By Ginny (MAD21)
Fall is my favorite season. Not that I want to offend the other seasons, because there are a lot of things to be thankful for during all of them (like SNOW!). But there is just so much about fall that I love: the smell; the colors; swearshirt weather; playing in the leaves; hiking in dry, cool (but not cold) weather; Operation Christmas Child; homemade applesauce with apples straight from the tree; going letterboxing; hayrides at the farm with my kids; fall festivals... I could go on and on but I think you get the idea.
In preparation for this post I wanted to review my list of things I was thankful for last year. And honestly a year later all of the things on that list are still the things I'm most thankful for, only I'm a year more passionate about them. I'll pause here so you can go back to read it to review.... We good? Ok.
I may live in Maryland, but I am thankful that Idaho will always be my home.
To my hubby: Thanks for loving me for another year. For still being the most amazing father to your girls. I'm so glad we get to spend our lives together.
To my two daughters: I am so thankful that God gave you to me. I cannot imagine my life without you. I'm glad we get to grow up together (well, maybe not grow up but at least we'll learn some things along the way! -haha).
I am thankful for our pets.To my mother-in-law: You are still the best I could ever ask for. I know you think I've helped you out a lot this year, but let's just call it even, ok?
To my sister-in-law and the rest of my in-law family and friends: You are awesome. We need to find a way to get together more often. I'm missing Nertz and playing Guitar Hero/Rock Band with you all... but not at the same time :o)
To my "imaginary friends" (aka friends online), thank you for making my world so much bigger. Thanks for praying for me and allowing me to pray for you. Thanks for the oh-so-many fun times and for the projects we've worked on together.
To my daughter's teachers, I can't tell you how thankful I am that my girls have teachers who know them, who love them, and who give so much of themselves to their classes, sometimes with huge sacrifices. To you I have entrusted what is most dear to me. The time, love and education you give to them during the year you have them will last a lifetime. Thank you so much for giving so much of yourself to them, for showing them such a wonderful example of God's love.
I am thankful for one of our favorite places to hike: "The Rocks."To my Heavenly Father I give the biggest thanks. I am most grateful to you for giving me my life. The good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly, for it all made me who I am today. I still have a lot of growing up to do but I am so thankful that you are patient and loving enough to stick around until the end and beyond.
Life isn't always easy, but even on the worst days there is always something to be grateful for, you just have to look hard enough. Life is short, never take what you have for granted. Love on those around you as much as you can.
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)
This post is a participant in a blog carnival over at Bridget Chumbley's One Word at a Time.
Be sure to go and check out what everyone else wrote on: Gratitude.