hand, I'm so sad to hear about all the abuse that has happened. But on the other hand, I am very encouraged to see so many women coming forward, and I am hopeful that this is the beginning of a seismic shift. Maybe the long assumed cloak of silence and shame will be lifted, which will make people hesitant to commit the abuse in the first place.
If you think there's every chance in the world that your deeds will be swept under the rug, you'll behave differently than you will if you are fairly sure your deeds will come to light/not be tolerated.
I watch Call the Midwife with earbuds in so as not to annoy my family with all the sounds of women in labor. Heh.
And yes, so wonderful that your baby is here and healthy! Yay!
Me too. Man, it is BRUTAL to watch, sickening to realize that I'm not alone, and freeing to see that this no longer has to be a secret.
Yep, I feel the same. Every part of what you said. I was sexually abused as a child (by someone who is now dead), and I have a lot of sympathy for all the other women and children out there who have been victimized. But I am so, so encouraged that women are speaking up. Things like this thrive in darkness and secrecy, and getting rid of that is a huge first step.
I took a deep breath when I read that. I’m very sorry you had to go through that. Thank you for honouring us by sharing such a personal thing. It also happened to me in my teens. Healing is a lifelong journey, but I believe it is possible. I will hold your truth in my heart, along with my own and so many others I know.
Aww, I'm sorry you had to go through that too. All the love to you!
Thanks for the inspiration. I think I'm going to make a (long) thankful list. Quick list:
1. A beautiful baby girl (one of God's best surprises to date) who is just beginning to laugh.
2. Family nearby -- 10 years overseas makes you treasure it a little more.
3. That, among all the things I've had to cut out of my diet for my reflux baby (dairy! chocolate! seasoning!), she can somehow handle a cup of coffee every morning. Praise God!
4. A loving and very hardworking husband
5. My work-in-progress reno house. Still needs a ton of work, but I love having a house!
6. Staying home with baby. A real stretch for us financially right now, but so precious.
7. A little craft business that helps with #6.
8. Christmas approaching. 🙂
9. My (first ever) yard -- flowers! garden!
10. Hot showers
Aww that's such a beautiful list! I also wrote a list of 10 things I'm grateful for in 2017.
One of my readers pointed out that most of my list has to do with friends and family. I can see a similar theme on your list as well 🙂
I'm thankful for
1. Christ, who saved us despite who we are.
2. My husband, who supports and loves and pushes me and who I would be lost without.
3. My kids. They may drive me crazy, but they are such amazing people and I love them so much.
4. This time of year. Even when you are trying to be Intentional on a daily basis, this time of year reminds us what is most important.
5. Spring... Bc I prefer warm weather and sunny days, to the dark days and cold times.
6. For recognizing my gifts and working to share them with others and help them see their own.
I could keep going and going... Love this time of year!
2017 has been pretty bad in terms of years of my life. I had some work insecurity (not based on my own performance or anything, just based on what way our new parent company wanted to go.) We've had a lot of illness in the house, I had a minor injury that required an ER visit, my car was totaled thanks to an idiot in an SUV. To top it off, I was effectively excluded from a group Bible study I was in (they changed the format and didn't think to invite me to the new one until it had been going on for over a month which I declined.) So ... yeah, it's been a tough year but I think there were some good events.
1.) My wife is always there for me if I need her.
2.) My daughter is a source of joy and when she randomly comes up to me to give me a hug I feel really special and loved. This is especially good for me since she is also going through this stage of "Mommy only" and will sometimes get upset when she sees me because she doesn't want me to play with her. So I take what I can get.
3.) After my car accident with insurance and savings we bought a used car in cash.
4.) Having family close by that will watch my daughter on occasion. My wife's family moved away so she hardly sees them anymore.
5.) Finishing our basement and having a space for playing, watching TV, a workshop/office. Basically I just have my own little place to be.
6.) Despite not being rich, I'm doing okay. I guess I can't ask for more than that.
Aww, that is so sweet about your wife and your daughter...so happy that they are bright spots in your life.
