Thankfulness Day 49

Today I am thankful for good books and my ability to read them. I am sad that there are people who do not know how to read. That makes me want to volunteer with a literacy program in the New Year.

Thankfulness Day 48

Today I am thankful for my wonderful parents. I couldn't have been raised by two better human beings. They have taught me valuable lessons over the years, which have made me the person I am, and have made me the parent I am as well.

Thankfulness Day 47

Today I am thankful for our flight benefits. Although we are not using them to drive to St. Louis today, they are there for us when we want to us them. I am also thankful that St. Louis is within a reasonable driving distance, making trips there more possible for us.

Thankfulness Day 46

Today I am thankful for the sweetest Christmas morning I can remember. Wally was so excited to see the amazing train layout Santa and his elves made for him. He will enjoy it for years to come. I loved seeing the expressions on his face as he saw it then realized exactly what it was.

Thankfulness Day 45

Today I am thankful for the wonderful Christmas Eve I had today. A few hours of work in the morning, followed by visits to homes of 3 families, lots of great conversation, opening presents, yummy food, Skype chat with my best friend while he and Wally opened presents, helping Wally set out milk and cookies for Santa, and getting ready for Christmas morning for Wally.
All around, a terrific evening.

Thankfulness Day 44

Today I am thankful to be able to spend a day in my kitchen baking up some yummy things for the holidays. Cranberry Nut Bread, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread, Beer Bread, fudge and peppermint bark. MMMMMMMMMMM!

Thankfulness Day 43

Today I am thankful for my silly little man, Wally. He manages to make me laugh every day. He says the cutest things and is so full of love.

Thankfulness Day 42

Today I am thankful for Kristy Doyle (our cousin) and her boss, Chuck Cassar, for "adopting" my friend and her family for Christmas this year. Julie has been battling cancer and this would be a very bleak Christmas for the family. Chuck has shared her story with his customers and they have been stepping up to help make this Christmas brighter for the entire family.

Thankfulness Day 41

Today I am thankful for my large collection of music. I love music from almost every genre. I love to put my iPod on shuffle and just go from one extreme to another.

Thankfulness Day 40

Today I am thankful that my Aunt Betsy and my cousin Wally are coming all the way from California in January to help me celebrate my 40th birthday. This will be the first time they have come to my house since I moved to Michigan 10 years ago.

Thankfulness Day 39

Today I am thankful for the kindness of strangers. One day a few weeks ago, I stopped at a red light. Moments later, a car pulled up and stopped next to me. As I glanced over at the drive, she gave me a warm, kind smile. I smiled back then rolled down my window and thanked her. She gave me a smile at a moment when I truly needed it.

Thankfulness Day 38

Today I am thankful for long hot soaks in my garden tub. (And bubble bath, too.)

Thankfulness Day 37

Today I am thankful for the generosity of family and friends for stepping up to make this Christmas a little brighter for a family in need. Thank you to each of you for responding to my email and contributing toward making this a special Christmas for them.

Thankfulness Day 36

Today I am thankful to my sister-in-law, Ann for suggesting that our gifts to each other this year should be handmade or recycled. A terrific idea that makes the giving that much more special, because the gifts are so personally chosen.

Thankfulness Day 35

Today I am thankful to Harold and Diana Frye for inviting us on a magical trip to the North Pole on the North Pole Express. It was wonderful to see the magical world of Santa and the North Pole through the eyes of a child.

Thankfulness Day 34

Today I am thankful for a Polar Express ride to the North Pole, where we will be able to spend some time with Santa and have some fun while we are there. I am also thankful to have "connections" allowing us to get on this train.

Thankfulness Day 33

Today I am thankful for the internet. It has endless possibilities, provides needed information, and enabled me to purchase the last two tiny parts to a beautiful gift I am making for a loved one for Christmas.

Thankfulness Day 32

Today I am thankful for those things that turn out better than anticipated.

Thankfulness Day 31

Today I am thankful for Bon Jovi, playing together for decades, for working out their differences along the way, allowing them to stay together and create music with meaning, while setting a great example for us all.

Thankfulness Day 30

Today I am thankful for my many life experiences and the lessons I have learned along the way.

Thankfulness Day 29

Today I am thankful to have the Christmas tree going up and the decorations out. Sure makes the season more cheerful! Rick put up the tree and lights with a little help from Wally and me. After naptime, we out the ornaments on the tree. Wally was a big help!

Thankfulness Day 28

Today I am thankful for Family Dinner Nights! Every month we get together with my husband's extended family and head to a restaurant to celebrate the birthdays that month. The restaurant is chosen by the person celebrating that month. This month was dinner #85. That means we have been doing this for more than 7 years. It is something we look forward to every month. Occasionally we have had to miss them and it makes us sad, but it makes us appreciate the next one that much more. Thanks to the family for keeping the tradition!!

Thankfulness Day 27

Today I am thankful to have made it to my 40th birthday!

Thankfulness Day 26

Today I am thankful for the last decade of my life. My thirties brought me a marriage to the most wonderful husband a girl could ask for, the most amazing son a mom could ever dream of, a handful of jobs that not taught me great life lessons and brought me pride and the satisfaction of helping others, and a better group of friends than one person could have imagined. If my thirties were this good, I can only imagine how superb my 40s will be. Bring it on!!

Thankfulness Day 25

Today I am thankful to have a great vehicle that is not only dependable, it is comfortable and cost efficient. There is nothing I do not like about my van!

Thankfulness Day 24

Today I am thankful for the warm weather we have had the last few days. I know the colder days of winter are coming and it was nice to have a few more pleasant days before winter really sets in.

Thankfulness Day 23

Today I am grateful for my dear friend Darin. We have been friends since 1983, when we met in the band room at East Junior. He has been a great friend over the years and I am so happy for how his life has changed in the last several years! Happy 40th Birthday Darin!!

Thankfulness Day 22

Today I am thankful to have shared so many years with my grandparents. Although my grandfather died when I was seven, I had my 3 remaining grandparents until my late 20s and early 30s. I know many people who don't have a chance to really get to know their grandparents because they lose them before they have that chance. There are others who never have the chance to meet them. I know how lucky I am and will be forever grateful for the wonderful times I shared with them.