Lots to be Thankful For...

My friends Nichole and Elizabeth made a list of things they were thankful for on their blogs. I thought it was such a good idea, I had to steal it! We so often focus on the things that we don't have and the things we want to have, that it's easy to take so many other blessings for granted. God has definitely blessed us in so many ways! I am listing 25 things I am thankful for, since Thanksgiving is on Nov. 25 this year.

I am thankful for...
1. God's master plan: It is so wonderful to know that our lives are held in the hands of someone so much bigger than us, someone who loves us and cares for us and wants the best for us.

2. My husband: I cannot say enough about how much my husband means to be. He has strong Christian values, and he works hard to provide for us. He always makes times for us, even with his busy schedule. I know I can always count on him to be there for me. I love you, baby!

3. Our family: Being four hours away from our family can be difficult, because don't get to see them much! We are grateful for the time that we are able to spend with them. They have influenced our lives in more ways they can imagine. We love you and miss you!

4. Hershey: I know I'm probably a little biased, but I think we have the cutest dog in the whole world! He can put a smile on your face, and he is always ready to play. He has a gentle and protective spirit. His mommy and daddy love him very much!

5. Our house: We are blessed to live in a nice, safe neighborhood. So many people don't have a place to call their own, much less a place to stay warm in the winter or cool in the summer. God has also blessed us with so many "things" to put inside our house.

6. Our church: When we first moved here and were looking for a church, our church seemed so huge and overwhelming. However, we have met so many friends and found so many ways to get involved. We have grown so much by going to our small group bible study. The worship style is perfect for us. God knew exactly what we needed!

7. Friends: We are blessed with some wonderful friends! Some live close by, and some live far away. It's great to be able to spend time with our friends, whether it is in person or not!

8. Seasons: I love each of the seasons for different reasons. I am thankful for the crisp weather and colors of fall--this makes me miss the mountains, though. I am thankful for snow in the winter to go play in. I am thankful for the new life in the spring, with all the trees getting back their leaves, baby ducks being born, and flowers blooming. I am thankful for the warm weather, long days, and time outside during the summer.

9. Our jobs: Many people have had trouble finding jobs during the recent economy crisis. Cody and I both are blessed to have jobs that provide us with what we need and more.

10. Holiday traditions: There is something comforting and sentimental of holiday traditions. I'm sitting here now watching the Thanksgiving day parade, remembering when I was young, sitting on the floor of our den, watching the Thanksgiving day parade--I don't think I'll ever get tired of it. I love decorating our house for Christmas with Cody. I love celebrating New Years by drinking sparkling grape juice and eating a port wine cheeseball with chicken-in-a-biscuit crackers.

11. Doctors: I didn't think I would ever say this (yes, even though my husband is a doctor, I still hate going to the doctor's office), but I am thankful for the knowledge of doctors. Over the past year, many members of our family have needed doctors for one reason or another. God has blessed these people with their ability to help so many people with their knowledge and skills.

12. Cozy sweaters and soft, warm blankets: I stay cold all the time, so I love being able to get all bundled up in something warm. Cody got me an electric blanket for my birthday this year, and I love that thing! I turn it on before I get into bed, so my sheets are nice and cozy when I crawl into bed.

13. The internet: How did we ever live without it? Haha! I use it so much throughout my day in one way or another. We watch missed tv shows on the internet, use it to stay connected with people, for our jobs, for shopping, to get coupons, to find an answer to just about any question. It has made our lives so much more convenient.

14. The Christian radio station: I love turning on the radio, knowing that I can listen to clean, uplifting, and upbeat music. I listen to it at work, driving in the car, and while cooking or cleaning.

15. Weekends: Although Cody is not always off on weekends, we usually get to spend more time together. Plus, it's time to get relaxed and refreshed from a crazy work week.

16. My dishwasher: I throw everything into my dishwasher! I hate to think how much time I would be spending at the sink washing and drying dishes if I didn't have one!

17. A bountiful of food in our panty: Our panty stays stocked with lots of good food. So many people struggle to find money to pay for enough food for just one meal, and we have enough food to last for weeks in our pantry. It is so easy to forgot how God provides for even our most basic needs...

18. Good books: I love to curl up with a good book and read. Reading on our front porch or out on the beach are some of my favorite things to do.

19. A good cup of coffee: The older I get, the more I am liking coffee. There's nothing like a hot cup of coffee first thing in the mornings at home on the weekends, or an occasional treat from Starbucks for an afternoon snack.

20. Sunrises and sunsets: I love watching the sun rise and set. The colors are amazing, and there is something about it that reminds you that you are just one small piece of this big world.

21: Our rocking chairs: We have two rocking chairs out on our front porch, which we have used a lot more than I expected we would. Often times, Cody and I will go sit on the front porch in the rocking chairs in the evenings, either reading, or just sitting and talking.

22. Plants: Although I'm probably not the best caretaker of houseplants, I love being surrounded by real plants in our house. It kind of brings the outdoors inside our house, and they bring me joy.

23. Our cars: I am thankful that we have 2 nice cars to get us to the places we need and want to go. We have reliable cars that can take us on a short trip to the grocery store, or on a long trip to see our family.

24. Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash: I'm really not a big soft drink drinker; my drink of choice is usually water. However, this is my favorite soft drink, and I wait all year for it to come out in stores around the holiday time.
Yummy!

25. Being comfortable with our finances: With the economy the way it is now, there are so many people who struggle to make ends meet. Although we definitely don't have money coming out our ears, we certainly have enough to where we can live comfortably. We can go out to eat dinner at a restaurant or buy a new shirt and still have money to pay our bills each month and put some in the bank.

I hope each of you realize how many things you have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!