Monday, January 2, 2017

2016: 365 Things I'm Thankful For:


In no particular order:

  1. Seasons
  2. The unique beauty in each of those seasons.
  3. The creative God who designed our 4 seasons.
  4. Super thankful that He gave us summer.
  5. I'm thankful for love.
  6. And how love has brought a girl into my family.
  7. I am thankful that I was chosen to be a mom to Clint, Max and Drew. 
  8. I am thankful for families.
  9. I am thankful for my family. 
  10. I am thankful for the entertainment industry,
  11. Writers
  12. Directors
  13. Actors
  14. Sculptors
  15. Producers
  16. Movie theatres 
  17. I am thankful for folks who write books 
  18. And publishing houses that print and distribute them.
  19. I am thankful for bookstores
  20. and libraries
  21. and Kindles
  22. and Amazon
  23. I am thankful for musicians and the music they make.
  24. I am thankful for songwriters
  25. and instrument players
  26. and producers and distributors
  27. and bands.
  28. I am thankful for doctors
  29. and nurses
  30. and hospitals
  31. and caregivers
  32. and health professionals
  33. and medical research
  34. and scientists
  35. and hope
  36. and a God who heals according to His will.
  37. I am thankful for teachers
  38. and inspiring people
  39. and smart people
  40. and patient people
  41. and kind people
  42. and generous people
  43. and friendly people.
  44. I am thankful for friends
  45. Friends who like to walk
  46. friends who like to talk n drink tea
  47. friends who have passions about causes
  48. friends who share ideas
  49. friends who challenge me to experience new things
  50. friends who catch Pokemon
  51. friends who don't mock me because I catch Pokemon
  52. friends who share their homes,
  53. friends who share their meals,
  54. friends who share their love of books,
  55. friends who pray,
  56. friends who laugh,
  57. friends who cry
  58. friends who love going to movies,
  59. friends who teach me about love
  60. friends who teach me about life in different cultures
  61. friends who teach me about forgiveness
  62. friends who decorate cookies
  63. friends who invite me to join them on adventures
  64. friends who come alongside
  65. and friends who live far away.
  66. I am thankful for snowblowers
  67. and snow shovels
  68. and a driveway that holds 9 cars
  69. I am thankful for bookclubs
  70. and the bookclub that I'm a part of
  71. I am thankful for my job
  72. and the people I work with
  73. and the people I work for
  74. and the work that we all do.
  75. I am thankful for the church I go to
  76. and the leadership team there
  77. and the sermons
  78. and the Bible. 
  79. I am thankful that He loves me.
  80. I am thankful that He has a plan for me. 
  81. I am thankful that I have faith in Him and His plan. 
  82. I am thankful that He is good. 
  83. I am thankful for avacadoes
  84. and watermelon
  85. and Honey Crisp apples
  86. and Purdy's raspberry creams
  87. and Julie's turkey dinners
  88. and Terry's sugar cookies
  89. and Max n Amy's fish n chips
  90. and anything Clint barbeques
  91. and Danica's chocolate chip cookies
  92. and Inca's mom's lemon square
  93. and Maxine's apple pies
  94. and anything that comes out of Heather's crop pot
  95. and any meal cooked by hands that are not mine
  96. and sunsets
  97. and beaches
  98. and palm trees
  99. and weeping willow trees
  100. and Cultus Lake
  101. and my end of Cultus Lake
  102. and all the memories from that corner of the world
  103. I am thankful for beds 
  104. especially ones with clean bedding and memory foam mattress toppers
  105. I am thankful for sidewalks
  106. and street lamps
  107. and safe neighbourhoods
  108. and legs that work
  109. and a heart that beats
  110. and a hand that usually has a camera in it
  111. I am thankful for my camera
  112. and I am thankful that my kids keep upgrading it.
  113. I am thankful for memories
  114. and daydreams.
  115. I am thankful for an imagination
  116. I am thankful for my reality.
  117. I am thankful for my family's history.
  118. I am thankful for my parents
  119. and thankful they decided to have children.
  120. I am thankful for computers
  121. and the internet
  122. and smart phones
  123. and email addresses
  124. and twitter
  125. and Facebook
  126. and Pinterest
  127. and Blogs
  128. and Instagram
  129. and all the ways we have to communicate and share information.
  130. I am thankful for answered prayer
  131. and opportunities to pray. 
  132. I am thankful for stretchy pants
  133. and comfortable shoes
  134. and old rain jackets.
  135. I am thankful for bath tubs 
  136. and thick towels that wrap around your whole body.
  137. I am thankful for soap
  138. and shampoo
  139. and clean water.
  140. I am thankful for this country I live in.
  141. I am thankful for the education I have.
  142. I am thankful for the freedoms I enjoy.
  143. I am thankful for grace
  144. and forgiveness
  145. and peace.
  146. I am thankful for TV remote controls
  147. and a vehicle with seat warmers and 4WD.
  148. I am thankful for flowers
  149. especially wild flowers
  150. and bright flowers
  151. and scented flowers
  152. and tuna casseroles
  153. and roasted yams
  154. and games
  155. and kids who like playing games
  156. and laughter
  157. and kindness
  158. and generosity
  159. and I'm thankful for displays of outrageous love
  160. and weddings
  161. and romance
