Thanks Giving

Today is Thanksgiving Day 2014 and I am reflecting on many things; but will share Ten Things I am Thankful for!!

1. I am thankful that God has led me this far in my life - 63 years of living a wonderful and full life with a lot of wonderful people throughout those years!  There have been many ups and downs along the way - that's life!! - but He has brought me this far with many more years ahead.
2. I am thankful for my loving parents and grandparents who "train(ed) up a child in the way (s)he should go..." and with little straying, I am still on that path, rocky though it may be!  These four loving people have gone to their Heavenly Home and look down upon their Earthly Home to see their families loving and living in God's Word.
3. I am thankful for my Children - I am proud of my son and two daughters and the lives they have made within their own families.  I am proud of my daughter-in-love and my two sons-in-love for the love and support they give my children and grand children, and the love they bestow on our family members.
4. I am thankful for my Grandchildren:  Sophie, 17 years old and quickly on the way to womanhood; Shayne, 15 years old and a fun and crazy guy; Sebastian (Bash), 6 years old and the protector of us all (he LOVES super heroes and LOVES karate!); Blaise, almost 4 years old and the sweet little "innocent" guy who loves to tease; Soren, 1 1/2 years old and such a sweet and cuddly little guy; and Bijou, 4 months old, our little Princess Diva Doll Baby!
5. I am thankful for a whole lotta friends and if I started to name them all, I know I would leave someone out...so, I am thankful for my Church Friends, my Sunday "lunch bunch" Friends; my former Work Friends, my Scrappy Friends, my Blogging (and new) Friends!
6. I am thankful for my two brothers and two sisters-in-love and their families.  We we may not see each other very often but keep in touch and still maintain a close relationship.
7. I am thankful for my husband and the ways he sometimes shows his affection, and his helpfulness - like loading and unloading my crafting supplies, and carrying in the groceries (all up a flight of stairs into our second floor apartment!).  He is not a very demonstrative person and is more negative than positive in our relationship; but deep down inside, I know he cares and that a lot of his outbursts are not his fault but that of a disease that controls his emotions so much.
8. I am thankful for a place to call home; food in the cabinets and the fridge; enough money to pay our bills - mostly - and still have a little "play" money; cars to drive that are not in major need of repairs; the computer and cell phone to connect with others, and the TV to entertain us.
9. I am thankful for our health; we are somewhat healthy and have the resources to see a doctor when it is necessary and to maintain our health.  So, I am also thankful for the doctors who oversee our health care needs.
10. And last, but certainly not least, I am thankful for a warm, fuzzy, cuddly, lovable cat named Midnight whom we adopted about a year ago; and to the wonderful family who fostered her before taking her to the Humane Society (their father is highly allergic and they were unable to keep her; but saved her from the outdoors!).  That's another story I hope to share in the future...

So, these are Ten Things I am Thankful for!!  Hope you and yours have a very Happy Thanksgiving.  I pray God will be with us all during this time of thanks and giving - for we should give thanks in ALL things; and giving to others blesses them AND also blesses us, the giver.