And when I stop to think, I find there’s more to be thankful for every year.

I am thankful for the little things, and the big things.
I  am thankful for my nieces.
For my soon-to-be nephew.
I am thankful for my family that lives far away.
I am thankful for finally being able to  live at home,
And for being able to cuddle with my animal after over three months of severe allergic reactions.
I am thankful for the early, early snow.
I am thankful for many, many, many blankets.
Also, for the working furnace, the eradication of rats in the ductwork, and the pellet stove.
And warm socks.

I am thankful for my best friend.
For our text messaging late at night,
And random conversations including earthquake boobs, lurf/loave/lorve, and Gaelic.
I am thankful for whatever it is tonight that is preventing me from spelling anything on my phone and  the giggles it’s producing.

I am thankful for the cold.
I am thankful for the beautiful frost on the window.
I am thankful for the late-blooming rose, and the berries that hang on in the frost.

I am thankful for music.

I am thankful for the off-key singing of a two-year-old.
I am thankful for the broken pieces of sugar cookies left for me by a toddler reluctant to give one of the bigger turkey cookies.
I am thankful for the hilarity of a one year old shouting “NOOOOO!!!” at no-one,
The laughter produced by her wobbly walk,
And knowledge that if she wasn’t so stubborn, she could walk all the time.
I am thankful for the opportunity to watch multiple babies grow up, and learn to talk.
I am thankful for the… word…  “baboh*” and the adorableness of the one-year-old saying it.

I am thankful for my brothers.
I am thankful for my parents.
I am thankful for ALL of my family.
(But especially the closest ones.)

I am thankful for movie  nights,
And for learning that causing a friend’s license plate to… er… fall off by certain accidental methods… is only embarrassing for about five minutes.
I am thankful for those friends who will fix  my computer in exchange for cookies, a few washed dishes, and perhaps some real food.

I am thankful for new discoveries.
I am thankful for creativity.
I am thankful for life.

I am thankful for ALL of my friends.
The ones I’ve grown up with,
The ones who are new,
And the ones I haven’t met face-to-face  with. Yet.

I am thankful for you.

I am thankful for a God who has blessed me with everything I need to live and be joyful, and who withholds me from harm’s way.

Happy Thanksgiving.

*”baboh”= please. (por favor.)