{ let us be thankful }

When I sit down to think about Thanksgiving and all that the day means to me, I get a little overwhelmed.  And I think that’s a good thing.  It means that I have a lot to be thankful for.  So I thought I would put together a list of 25 things I’m thankful for.

1. I’m grateful to have a REAL relationship with my Lord and Savior for the first time in my adult life.
2. I’m thankful that God became man thousands of years ago and came to earth to ultimately die for my sins and therefore provide me with eternal salvation.
3. I’m thankful to have a wonderful husband who has a heart for the Lord and who is always looking for ways to be a better partner to me and father to our kiddos.
4. I’m thankful that I can FINALLY actually call the aforementioned man my HUSBAND!
5. I’m thankful that I have three beautiful kids who are healthy.
6. I’m thankful that I have three healthy kids who are smart and funny and loving and giving.
7. I’m thankful that the aforementioned kids also keep me on my toes because they ARE NOT perfect!!  : )
8. I’m thankful for my oldest daughter, Ryann.  She has a true servant heart.  She is going to turn into an amazing young woman!
9. I’m thankful for my Kamri.  She is my tender-hearted child.  She is more loving and giving and sensitive to the needs to others than any other child that I’ve ever met.
10. I’m thankful for my Bubby (aka Grant).  Anyone that knows him will know why.  You can’t meet him and NOT love him.  He is THE source in our home for entertainment. And I can honestly say that he completes me as a mother.
11. I’m thankful that I have a home to live in…not just a house, but a home.
12. I’m thankful that we have money every month to pay our bills and provide our kids with food (again, something thing that too many people don’t have).
13. I’m thankful that my husband has a job that he not only loves, but that provides an income for our family.
14. I’m thankful for my mom.  She is without a doubt my very best friend (outside of my husband) and I don’t know what I would do without her wisdom and support and love.
15. I’m thankful for my dad.  There were times as I was growing up that we didn’t always see eye-to-eye.  But looking back, I now know that he always wanted what was best for me.  And he’s now the man I know I can always call “no matter what”.
16. I’m thankful for my sister, Jess.  She was such a pain in my rear end when we were kids…now she makes me laugh like no one else on earth.  I’m so ridiculously proud of the woman that she has become.
17. I’m thankful for my sister, Brit.  She has such a sweet and generous heart.  I’ve always thought of her as my tender-hearted sister.  And I know that she is on a path of growth with the Lord that will completely change her forever.
18. I’m thankful for this blog.  I have a very small number of readers, but I’m thankful for each one who takes the time to read my nonsense and provide encouragement.
19. I’m thankful for the gift of being able to stay at home with my kids every day and help mold their little hearts and lives.  It is such a blessing to be able to do life with them.
20. I’m thankful for my friends.  We all need people we can turn to when we just need a shoulder to cry on.
21. I’m ESPECIALLY thankful for my sisters in Christ at Family Fellowship.  They have helped me through some really rough times and I feel SO blessed to know that I can always turn to them when I need prayers!
22. I’m thankful for Facebook (yes, I know that sounds silly).  But Facebook has allowed me to reconnect with friends lost from long ago and family that lives far away.
23. I’m thankful for Pinterest (no judging!  This is MY thankful list!)  I have found so much inspiration by pinning.  I have discovered a creative side that I didn’t know I even had!
24. I am thankful for coffee.  And my family is thankful that I have coffee….it makes me a much nicer person.
25. I’m thankful for spell check.  Enough said.
26. I’m thankful for turkey and dressing and cranberry sauce and green bean casserole and………what was I saying??  😉

Okay, so I know that was 26 things….but I couldn’t leave out the last one.

So, that’s the short version of my thankful list.  Obviously there are things on this list that hold a much greater weight than other things.  But I also believe that it’s important to acknowledge our thankfulness for the little things, too.  😉