Thanks for posting this, Kristen. I look forward to it each year. It's funny how getting older helps you be more thankful even for the little things. We are a very modest family and aren't rich by any means, but I have so much more as an adult than I had as a child. I am incredibly thankful for our humble Christmas tree because I didn't have one for many years as a child. So I guess I am thankful for seeing all the blessings in my life, even the small ones. And I'm very thankful for your blog and the inspiration and encouragement you give me. 🙂
1. My son and the modern medicine that brought him to us.
2. My wonderful husband who is supporting us while I’m on maternity leave.
3. For 6 months of unpaid maternity leave so I can enjoy these early months with our baby.
4. For friends who love us and our son, and watch him so we can go on dates or dentist appointments.
5. For insurance and the ability to pay for said dentist appointment where I had 4 cavities filled (I haven’t always been the best at taking care of my teeth!)
6. For the fact that I’m truly happy for the first time in 3 years. (And for my therapist forvhelping me get through the last year especially!)
So much to be thankful for.
Gratitude for my blessings is something I try to contemplate every day. It keeps in check my intensity about all that I am not doing perfectly. Well, somewhat.
1) My husband is my favorite and my best. There aren't words for how much I love him. Also, he is quite handsome. And might read this.
2) My 3 boys are healthy and happy and FUNNY. The funny is important to me.
3) Our small business is heading into the 4th year and doing extremely well. We have never had this much income, this much freedom or this much opportunity. I am incredibly grateful!! Also, tired. Lol. It is a lot of work.
4) My kitchen. I love my sunny kitchen. It is pretty and bright and classic and my favorite part of our little house.
5) My 40s! I am much more confident, self-assured and comfortable in my skin than I was just 5 years ago.
6) I stood up to a difficult situation this year, spoke my mind about how I deserve to be treated and let the chips fall where they may. It was terrifying to risk so much in that group of friends but the doing of it has taught me a great deal about myself. I am so glad I did it, regardless of the fallout.
#1 Too funny!
Your list makes me cry every year, and without fail, here I am tearing up at my keyboard!
I'm only going to list 5 (but I am going to go home and write a thankful list)
1. God. The end of this year has been rough, and there's nothing like a God that sticks with you and guides you when life sucks.
2. DH. My husband isn't perfect, but he's wonderful. I should remember to be thankful for that daily. He loves us, he provides for us, and he's my best friend.
3. LO. My kiddo is definitely hitting the toddler stage now, and it seems like we are in a never-ending power struggle some days. But he lights up my whole world. I didn't even know love like that existed.
4. Home. Our condo is starting to come together...it's not in the best neighborhood, but we are right next to almost everything I need (grocery store, thrift store, library, major highway, the nanny's house, and our church).
5. Parents. Mine and DH's have been so good to us. They aren't overbearing, but they are present. They love us and LO, and I have zero complaints.
Aww. I usually tear up at some point when I write it too. 🙂
1. I'm with you on point 24, for the joy of having nearly-adult kids. I'm thankful that we have mostly weathered through some tough teenage years with our oldest children, and that we can now enjoy each other's company and have lots of good discussions together.
2. We also have a much younger set of 2 kids, and I'm thankful that they have each other, but also that they have reached a much calmer period after being very rambunctious in their preschool years. (Put points 1-2 together, not fun to have teenage and toddler tantrums together!)
3. I'm thankful that both my husband and I have flexible work schedules and work from home options, and that he shares so much with the family duties.
4. I'm thankful for some extra work on the side, to bring down some debt faster.
5. I'm thankful for having been able to take care of myself a bit this year, both mentally with therapy and physically with exercise.
Thanks for great list! I'm a new in 2017 reader, so I didn't know what I was missing out on! I am grateful for many of the things on your list (love my king size bed)!
I've been eyeing Vitamixes for a while now...I may get one soon!
You can buy them refurbished and they're a lot cheaper. Mine is a refurb and it has been used multiple times weekly for a few years now.
Yep! That's exactly what I recommend doing in the post I wrote about my Vitamix. Such great prices on the refurbs! This is the one that I have, refurbished: http://amzn.to/2i1WTHs
1. For my bright, healthy, lovely, enjoyable daughters ages 5 and 3.
2. For a husband who cares so much about being a committed, caring partner and father. I can't imagine being married to an selfish oaf of a man. 🙁 And I feel for the women who are.
