happy thanksgiving!

The Babe painted a handkerchief in her preschool class. The teacher sent it home with a letter of explanation. Every Thanksgiving, before you eat, you pass the handkerchief around the table. The person who is holding the handkerchief has to list at least one thing they are thankful for, and then pass it to the next person. What a nice idea. I brought the handkerchief with me today as we traveled to a relative's home for the holiday.

I am thankful for so much. I have a list, but I am sure it doesn't include everything. It's like an Oscar speech... my apologies must go out in advance to those that I don't list.

I am thankful for:

• a healthy family
• a lovely home
• food and clothes and necessities
• my husband's job, even though it frustrates me; it's solving more problems than it's creating
• my job and the flexibility it allows
• my friends that I "met" on-line, who might just know me better than most people, even though they might not recognize me if they saw me on the street.
• my real life friends, who do actually know what I look like
• my parents, including biological, step, and in-laws. They all bring something different and needed to the table that is my life.
• my children, that they are spirited and willful, but also caring and gentle. That they love each other so much, and are sincerely concerned for the others' well-being.
• potty training, I could really stand to lose the diapers that I've had to lug around for the past 5+ years
• my pets
• The Babe's preschool teacher, who does such a wonderful job
• Good neighbors
• a good night's sleep at least once a week (hopefully)
• my husband, who after all these years can still make me giggle and is the first person with whom I want to share news, watch movies, talk politics, go shopping, eat meals, raise children, and live my life.

I brought the handkerchief to Thanksgiving dinner and I forgot to take it out of my purse. Maybe it's for the best.... I have so much to be thankful for that nobody would have gotten the chance to eat!