Let's Give Thanks

With Thanksgiving being tomorrow, I wanted to take a moment to give thanks to the many things that I am thankful for. I think we all too often take things for granted, so I am just taking this moment to blog for my own reality check.

So, this Thanksgiving I wanted to take a moment to thank God for everything he has given us!

I am thankful for:

1. God for blessing us with another breath!
2. Annabelle who brightens each and every day! I cannot see my life without her now, and I am so thankful that God blessed us with such a sweet, beautiful and upbeat little girl.
3. My husband who has ALWAYS been very supportive of me. And, for being the most intelligent and unselfish person I know.
4. My parents who have shown me how to love unconditionally by example through their own lives of loving each other as well as the love they have shown towards me.
5. My mother-in-law who raised an exemplary man!
6. My brother, sister-in-law and their three kids for teaching me a lot about love, marriage and innocence through the years. I'll never forget my 2nd nephew telling me (while I was pregnant) to be careful as I walked up and down the stairs in their house because "I was carrying a baby in my tummy." And, I won't forget (according to my mom) that my brother insisted that my Dad go home to check on me the evening that I had my first date with my husband. At the time, I was still "going steady" with someone else whom my mom claims was a "stalker," so my brother, while in the hospital after a surgery to his jaw, insisted that my Dad go home right away to check on me. He had to write this out on a paper though because he couldn't talk. And, my mom said he wrote it out with such exclamation. He apparently wasn't worried about the date with my husband, but instead about the "stalker" boyfriend showing up. And the care, concern and love that my sister-in-law showed before and after the birth of my daughter.
7. My brother-in-law, sister-in-law and their two kids for teaching me a lot about reaching out to others. I was amazed at the love and support they showed after the birth of our daughter.
8. My best friend who has been there for me through thick and thin all of these years despite me not always being the greatest friend in return. She has taught me the true meaning of a friendship.
9. My college friends that I have stayed connected with now since our freshmen year back in 1996. I have learned something from each of them, and I appreciate their friendship and support.
10. My part-time job that has helped me keep my foot in the door with my profession.
11. My part-time job mentors that have helped me grow both professionally and personally.
12. Our home which provides us with shelter.
13. Our health.
14. The opportunity for me to stay home with Annabelle.
15. Running water (need I say more)!
16. Clothes to protect us from the weather.
17. Beautiful days and nights. (This is the day that the Lord hath made!)
18. Food to keep our tummies full and our bodies nourished.
19. Freedom as a United States citizen.
20. Eternal life.
21. Again, my sweet Annabelle who just started crying, and I realized, as I muttered under my breath, "Why do you always start crying when your Daddy walks out of the house for a minute?," that I am thankful for those cries as I know she's alive and breathing!