3. For a new bun in the oven, due in March.
4. That fertility has not been a problem for us, even with this our third baby, despite the fact that I'm an "old" mum of 37 years.
5. That our warm, decently comfortable house serves us well, and that in a year's time, we'll have the budget to buy a 4 bedroom house for our growing family.
6. For my husbands's excellent, dependable job that enables me to be a stay at home mom.
7. That my husband is frugal and very good with money. He makes very good pay, but he insists that we live well below our means and give generously of what we're blessed with. It can be frustrating for me (I'm the spender) but I'm thankful that he thinks of the future.
8. For my Toyota Sienna! Love my van!
9. That we found the perfect schooling option for my kindergartener. Our daughter goes to a traditional classroom with a classical curriculum 2 days a week, and we homeschool the other 3 days. She adores it, she's thriving, and it has been a godsend.
10. For freedom, even though that sounds so cliche. There are so many in our world who worship in secret, fearing terrible punishment, and how tragic that is.
I love hybrid schooling! Isn't it the best of all possible worlds? I thank God frequently for nudging me to give it a try. I wouldn't trade that extra time with my girls for anything.
I love these lists! Here are a few of mine.
1. After four years of job insecurity and no raises for anyone I finally got a new job. I missed out on two other job opportunities but trusted that God was in control and now I have this new one. But even if I didn't have it, He is still in control!
2. I'm so grateful that I was raised by believers who made it a priority to raise up their children in faith.
3. I'm thankful for grown children who are wonderful to be around and who have blessed us with grandchildren we love dearly.
4. I'm thankful for winter because I get very tired of six months of Florida summer.
5. I'm thankful for the ability to read, choose a spouse, hold a job, and live in a clean, relatively safe environment. Too many women in this world can't say that, unfortunately.
This is wonderful! I think we need to make a list of what we're grateful for each day. It's a great exercise to remember gratitude throughout our lives.
I'm grateful for:
-My health. I had a very bad health scare this month and I am SO GRATEFUL that it isn't anything serious (might need surgery, but it's better than chemo!).
-Mr. Picky Pincher. Oh, some days I don't think I deserve such a great man.
-Family. It's so important to have your tribe.
-Cool weather. It gets hot here in Texas, so I'm grateful for some 60-degree weather for a change. It does stink that it gets dark so early now, though.
-Writing. I've really found my groove doing writing for the past few years. I've found an identity in a hobby that I love a lot.
I just loved your list....many brought tears for ones I have similar things to be thankful for! Thank YOU for posting it! 🙂
Wow ! great list! I didn't create one yet, but will put one together. thanks for the idea
Your nephew/second cousin/whatever is so big! I remember when he was teeny and you watched him so your cousin could get some sleep. 🙂
I know! He's crawling and standing now! And mercifully, he's sleeping at night now. Yay!
I am thankful for so many things. Here are five:
1. Health insurance. You never think you will be faced with a chronic health condition until you are. I am so thankful I am able to get mine treated. There were long stretches in my life when I had no insurance resulting in real suffering. I can't imagine that now.
2. This blog which helps keep my spender self in check and practice contentment and gratitude. Thanks Kristen.
3. That I paid of all my non-mortgage debt in 2017. First time I have not had consumer or student loan debt in my adult life!
4. That I work with amazing people every day.
5. That my dysfunctional family seems to be a little more functional lately and that we have all grown closer. Thank goodness.
Love your list! Mine:
1. I have had a really hard time with our political reality. Your #39 and the recent election wins for women/minorities has made me more hopeful than I have been since last Nov.
2. I am thankful for my son's merit based college scholarship. We qualify for no need-based aid. To fund his 35k in tuition annually + 15k in room/board would be crazy especially with 2 other kids to go. He got tuition covered via an excellent ACT score/academic record. Glad for both his work ethic and the school's dedication to merit awards.
3. I am thankful for my house. We've made some updates this year (paint/light fixtures) that have made a big difference in how I feel about my house. I'm sorry I waited so long to make them as they weren't that $!
4. I am thankful for my 3 children. They bring joy, tears, pride, fun and frustration to my life on a daily basis and I wouldn't have it any other way!
