I fell off the wagon with giving thanks each day of November. Not that I haven’t been incredibly grateful this month, and every month since we’ve been here in Asheville, but in the spirit of the holiday I wanted to take the time to actually type some out. Here is my Thanksgiving List 2011…
1. I’m thankful for God’s patience with me.
2. I’m thankful to have found a man to love, who loves me, and never lets me get bored or become complacent.
3. I’m thankful for a family that can really be summed up in one word: home.
4. I’m thankful for the feeling of doggy snuggles and kisses, unconditional love and the endless joy we have in our dogs.
5. I’m thankful for my health and the ability to take on any activity I set my mind to.
6. I’m thankful for the ever growing friendship I have with my sister.
7. I’m thankful for the bond and love that has grown between us and Cliz.
8. I’m thankful for being allowed the experience of living in the barn and being near our family again. It is one I will keep in my heart forever.
9. I’m thankful to have been able to enjoy another Thanksgiving dinner at my Great Grandmother’s this year.
10. I’m thankful for the job that God blessed me with, and the means it provides for us to live a comfortable life.
11. I’m thankful to have witnessed the beauty of the season’s changing in the mountains and all their breathtaking splendor.
12. I’m thankful to have passions like cooking, writing and fitness that keep my body and my mind strong.
13. I’m thankful, however anxious, for Husband being able to get a job in this economy that is not only secure, but will also take care of us and our family more than any other could.
14. I’m thankful for the loads of fresh vegetables and greens I’ve been able to eat over the past few months, and the weekly visits with my Granny that they have entailed.
15. I’m thankful to know what it feels like to have a calm Saturday morning spent leisurely at our own pace, in our own cozy home, enjoying what is truly a luxury to us.
16. I’m thankful to have the situation where we have the luxury of time to sell our house when the market is so difficult.
17. I’m thankful that I have come full circle to my heritage and can truly appreciate it’s richness and amazing effect on my life and my person.
18. I’m thankful to have the opportunity to be in my home town and with family throughout the holiday season for the first time in eight years.
19. I’m thankful for the daily reflections and sounding board my best friend Laurel has provided for me throughout the years.
20. I’m thankful for the travels of the past year that have given me so many great memories to treasure.
21. I’m thankful to be cooking and contributing to our Thanksgiving dinner for the first time. I can’t wait to plan and cook the whole meal for my family one day!
22. I’m thankful for getting back my life thanks to good, whole, real foods and the doors it has opened for me.
23. I’m incredibly thankful for the support I have received for this blog and the great many conversations and reconnections with people it has brought. I can only hope it continues to grow!
24. And on this Thanksgiving Day, I ultimately want to thank my savior for giving me this life. I don’t deserve the abundant blessings he has given me nor the endless forgiveness and second chances. I hope to never forget where it all comes from and to always live in a way that reflects it.
