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I've been participating in the "Countdown to Thanksgiving" on Facebook, and it's made me really consider all the things I'm thankful for and all the things that matter most to me. I've heard it said "what if we only had the things we thanked God for", and that's an overwhelming thought. I want to be better at giving God all the glory for the tremendous gifts in my life, and on those days when I'm down and feeling sorry for myself, I will come back and look at this list and see how truly blessed I am.

Day 1 - At a time when so many are looking for a job, I'm very thankful to have one that I enjoy coming to every day (well... most days!) I spend as much time with these folks as I do my family!

Day 2: I'm thankful for music. It's always been a big part of my life, when I was little I remember my mom and aunt always listening to their country albums. Then when I was older I took guitar and piano lessons and was in the marching band. After high school I was in a rock band, and even today I always have some kind of music playing. I'm excited because it's time for my favorite - Christmas music!!!

Day 3: I'm thankful for my sisters! When we're together, we laugh until tears run down our legs! And if it's just two of us, we're most likely making fun of the other one.... but it's all good because we usually text them and tell them what we're saying! ♥ ya', Denise and Clydean!

Day 4: I'm thankful for modern conveniences! How often do we take for granted how wonderful it is to have running hot water, or microwaves, or cell phones? Those types of things haven't been around too terribly long, and they definitely make my life easier! I would not have made a good pioneer woman!

Day 5 - I'm thankful for coffee! I didn't become a coffee drinker until just a few years ago, but now I gotta have my two cups in the morning... add pumpkin spice creamer and I'm in caffeine heaven!

Day 6 - I'm thankful for all the joy my pets have brought to me over the years! I've told a few funny stories about them, and I'll admit to being a crazy cat lady, but through my life I've shared my home with dogs, cats, birds, fish, lizards, hermit crabs and mice, and they've all been part of the family.

Day 7 - I'm thankful for my Mama! She raised 3 daughters practically on her own because Dad traveled in his work, and she did a pretty good job! :) She's going to be 80 in 2 months, and still takes care of all of us. And as a side note, with Thanksgiving coming up, I'm particularly thankful for her cornbread dressing!

Day 8: I'm thankful for memories of my Dad. He worked hard all his life to take care of his family, he was funny, sometimes loud, ALWAYS opinionated (so I come by it naturally) and had a softspot for grandkids and little dogs. I grew up without ever having a grandpa, and so I'm happy my kids were able to be close to their PaPa.

Day 9 - I'm thankful for H.H.S. Our school is amazing, we have wonderful teachers and staff there that truly care about our kids. Ryan's a graduate, and Becca's a freshman and I wouldn't want them to go anywhere else! And I'm proud to be a Bearcat, too - Class of '81! Go Cats!

Day 10: I'm thankful I woke up early enough to take the world's longest shower! I'm the one who has to get moving first in the morning, and don't usually have the luxury of time. The shower is where I do my best thinking, and I needed some brain time this morning!

Day 11: I'm thankful for all the men and women thoughout the years that have served to keep us free. My dad was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, and on this Veteran's Day I want to send good vibes out to my nephew Chance Bloodworth, who's serving in the Navy today - love and miss you! Anchors Away!

Day 12: I am thankful for Clay County Memorial Hospital. Not only is it Mike's employer, but we are fortunate in our community to have a place filled with wonderful doctors, nurses, EMT's and staff to take care of us! Not all cities the size of Henrietta are as fortunate!

Day 13: I'm thankful for my big extended family, that's getting bigger all the time! Today is our family Thanksgiving at my sister's house, and I can't wait to see all the outlaws and inlaws!

Day 14: Today I'm thankful for good books - To name a few, all the Harry Potters, To Kill a Mockingbird, all the John Grishams and Zane Greys, Charlotte's Web and Bridges of Madison County when I need a good cry, and of course, it all began with The Bobbsey Twin mysteries oh so long ago. I've always been in awe of writers who could weave together words and ideas, sentences and characters to create the fabric of a captivating story...

Day 15: I'm thankful for Alka-Seltzer and Advil PM! They help me make it through most nights! This getting-old thing is getting old.....

Day 16: As I get ready to head out on a 6 hour drive to San Antonio by myself, I'm thankful for my iPod! With it I can listen to audiobooks to pass the time, plus I've got all the groovy tunes I love on it... Non-stop Christmas music and Bay City Rollers and Partridge Family to my heart's content!

Day 17: After being gone for 2 days, and spending 13 of the last 39 hours behind the wheel, I am thankful for my home! It's not the biggest or the fanciest house, but it's comfortable and warm and happy, and filled with people I love!

Day 18: I'm thankful for all my friends! Oldies, newbies, besties.... you each hold a special and dear place in my heart!

Day 19: Today I'm thankful for all the mistakes I've made, all the wrong turns, all the mishaps and missteps (and there have been plenty), and all of the hard lessons learned. They've helped shape who I am and I'm a little wiser for them. Some of them have been easy to overcome, and some much harder, but they're all part of me now, and I would be incomplete without them.

Day 20: I'm thankful for Dallas Cowboys Football! I've bled blue and silver all my life, I've been there for Superbowls, and I've been there for 1-15 seasons... Doesn't matter - Win, Lose, or Tie, Cowboys Fan 'Til I Die!

Day 21: I'm thankful for Ryan, my firstborn, the baby who falls on angel's wings. Even if he wasn't my son, he'd be my friend. Somewhere along the way when I was teaching him to tie his shoes and pick up his toys and say his ABC's, he taught me how to be a mom. He's my heart.

Day 22: I'm thankful for Becca, my oopsy-daisy baby, friend to all things furry. Becca is who I strive to be like, she's sweet yet strong, never says unkind things about others, and definitely marches to the beat of her own drummer. She's beautiful and smart and funny. I'm so glad God knew best, and sent her to us. She's my joy.

Day 23: I'm thankful for Mike, my best friend. Thankful for a man that changed career paths once - to better his family, and twice - to better himself. For a man that loves his children fiercely, indulges me in everything, mows the lawn, folds the whites, holds the dog when he gets his nails clipped, holds down the fort when I'm traveling on business, and holds my hand. He's my world.

Day 24: I'm thankful for all God has given me, but most of all my salvation, grateful it was given to me by grace and not by works, because I would have fallen woefully short. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! :)

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