Count your blessings. Name them one by one.

I am thankful for my husband.  I am thankful for his love, for his friendship, for his patience, for his hard work.  I am thankful that I get to be married to him for the rest of my life.  I am thankful that he is the father of my child, and that I get to hold him and laugh with him everyday.

I am thankful for my son.  I am thankful I get to spend everyday watching him grow, and learn, and bring joy to all who know him.  I am thankful I  get to be this specific person’s mama.  I am thankful for his energy, and his inquisitiveness.  I am thankful for his kisses, and for his ability to make me proud–always.

I am thankful for my parents.  I am thankful they are my parents, and that they raised me up in the way I should go.   I am thankful they still play such a huge role in my life and that they will always love me-no matter what.   I am thankful  my son has them for grandparents.

I am thankful for my in-laws.  I am thankful that they love me for me, not just because I married their son.  I am thankful I love them for them, not just because I married their son.  I am thankful they raised my husband to be the man he is today.  I am also thankful  I do not have to travel more than an hour to see them, or let them spend time with their grandson–because they are really good grandparents.

I am thankful for JHJ.  I am thankful he is near this year so I have someone to roll my eyes at.  I am thankful he pushes my boundaries, and that he never lets me win.  I am thankful I got to grow up with him, and that we will always have each other.

I am thankful for BiL.  I am thankful he is my friend and in-law, that he makes me laugh, and that he is present.  I am thankful for the love he shows my family, and that we see him more weeks than not.   I am also thankful he is now a kickass Japanese chef.

I am thankful for my grandparents.  I am thankful I am getting to know them as more than just occasional visitors.   I am thankful my son has Great-grandparents that he gets to see so often.  I am thankful for the legacy of love and faithfulness they have given my family.

I am thankful for my Ma.  I am thankful for her love, for her devotion to her family, for her example of care she shows to Gabs.  Next year I hope to say  I am thankful she lives down the street from me.

I am thankful for Nanny, my husband’s last living grandparent.  I am thankful for her vitality, and energy, and example of hard work.  I am thankful my husband and son have her blood in their veins.

I am thankful for Shoeshe.  I am thankful for her friendship, and even more so that she is my son’s godmother.   I am thankful for all the nights I have laughed until I cried sitting next to her.  I am thankful that she keeps me from taking everything so seriously.

I am thankful for Cat.  I am thankful that she remains my friend even though move after move and crazy schedules keep us apart.  I am thankful for not only the amazing history we have, but the future as well.

I am thankful for Ang.  I am thankful that neither of us  wrote off a friendship just because we see each other maybe once a year.  I am thankful for the internet which lets us still be a part of each others lives.

I am thankful for my mommy friends-specifically MOPS.   I am thankful that I am not alone in this adventure, and that I always have someone to share war stories with at the playground.  I am thankful they understand what it is like to have your life rotate around a child–and yet somehow not have it always be about him.

I am thankful for my home.  I am thankful it is warm, and comfortable, and a place we all love to be.  I am thankful for its location, near family, our church, and surrounded by great neighbors (who probably would get their own picture if they would ever let me take it. )

I am thankful I get to live in the most beautiful state in the country. I am thankful that I can always find vistas and nature that let me see the wonder of God.

I am thankful for my country.  I am  thankful for the men and women who worked and fought to make it ours, and keep it safe.  I am thankful I am free to live my life, and say what I want–even publish it.   I am thankful I have the chance to live this American dream.

And finally–and yet most importantly–I am thankful for my God.  I am thankful for all of the blessings He has given me, us, and that I could never count them all.   I am thankful for His love, and grace.  I am thankful for His son.  I am thankful he has given me a thankful heart.

Happy Thanksgiving.  Take time tonight to count your blessings and see what God has done.

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