5. For my husband of 20 years. What a partner I have in this journey!
6. For my extended family, both by blood and marriage. Love them all.
7. For my girl friends. We get together 6x/year as a larger group and have a ton of fun! I also get to see some of them more frequently for in depth chat sessions. It is wonderful to have them in my life!
8. For the bloggers I follow. I learn so much from them (you!) and appreciate their time and talents greatly.
I am thankful for:
1. God who is trusting me enough to raise my grandchildren in the way that their Mother would want them to be raised since her passing in March 2015
2. My dh who is truly a good person and loves us and provides for us
3. My friends who check in/up with/on me to make sure that I am doing ok with raising three more children
4. For Kristen and this blog who/which give(s) me great conversation, recipes, thoughts and thought provoking material.
5.Tea, because I am not a coffee drinker
It is so wonderful that you and your husband are there for your grandchildren. <3
#21 - The comment at the end! LOL!
Here's my short list:
1. My husband - he's the best!!! And also good looking, although he won't be reading this!
2. I'm retiring EARLY (in 16 days)! I've had a good steady career with State government for over 40 years.
3. No debt! (Thanks to Dave Ramsey.)
4. Good general health, a body that works well enough,and good health insurance when one of our cats bit me, the bite got infected, and I ended up needing surgery to repair a couple of tendons in my hand.
Moms everywhere can say an amen to my #21 comment. 😉
Iï¸ love your thankful list! It’s such a good reminder. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and it gets glossed over. A holiday that is based on being grateful?? So good. I’d like to say that Iï¸ am thankful for you and your blog. â¤ï¸ Not trying to be sappy just genuinely grateful. As a homeschooling mom you encourage me so much.
1. Thankful for your sweet & cheerful blog. It's been such a joy & source of true encouragement in so many areas of my life. Also, Thank you for introducing me to such a great network of other bloggers regularly in your comments.
2. My husband's secure & well paying job filled with lots of union overtime every week.
3. Eldest son post college 1st full-time career job using his degree.
4. Daughter finishes college next month. She fast tracked herself to get bachelors in only 2.5 years. Yes-she's nearly done! And likely has her first full-time career job lined up. (She's barely 20yr old.)
5. Daughter's college paid in full-we cashed flowed. College is now paid in full for both neutotypical kids.
6. Youngest Son's (11yr old) autism school-the most wonderful people so devoted to the most mentally fragile & vulnerable! They've helped him & us immensely. He's been so happy there. His CBI (Community Based Instruction) has let us discover a whole new boy. Highlight of all this-He even went to fair-rode & loved the Ferris Wheel 3 times-and they sent a pix for me to see his thrilled face near the top of it!
**neurotypical
This is the year that I make up grades to my 1978 rambler, what kind of counters do you have? and why did you choose that type?
Your house does look very nice and I've enjoyed reading as you post about projects you have done. I'm puled as to why you purchased a house you are not cray about. Was it the only thing in your price range? have your tastes changed? Did you have a short window to find a place to live? Did you choose location over home style?
Although my interior is dated I rented until I was able to purchase the type of home I wanted in a location I love.
Not judging just curious about your thought process.
This made me smile - thank you!
1. The Unconditional love of God. My 2 1/2 year old isn't adjusting to family life super well and his face shows only contempt and hatred for me when I take care of him, and it makes me so angry. Then I see myself in his hatred. I once hated God, and He loved me relentlessly and it has changed everything. How grateful I am that His love is steadfast and generous.
2. Fall weather
3. Our church family. They have jumped in to help us with childcare, meals, Thanksgiving celebrations, words of encouragement, prayers, and more the past few months as we've dealt with hospitalizations and loads of sickness and missing our family who live more than 1000 miles away.
4. My parents and in-laws. This has been a rough year for our family, and through it I've seen a different side to my parents and in-laws, and it's been so incredibly encouraging.
5. Finite-ness. On Sunday it was pointed out several times that we are finite beings and God is infinite. If we were infinite, the depths of our evil would also be infinite. Seeing the wickedness in the world is overwhelming as it is, but how much worse would it be if we were infinite? I'm glad that only God is infinite.
6. Coffee.
7. My husband who does everything from saving the world (maybe a slight exaggeration?) to cleaning sticky children. He's the best.
