Thankful...

As Thanksgiving draws near, I am reminded of the many things I am grateful for. I have been reading the daily tidbits of thanks this month on the Facebook pages of my friends.  Some funny, some heartfelt, and some just right on the dot.

The following is my own collection on this 2013 Thanksgiving ...

~Thank you to my parents, who both modeled a good work ethic.  Even if the job was icky and not fun.  A quote from my mother, "If work was always fun, they would call it going to fun~not going to work."

~Thank you to my husband, who has put up with my very strong (yet lovable) personality for two decades.  He continues to be a guiding force with his strength of character and drive.  But also a person, who is a shining example of integrity and kindness.

~Thank you to my teenage daughter.  There are indeed days that you challenge me.  Overall, you continue to be a tower of strength.  Enduring the physical challenges of a weak spine coupled with our family's vagabond lifestyle of moving you all over the country, you are always a source of inspiration.  A ray of sunlight on a cloudy day.

~Thank you to my adorable nieces and nephew.  Three kiddos, who have lovingly been sibling equivalents for Kate.

~Thank you to my sister, who gave me some good advice that opened my eyes a few years ago.

~Thank you to my mother-in-law for her counsel during one of the toughest choices I have ever had to make.

~Thank you to my brother-in-law, who always amuses me with is pithy humor, as well as his ability to compose the written word with perfection.

~Thank you for my two sisters-in-law.  One, who persists each day through life's continued challenges.  And the other, who balances the demands of a working single mother with tireless patience and grace.

~Thank you to my friends (some old, some really old, and some new).  A network of great friendships and confidants is a lovely gift.

~Thank you to my daughter's pediatrician, who called me "grandma" simply because I made the choice to rock silver locks.  A dark day, for sure.  But it later inspired an article, a blog, and hopefully the conclusion of my first book in 2014.

~Thank you for the smell and sound of the ocean (I gleaned this from my friend Calvin's Facebook page on his Day 13 thing to be grateful for)  Being in the Midwest, I especially miss the Oregon Coast.

~Thank you to my dog, Vivian.  A loyal and hilarious companion.  Next year, my hope is to be thankful that Vivian no longer counter surfs while I am cooking.

~Thank you for websites like Vitacost and Drugstore.com.  Middle America doesn't always have the stuff that I have grown dependent on, and free shipping with purchases over $49.00 makes me especially thankful.

~Thank you for the adorable children, who make my day when I volunteer at their school.   They have no idea how full my heart is when I leave.

~Thank you to those who continue to be leaders in our communities and govern our country.  Not the self serving ones, but the ones who still value the privilege of representing their constituents and fighting for those without a voice (or health care).

~Thank you to companies like Starbucks, TOMS, and Project 7.  My hope is that others will take notice and emulate your philanthropy.

~Thank you to Eckhart Tolle.  One book that changed my way of thinking forever.

~Thank you to the woman who makes the most amazing raw vegan desserts at the Naturally Yours Grocery near my house.

~Thank you to Robin Sharma, who always has an inspirational thought to share.

~Thank you for the continued addition of spandex in clothing.

~Thank you for the small bits of wisdom that come with age.

~Thank you for the smile lines on my face that have emerged after years and years or laughter and happiness.

~Thank you for waking up each morning with the opportunity to do the right thing.