Giving thanks this year...

I adore Thanksgiving. It is my absolute favorite holiday. I love the pumpkin pie, the turkey, the fall decorations, the colors, the incredible smells. You name it; I love it. My family had an atypical view about Christmas, and I'll share that later for any that are interested, so that meant that Thanksgiving was the main holiday for me. I love the whole purpose behind it. It seems to me that Americans, and the middle class of the 21st century in general, don't take much time to be thankful for anything. We're a very consumer driven society, and I am certainly not exempt. I'm just as big a part of the free market economic system as anyone else, and that means it's all about service, specifically others serving me. I get cranky if my internet provider doesn't have me online in seconds, I expect that my fast food comes in less than 5 minutes, etc. I expect a lot, and I don't stop to think very often that I'm taking hundreds of small gifts for granted every single day. Especially in today's world, the need for a day of Thanksgiving is a dire need. We desperately need to slow down and thank God and others for the bounty that we enjoy. It might just keep us from being quite so whiny and impatient. Hmm, maybe we should have a day of Thanksgiving every week, not just once a year. =) So in the spirit of all that, I thought I'd make a list of some of the things, big and little, that I'm thankful for this year.

-Salvation- thank you, Jesus, for giving me eternal life
-My amazing husband, my best friend, and our ability to laugh and share together every day.
-My little boy- ok, I've got to go into detail about this one. I am so incredibly thankful for my son. Whenever I think about the miracle of his little life, I am overwhelmed with gratefulness to God for giving me something I never thought I would have. I am so thankful for my miracle pregnancy. This is my most precious gift this Thanksgiving. We have walked through such darkness in the past three years, and I praise God that that time seems to be over. Father, what a blessing you have given me! I am grateful beyond words.
-A loving, supportive extended family that I enjoy spending time with when we can.
- A new home with new friends and a new church family
-Feeling pretty settled into all that unbelievably quickly- hey, that's a big deal for me!
- A once in a lifetime job for David that he really enjoys.
-My cozy, tiny apartment in the sky- I really love all 705 sq. feet of it!
- My incredibly comfortable bed, courtesy of Mamie.
- Hot tea and a warm blanket on a cold day.
- Chocolate in all it's wonderful forms.
- Dr. Pepper! The nectar of the gods. =)
- Books, glorious books! Reading a good, new book is like meeting a new friend.
- Making things with my hands. Seth is getting a crocheted afghan that Mommy prayed over as she made it.
- The joy of cooking comfort food for family and friends.
- Bubble baths- oh, how I miss them. =)
- Playing spades.
- Connecting with a good friend on a deeper level over coffee. Thanks, Catherine, for giving me that lately.
- Old friends who come to visit. Thanks, Sarah. And you apply for the above thanks as well. =)
- New things to enjoy- Messiah at the Washington National Cathedral, Max's Best Ice Cream, La Madeleine, Trader Joe's, Noodles and Company, etc.
- A fresh insight into God's word.

I could go on and on, but you get the picture. I'm grateful. God has blessed us with so much, and I want to remember that this Thanksgiving. We have more than we could ever ask or imagine. Jesus, thank you.