Thankful

It's Thanksgiving, and this year I feel like I'm more aware of what I have to be thankful for than ever before. It can almost be overwhelming, and I start to feel guilty when I think about it a lot, but tonight I'm just trying to accept the grace and truly be thankful for it all. I wish that I were explicitly thankful more often. This year I've been thinking about giving thanks and how that requires more of us than just a wistful glance upwards or a quick prayer. It's about using what we've been given to be present with others, to help, and to act in ways that are reflective of our gratitude for all that has been given to us. 

But, of course, it's always good to "count your blessings" and name them off :) Here are just a few of mine:

• Family. Parents, parents-in-law, an awesomely fun and inspiring brother, all of the cousins, grandparents, etc. who make my life better and more full.
• A husband who likes to cook, pick out Christmas decorations, and sing with me...even if it means Barry Manilow and a strange excitement at the sight of Christmas trains. 
• A husband who is not afraid or worried about putting off studying for a day or two to do all of the above.
• Friends who I can be silly with one minute and have deep, thought-provoking, and even messy conversations with the next.
• Christmas music, cookies, movies, and good memories.
• Fusion (I guess this counts as friends, too). I don't really know what Scott and I would do with our amazing little community of friends...especially those in House Church, who listen about our crazy lives every week and walk with us every step of the way.
• A car that runs, a cute and cozy house with a heater that works, and money to buy meals every day. I forget how monumental those "small" things are.
• Kids (no, we're not having any). They're precious, in all stages, in all forms, and from all walks of life.
• Wednesday night Project Runway/Top Chef/various reality show nights!
• Food. All of it. This is bad for the waistline, but I am seriously thankful for food. Especially dessert.
• Friends. Period.
• The newly-discovered group video conference option on iChat!!
• People who read my blog, even if it's only 5.
• Christmas break...two weeks!

Happy Thanksgiving...let's take a break from all the eating and holiday madness to really give thanks.