Things I Know Today--Grateful Edition

Crater Lake Oregon. Taken by me in 2006 (I think)

• I miss my mother terribly--but I'm grateful for the 14 months we had while they lived here.


• I'm grateful that my 5 year old seems to be outgrowing his speech delay and other delays in leaps and bounds. He's already starting to read to me and is hungry for knowledge each day. Go Mrs. Weldon! (she was H's kindergarten teacher as well, and she is a fantastic teacher!)


• I'm grateful that my almost 14 year old daughter still talks to me about the important things on her mind.


• I'm glad that we can spend Thanksgiving with so much of Joel's family. He's one of 9 children, and 7 of them live close enough to come to Thanksgiving. Our family dinners usually include about 50 people. One remarkable year we only had 35. I've never cooked a turkey. But I've peeled lots of potatoes (well Joel does most of the peeling) for mashed potatoes.


• I'm grateful for the freedoms we enjoy in this country. I'm grateful for the time when people work together for the greater good.


• I'm grateful for all of my material blessings. We are lucky enough to enjoy several wants and have no unfufilled needs.


• I'm grateful for the knowledge that I am a daughter of God who knows me and loves me.


• I'm grateful for an extended network of loving supportive friends. There are times when it's my friends who get me through the day.


• I'm also grateful for those who read this blog. I'd probably write anyway, but it's nice to know people are reading what I have to say.


• I'm grateful for my kids, my husband, and the togetherness our little family enjoys.


• I'm grateful for paper and crafty outlets.


• I'm glad I can sing. I love singing.


• I'm grateful for hugs and kisses from my kids


• I'm grateful my middle child H has started coming into my room to talk to me about girls before going to bed. I sometimes worry that he gets lost in our daily life. I like being able to connect with him each night.


• I'm grateful for my health. I'm learning that you can't take it for granted.

I'd like to encourage you to give some definitions to what you are grateful or thankful for. Not just because of Thanksgiving, but because it can really help your perspective. Perspective, in my opinion, is a good thing. Hopefully, you'll find you have more good in your life than you thought.

And that's the other side.