8. Running
9. My 3 kids who are growing up as virtual triplets. They adore each other and love giggling with each other, and I can't imagine what life would be like without their antics.
10. Silence while the kiddos nap. It's beautiful to have quiet to sit and reflect.
I love the idea of a quick thankful list that another commenter put. (Also...I, too, am thankful for dark chocolate and heavy cream. I'd probably have to add peanut butter and avocados to that list though 😉 ).
1) For a new job. I had been looking for a while, as I felt I was being bullied by management at my last job. I looked for 4-5 months, and applied to 30-40 jobs. I finally found what I can only describe as a dream job. Less stress and less hours.
2) I have a very sick cat at home. I already spent what I could on him (Roughly $2,000) and was about to sign over adoption papers so the vet could get him the care he needs, and then adopt him out after. But friends stepped up... they've raised nearly $800 for me. And it's enough to make me cry...
3) I have all of my Christmas gifts completed. And I'm going much smaller this year. I'm grateful everyone understands.
4) After a rough year of hail storms, we found out the roof was leaking. My deductible is $4,000+ (I live in a high hail and wind area...), SO. We stumbled upon discounted shingles at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, just bought a Black Friday-deal nail gun... and will do it ourselves this weekend. Thank GOODNESS for calling around to private companies for dumpsters. I saved a little over $75 to make this happen ($1,350 total for everything on a 1100sqft house)
5) Grateful for easy access to spices, water, heat, and coffee.
I am SO IMPRESSED that you are all done with Christmas gifts.
1.I'm grateful that, after almost a year of cancer treatment, my father is still with us and seems to be healing more every day.
2. I'm grateful for my job and the flexibility it allows when I need to be home with a sick kid, etc.
3. I'm grateful for my family. They bring joy to my heart each and every day and I can't imagine life without them.
4. I'm grateful to be blessed with so much more than I had while growing up, but more importantly, I'm grateful for my mom and grandma, who taught me how to be frugal and make the best with what we had.
5. I'm grateful for my son's giving and generous spirit. It makes my heart swell with pride when I see what a lovely young man he is becoming.
Love #15 & #25!
This year I'm grateful for:
1) being a 2 car family, for the first time in our 8 year marriage. Being able to drive my kindergartner to school, get to parks/grocery stores/play dates w/o lots of planning & patience is so freeing! praise God for this gift! Also my husband drives the more boring car, so I can drive the roomier, nicer one with the kids.
2) our washing machine has been on the fritz--after praying about it it has been running smoothly. praise God for his help!
3) praise makes us thankful. How good it is to honor Him.
4) both my girls have adorable Christmas dresses, 1 gifted & 1 garage sale found. Not a need, but a fun want met!
5) verses that come to mind in times of need. I'm thankful for scripture, esp. in challenges.
I am grateful for:
1. My husband's job since he was unemployed for a good chunk of 2017.
2. My husband's new job allowed him to use up a huge transportation surplus from his old job (to the tune of $1,500).
3. My husband's job has much better health insurance than my company does--so we moved over to his plan...which is a million times better (and it's cheaper)!
5. My company went through some recent, and very good, changes--so the uncertainty is done and good things are happening.
6. My parents who live nearby and are doing well and we see them often.
7. My brother and his family--who we are very close with.
8. My good friend across the street who is like a sister to me.
9. My husband, and good friend, of 20 plus years.
10. My son who is a very good kid--and doing very well in school.
11. That my son has gotten into a lot of good colleges, with scholarships.
12. That my son is able to play tennis--and is looking forward to college tennis (something we weren't sure would be possible due to injuries and surgery).
13. For my husband's good network of friends from childhood and adulthood--and the fact that they get together often.
14. For gourmet coffee that I recently discovered near one of the college campuses we visited with my son--and the fact that I have enough money to mail order it!
15. That my almost 15 year old dog (who most likely has cancer) is still hanging in there...and can still take long walks with me.
16. For having 2 Aldi locations within 20 minutes of my house.
17. For lots of cousins that I'm very close with.
18. My screened in porch--I live out there in the spring, summer, and fall.
19. Far gardening! One of my favorite hobbies.
20. That we don't have any credit card debt, and a decent cushion that allowed us to weather my husband's unemployment.