Sunday, August 17, 2008

Giving Thanks

Terri (link below in people I stalk section) has a day where she lists some things for which she is thankful. I love that idea. Really, when I concentrate on all the things that aren't going right (and I tend to do this A LOT) it's hard to see all the things that I have and how great my life is going. I figure Sunday would be a good day. I usually get reflective, if we had a particularly good sermon at church (which would not have been today since I dozed off a couple times). It's the end of the week so nice to reflect on what just happened and to get into a good mood for what's about to happen. So here it goes...

I am thankful for my friends. The ones I've been meeting online and the ones in my neighborhood and life. The friend I've had since JR. High, who is okay if I don't email daily and I'm okay if she doesn't either. I know if I needed something, she would be fine if I called her any day or night. I would do the same. The friend I've had since college, who was in my wedding, who lives across town and I meet every so often for coffee and we talk and talk and get things off our chests and can be completely ourselves with out the fear of being judged or disliked. My friends in the neighborhood who look after my children, who have coffee with me and we chat and, yeah, gossip and with whom I celebrate birthdays, receive and give casseroles when there's a crisis. These women are a blessing. Then there are those of you out there whose writing makes me cry and laugh and wish I really knew some of you in real life.

I am thankful for my husband. We've been together since we were 16. He has stayed with me even when he didn't want to at times. He has stayed when I didn't want him to stay. Right now he's painting a constellation chart on my son's ceiling because I wanted to do something special, beyond just a nice paint job. This is nothing he would have done on his own, it's not something the kids would have asked for, it's purely to make me happy. He'd rather be playing Guitar Hero. But he loves me. I love him.

I am thankful for my home. This one is hard to be thankful for...it's in such a state of disrepair. We've been working on it for four years. But I am thankful that it's now painted, re-roofed, has new windows and gutters, that the upstairs is almost, two months from, painfully close to being --completed. In the meantime, the payment is low and we are kept cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

I am thankful to be in school. I love learning new things. I love that I'm going into a noble profession where I can help people. I am thankful I will be using intelligence, kindness, willingness and hopefulness, all of which are my favorite positive qualities about myself to help those in need. I am okay that I will not always be treated with respect, or kindness or thankfulness, it's not why I'm going into the profession, I'll know in my heart that I helped someone. That's going to feel great!

So these are some pretty general things...but it's my first post on being thankful...I'll need a little practice...although I am thankful for the opportunity to give thanks....

What, in your life, makes you thankful?

12 comments:

Jenelle said...

So many reasons to be grateful... Thanks for sharing.

Mrs4444 said...

I, too, am thankful for my relationship with my husband; a solid marriage is a treasure. I'm happy for you...

Anonymous said...

Great blessings! And what is really great is that reading what others consider to be blessings helps me recognize things in my life that I wouldn't otherwise give a second thought. It's like creating a positive ripple!

Ken said...

I have to admit, I spend more time lecturing my kids than praising them. I really should be thankful for the good stuff. I need to work on that.

Sitting In Silence said...

Oh I love these "giving thanks" posts..they say it's good for the soul to list something that you are thankful of everyday...

Thanks for sharing yours..

Anonymous said...

It really is that the cup is either half empty or half full, isn't it? All in our prospective. And, the first step to seeing "half full" is enumerating our blessings. Your ARE blessed -- and I'm blessed to know you.

(We completely re-did our old farmhouse, so I am totally sympathetic with what you are going through with your house.)

Rock Chef said...

A great post!

I love reading these, and will have to give it a try myself!

Dodi said...

I'm thankful that I had as much time with my mom and I did... lots of people don't get to keep their parents in their lives as long as my siblings and I did. I'm thankful she met and loved my children, and that she saw me married well and happy.

I'm also thankful that my refrigerator is now repaired, but not thankful at the $$ required. Is that still considered having an attitude of gratitude?

Vanessa said...

Beautiful post! I am thankful for my health, my family, friends and animals.

ganelle said...

great idea for a post. I need to start doing that every now and again.

anymommy said...

An awesome list. I'm thankful you reminded me to take a look around today!

Logzie said...

Loved reading that! I think you have something super special with your neighborhood...that's awesome!!