Gearing Up for Being Thankful

It's T minus 3 days to Turkey Day!  I'm excited to be able to open up my home to my extended family, and even more excited that I have a family that gets together every chance we get.  I'll admit that I've been freaking out a little wondering how I was going to get all the cleaning done that I wanted to get done.  My cabinet doors could use a good scrub down with Murphy's Oil Soap, my off-white carpet could stand to have the dog stains shampooed out of it, and the console table that Abby's chewed up mocks me every time I walk into the living room.  And while I will have time to clean on Wednesday I decided it's more important to take my sister to get an outfit for honors ceremony at school.  It occurred to me that my family isn't really going to care if my cabinet doors aren't cleaned, and the carpets aren't going to get shampooed.  But there is a new console table in the garage waiting for my husband to assemble.  I can't completely get rid of my OCD tendencies. 

So with all the festivities of the next few days, I thought I'd take a few minutes to list some of the things I'm thankful for.  I try to do this in some form, either written or in my head, every year.  So this year I'll share then with you...in no particular order...

1.  My husband.  He is awesome.  It took awhile to find him, but it was definitely worth the wait.  He's supportive, loving, encouraging, and he makes me laugh all the time.  He does whatever he can to make me happy, and keeps me grounded all at the same time.

2.  My parents.  I don't even know if I can express in words how amazing my parents are.  They sacrificed a lot while my sisters and I were growing up so that we would know what it was like to get to take vacations, and go on mission trips with the youth group.  They went without new things so we could have new things.  They always made (and still do) a huge deal out of birthdays, and holidays, and pulled off some pretty cool surprises (like restoring my 1970 VW Bug while I was away on a church trip).  And I was lucky enough to have parents that are still married.  It never occurred to me that it was weird not have step parents until I started teaching.

3.  My sisters (and brother-in-law).  My sisters are my best friends.  They are always around to lend a shoulder, and ear, or to share a laugh.  We have the best memories growing up and it's fantastic that we live close enough to see each other all the time!

4.  My nieces and nephews crack me up!!  My newest niece is perfect.  She's a little miracle in 6-pound form, and my sister and brother-in-law are doing so awesome having a new baby in their lives.  My other nieces and nephews were inherited with marriage and I love them dearly.  Being an aunt is a huge blessing, and I think that if Nick and I never had children of our own, it would be a fantastic alternative to spoil our nieces and nephews rotten.

5. Family & Friends just make my life complete.  I have the most amazing group of friends and my extended family is awesome.  I ADORE all my cousins (even the one that used to chase me down on his mini-bike and put nasty stuff in my drinks).  Talking to them makes me smile. 

6.  My job for all kinds of reasons.  It's something I love, and it's very humbling sometimes when you hear about the things students have to deal with at such a young age.  Some of them face hardships and adversities I can't imagine going through as an adult, much less a kid.  It's a reminder of how blessed and lucky I've been.

7.  And finally, I'm thankful that God has blessed me with a billion little things that I can't possibly mention.  Having a beautiful home, and a pantry full of food.  Money to pay bills and have some fun now and then.  An education, and the freedoms that others have fought to give me.

Thanksgiving begins my absolute favorite time of year.  I would encourage you to list your blessings too.  It's an overwhelming feeling to SEE how God works.

Happy Thanksgiving!