Since, #1: We just had Thanksgiving, and #2: I  was reminded ever-so-gently (ahem)  this week by my BFF that I “haven’t written anything lately” (love you, T!)   I feel compelled to write a little list of things I’m thankful for today. I heard something on the radio tonight that mentioned how gratitude and thankfulness are two different things. Gratitude can take place in our hearts, but it only becomes thanksgiving when it is expressed. So I’m pouring out a little gratitude to turn it into thanksgiving right now. Here is a [very short] list of things I am thankful for right at this very moment:

I’m thankful to have God in my life. It certainly hasn’t always been this way. I haven’t even walked with Him for a decade, and yet I know somehow that He’s always been with me, even when I was most certainly not with Him. I’m so thankful that He loves me more than I can fathom…to the point that He has literally changed the course of history to demonstrate His love for me (and for you.)

I’m so thankful that God has seen fit to give me such an amazing husband.  I know y’all must get sick of me saying that sometimes, but it’s really true, and I’ll brag on him every chance I get because he deserves it. I don’t know many couples who have it as good as we do. He and I share everything. There’s no line between us that cannot be crossed. There’s no part of our lives that we keep from one another. Something’s not quite altogether right when we’re apart. And everything is just right when we’re together. We complement each other in every way I can think of. He is the most honest human being on the face of the planet. I’ve never felt so safe, secure, loved, and pursued in all my life. He is the real deal and I am so utterly, endlessly thankful that I get to spend my life with him.

How could I not be thankful just for those two things alone?? I could stop right there, but I won’t….

because I’m also thankful for…

friends that make me laugh and let me cry

thunderstorms when I’m falling asleep

freedom to believe and think and say what I want to

being able to curl up under the most lovely quilt every night and stay warm and safe while I sleep

having enough of everything. literally ev-ery-thing.

being able to share what God has given me with others

beautiful, crisp, night skies full of layers upon layers of sparkling stars that go so deep that I can’t even see them all

knowing who I am…who God has made me to be, and not having to try to be anyone else, ever

magnolia perfume and the flecks of copper in my hair, both of which make me feel utterly beautiful

my health, which has improved greatly in the past year, and I’m loving that.

There are many, many more things in this world that I have to be thankful for, of course. But for now, that’s my little drop of thanksgiving. I think we should all write down or share a little list of things we’re thankful for so we can look back over it when things aren’t going so smashingly. I don’t know about you, but I need that little reminder now and again (yes, even me, as perky and positive as I seem!)  that no matter what’s going on, we all have so much to give thanks for.

And I don’t want to forget…. thank you for reading this little blog. Much love to ya.