  162. and new life
  163. and sweet babies
  164. and new pregnancies
  165. and fresh starts
  166. and bonfires
  167. and patio dinners
  168. and summer evening conversations
  169. and picnics
  170. and paddle boats
  171. and yahtzee at midnight by candlelight
  172. and Christmas light displays
  173. and sun tans.
  174. I am thankful for pay cheques
  175. and brown eyes
  176. and blue eyes
  177. and green eyes.
  178. I am thankful for seawalls
  179. and promenades
  180. and river walks
  181. and park trails
  182. and adventures in foreign countries
  183. and realizing that maybe sometimes I can say, no.
  184. I am thankful for new, unexpected friendships.
  185. I am thankful for God's perfect timing. 
  186. I am thankful for the moon, especially when it's full.
  187. I am thankful for stars,
  188. the sun,
  189. clouds,
  190. summer breezes,
  191. fall fog,
  192. winter mists. 
  193. I am thankful for lists
  194. and calendars
  195. and schedules
  196. and routine
  197. and spontaneity
  198. and plans.
  199. I am thankful for language
  200. and words
  201. and communication.
  202. I am thankful that people still hold hands
  203. and wink
  204. and smile
  205. and blow kisses
  206. and hug.
  207. I am thankful for AA and NA
  208. and recovery houses
  209. and treatment centres
  210. and rehab facilities
  211. and sponsors
  212. and hope.
  213. I am thankful for pillows
  214. and hair elastics
  215. and curling irons
  216. and Smarties
  217. and dental floss 
  218. and fresh air
  219. and freckles
  220. and giggles
  221. and elbows
  222. and challenges
  223. and emotions
  224. and antibiotics
  225. and insulin
  226. and colouring books
  227. and felt pens
  228. and pencil crayons
  229. and colours
  230. and textures
  231. and shadows
  232. and artists
  233. and doodles 
  234. and coiled, lined notebooks 
  235. and candles.
  236. Gentleness.
  237. Honesty.
  238. Passion.
  239. Courage.
  240. Strength.
  241. Peace.
  242. Excellence.
  243. Team work.
  244. Respect. 
  245. Confidence. 
  246. Popsicles.
  247. Creamsicles.
  248. Cheesecake.
  249. Socks that don't slide off.
  250. Rollercoasters.
  251. Ottomans.
  252. Displays of sensitivity.
  253. Post it notes.
  254. Pedicabs.
  255. Ancient buildings.
  256. Airplanes.
  257. Airports.
  258. Picking up people from airports. 
  259. Smiling faces.
  260. God's love.
  261. His sacrifice.
  262. My faith. 
  263. Unexpected blessings.
  264. Celebrations, like
  265. birthdays
  266. weddings
  267. showers
  268. even funerals.
  269. Softness
  270. Silence.
  271. Sleeeeeping in.
  272. Traditions.
  273. The scent of cedar
  274. and sawdust.
  275. The sound of a router
  276. and a table saw.
  277. Turquoise rings.
  278. The colour green.
  279. And blue.
  280. Deep conversations about things that matter.
  281. Justice.
  282. Heroes. 
  283. Salt.
  284. Old cathedrals.
  285. Old pews.
  286. Hymnals.
  287. The smell of used book stores.
  288. Giraffes.
  289. Emus.
  290. Outdoor concerts.
  291. Down comforters.
  292. Brides who smile
  293. Grooms who smile back.
  294. Fathers of Brides who cry through their speeches.
  295. Dads who love their kids.
  296. Cousins who make Mashed Potato Pizzas
  297. I am thankful for muscles
  298. and brains
  299. and fingers
  300. and eyelashes
  301. and people who invite me to take their photo.
  302. I am thankful for reading glasses
  303. and glimpses into lives so very different than mine. 
  304. Experiences,
  305. Challenges.
  306. Affirming words.
  307. The night sky.
  308. Bedrooms with 4 windows
  309. Cabins with flat roofs
  310. Fridges filled with leftovers
  311. Ice water
  312. Cream soda
  313. Toddlers
  314. Smile wrinkles
  315. I am thankful for real stories,
  316. historical stories
  317. news stories
  318. friend's stories
  319. God's story.
  320. I am thankful for fresh starts,
  321. new beginnings,
  322. forgiveness
  323. and grace. 
  324. I am thankful for His promises
  325. and His character
  326. and His goodness. 
  327. I am thankful for razors
  328. and tweezers
  329. and women who know how to thread eyebrows 
  330. and chins.
  331. I am thankful for dentists
  332. and doctors
  333. and hair stylists
  334. and shoe makers
  335. and designers
  336. and roofers
  337. and thinkers
  338. and do-ers
  339. and leaders
  340. and followers. 
  341. I am thankful for vacations
  342. and stay-cations.
  343. I am thankful for long weekends
  344. and reasons to celebrate.
  345. I am thankful for expressions of love.
  346. I am thankful for photographs
  347. and old home movies.
  348. I am thankful for His protection,
  349. Flip flops
  350. Slippers
  351. Wedding rings and the hope behind them
  352. I am thankful for blue sky
  353. (Like, REALLY thankful for blue sky)
  354. and folding lawn chairs
  355. finding a bunch of loonies and toonies at the bottom of your purse. 
  356. I am thankful for this life,
  357. my life
  358. and all the people in it. 
  359. I am thankful for the words, "Hi mom"
  360. and "love you."
  361. I am thankful for past experiences
  362. and 'ah hah' God moments.
  363. I am thankful that some things just don't matter
  364. and that sometimes its OK to be forgetful. 
  365. I am thankful. 

1 comment:

Tricia said...

I'm thankful that the Lord allowed us to meet through our blogs, then in person, and the encouragement I get through your writing.