Little Blessings

Yes, I realize my previous babble was about negativity.  But it had a positive ending, therefore leaving me with more positive thoughts. In November, I have my students write something they are thankful for every day to share with their family on Thanksgiving.  So, my brain is already cranking them out. It's a good exercise for anyone.

Okay, so to start, of course I am thankful for a house with heat, a car with money for oil changes and gas, and clothes on my back.  Now onto the juicy stuff....this may take awhile, I hope you have some time.

1) Every new day on this Earth to be with the people I love.
2) God & Jesus Christ for blessing me in so many ways.  My family was/is a huge family of pray-ers.  I don't think I would be where I am today if God was not a part of my life. I have my conversations with Him. We talk. He calms my fears.
3) A husband, who although may do things that drive me nuts, I know he is my partner in this life for life and he loves me with all of my quirks.  He knows what to say, and when to say it. He is a great man.
4) My first son who brings so much joy to my heart that tears come to my eyes every time I think about him.  He is bright, loving, funny, quirky, and so creative.    My world was changed for the better when he entered it.  Gosh I love that kid.
5) My second son who makes me so proud to be a mommy again.  He snuggles into the nape of my neck, grins and giggles, watches and learns, listens and conversates. I just can't whisper "I love you" enough to him. 
6) My sibs.... God put you in my life for a reason. We are the four muskateers and to this day I would lay down my life for you.
7) My family... Grandparents I was lucky enough to grow up knowing, aunts and uncles that wouldn't miss big events, and awesome cousins that unfortunately are not seen near enough. I have been blessed with awesome in-laws, that welcomed me into their hearts.
8) My friends, near and far.... I have been blessed with meeting some amazing people and being able to call them "friend" is so awesome. I have learned, the older I have gotten, that quantity doesn't matter, it is quality.  And surrounding my family with those quality friends is one of the most comforting feelings of all. 
9) My job.... I rant about the frustrations of teaching, but to  know that I can make a difference in lives is unspeakably amazing.  Kids coming in for hugs in the morning and even just to talk about their lives. Amazing.
10) The color yellow...  Truly I am thankful for this color. It symbolizes happiness and I can't help but smile when I see it.
11) The sense of sound.... I may not see those I love, but can hear their voices on the phone (albeit, not as often as I would like). I can hear the sound of laughter.  That is my favorite sound.
12) The sense of sight.... To see the smiling faces of the people around me. To see the sad faces, so I can offer a hug or consoling. To see the colors of Autumn blazing across the horizon.
13) The sense of taste. I heart food.  Period.
14)  Hoodies.... My favorite thing to wear in a chilly day.
15) Television... For moments when I don't want to use my brain after a long day.
16) My family's health... They are healthy and thriving. What more could a woman ask for??! It is something I pray for daily. 17) My health... I've had two healthy pregnancies and only minor aches and pains.  My thyroid is out of whack, but I'm able to wake up every morning and move, work, drive, run, eat. Whatever I want. What a blessing that is!
18) My dog... How can I forget my Homer J? He is the smartest dumb dog I have ever known. A great pal. A brave protector.  A loving "big brother" to his non-furry brothers. <3
19) Trees. Have you ever looked out your window and just watched the trees? Have you ever stopped to listen to the trees?  When Gage was younger, he and I would sit on the steps and I would make him listen for minutes at a time. To the rustling and fluttering.  The creaking of branches. Music to my soul.
20) Christmas... It symbolizes the birth of Jesus Christ, but it also floods my memory with such memorable moments with my family.  It is by far, THE best time of year in my opinion.
21) Music- No matter my mood, or what I am doing, music is there as a sort of sound track to my day. Sometimes it may just be a song in my head, other days it may be a sing my students are singing or Gage is singing, but its always there. 22) Memories. Those that know me, know I am a woman of a million stories. (And you possibly may be able to tell that from reading this blog.). Memories are what keep the spirit alive and the heart content. It's what keeps people alive spiritually, when they are not physically. Memories bond people together like glue. 23) Dunkin Donuts coffee- Since falling in love with it back 2003, my coffee drinking life hasn't been the same. 24) Sunrises... Many people are fans of sunsets, and don't get me wrong, they are fantastic. However, I feel that nothing beats a picturesque sunrise....hues of orange glistening off of snow capped mountains. 25) Courage. I admire so many people for possessing this quality. Who have faced insurmountable misfortune, but have the courage to fight and move forward. There are those moments where I put myself in some people's shoes and think, "I would just give up." 26) Honesty...To live in a world that is full of dishonesty and unfaithfulness freaks the crap out of me. I am thankful that there are still a few people in this world that possess this. 27) Rainstorms.... It wasn't until I lived in the desert for a few years that I realized just how much I depended on real weather and seasons. Rain playing lullabies on my roof at night was something I grew up with and missed when I didn't have it. 28) Chocolate. It's a love/hate relationship really, but I don't think I could completely live without. 29) Cameras- It goes along with memories, I know. But I love taking photos and putting those photos into books. Yes, I am a psycho that pulls out random photo albums all the Tim.e and takes trips down memory lane. Last, but not least, 30) Smiles...Sure, cheesy. But think about it. Today I called a friend and sang a song into the phone for her just to make her smile. I smiled when she said she laughed. It's like this every day. Not just with her, but with everyone. I love to make people smile. I feel like Buddy the Elf in saying this, but, "I love smiling. Smiling is my favorite." :) There you have it folks. Yes, it took a few days to brainstorm, but 30 things to be thankful for, for the 30 days in November. Why don't you take the challenge?