Very grateful for~

1. God’s Blessings
2. Quiet streets and houses with Christmas lights twinkling
3. Time to spend updating LinkedIn with Garrett’s suggestions
4.  Amelia, preparing for her big test yesterday
5.  little omelet muffins for her to grab as she leaves
6.   cars that start right up without coaxing or bargaining promises to the universe
7.   hibernating and saving on gasoline
8.   the little, windowsill garden with basil, scallions and green onions
9.   little tea light candles nestled in coffee bean nests

I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.~ Maya Angelou

Very grateful for

Skipping Black Friday
Catching up
The central heat, responding to our switching-on request and coming to life after nine months of dormancy
The poems from Garrett’s list, especially this hopeful thought~~ “No, I will go on farther—and we shall see.”
God as Jehovah Jireh 
Sweet Potato Pie with cinnamon roll crust

Pausing from worry to receive…
…and celebrate

Watching DWTS with Dad and taking a sip of cider every time someone said the word “MirrorBall”

Don’t let the indifference of people leave you cold, remember to keep the Light & warmth within you ~advice

Thankful for God, who is love and protection

Thankful for Amelia

Thankful for WLD, Belle, Garrett, and the extremely tolerant community here

Thankful for freedom and for those who fought and fight for it.

Thankful for the sacrifice of the families supporting our soldiers

Thankful for missionaries and ministers whose life is service

Thankful for trustworthy neighbors and friends

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues. ~Cicero

He who thanks with his lips thanks but in part, the full, the true Thanksgiving comes from the heart ~J.A. Shedd

For each new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of the night, For health and food, For love and friends, For everything
Thy goodness sends. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Very grateful for

Flannel sheets

Pumpkins

Smiles

DVDs and DVRs

Printers

Stoves and grills

Sweaters

Finding a parking place

Reading glasses

Any expectation is deciding what the future should hold before we even get there. ~Belle Pirri

Today, I am thankful…

1. For Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Brownie Mix! on sale!

2. That the cold wind is outside and I am inside

3. For the pink highlight tool in MSWord

4. That sore muscles mean they did something this week!

5. For little peppermint candy canes

6. That Amelia invited and coaxed so much learning from her students with her castles project

7. For these words from the Poetry of Julia Fehrenbacher

You no longer need to shrink in order to fit in… you no longer need to be the convenient version of what you think they want you to be 

8. That I can “bask in the luxury of being fully understood and unconditionally loved” ~Sarah Young in Jesus Calling

9. For perceived calamities that turn out to be blessings

 Walk in Faith and Grace will be your blessing

  1. God’s Provision…Always
  2. Having Dinner with Mom, just the two of us
  3. Garrett’s insight to know just what question might be asked of me (and it was!)
 4. Standing side-by-side with Amelia at the stove, each of use stirring and talking
 5. Susan, who helped me wait
 6. Bluetooth
 7. this antiquated, backup laptop that still booting up when pressed for service
 8. removable thumb-drives
 9. the smart children at the Best Buy…thinking positive thoughts for their resusitation skills
10. Thanksgiving…in just one week!

At any given moment you (and I) have the power to say this is not how the story is going to end.

Very grateful for

An opportunity for, perhaps, change, escape, growth, and service

DVR’s of The Chew

A new book to read, a gift from Sue

Apple chips

Meals on Wheels—what an awesome service they provide

Marilyn and Nick’s enthusiasm

Three weeks without the air conditioning or heat on—saving$$$s

Exhaling

Learning about mulligans—and wishing we could take them off the golf course too!

The fact that you can feel the fear means you also have the courage to get beyond it. Otherwise, the fear would serve no useful purpose. ~Ralph Marston 

Very grateful for

The beautiful photo of Love at Creative Spiritual Women

Marilyn’s invitation to hear David Cook, author of “7 Days in Uptopia” speak

Computers

Time to journal

Dad’s good report at the doctor

Mom’s good report at the doctor

Returning home to Amelia making pies

Tiny pumpkins, hollowed out, holding tea lights

And more tea lights nestled in vases of coffee beans

Hope is the sun which, as we journey towards it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us. ~Samuel Smiles

Very grateful for

Leaves crunching under my shoes when I’ am walking

The way the morning air is so different from evening air– not only in temperature but also in texture

The medicine that is healing Ruby

Marilyn’s recovery after surgery

Garrett’s kind, quick, and supportive email

This article from Garrett: 26 ways to create more cash in 6 months

A nice audience

Chips with melted cheese

Watching the football game with dad, holding hands

I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house.
~Nathaniel Hawthorne

Very grateful for

A new-to-me, fun music website…Spotify

A fun call from a friend

A Candle lit and nestled on top of coffee beans in a blue Mason Jar

Wind chimes

Sweaters

FMLA

Blogs

A late night walk

Prayer

Saying thank you is more than good manners. It is good spirituality. ~William Painter