101 Things I Am Thankful For

   

[TLDR: I am thankful for at least 101 things]

     Tis the season to be thankful! A friend of mine wrote 101 things she was thankful for. It was moving and inspirational. And after recent events (crazy shitty presidential election...), well it got me thinking a lot about the things I have. Sometimes I forget. Sometimes I get too focused on the things we don't have. But I have much to be thankful for and these are just a few.

1. My husband. He is so patient and is such a great father. He works hard to support our family. He sticks by me no matter what. Sometimes we fight...because we're married and when you live with another human being that will happen, no matter how much you love each other. But he is always willing to figure it out.

2. My son. He is my anchor. He is my life. He is my heart walking around outside my body. I love him so much more than I ever imagined was possible. I never thought I would be able to become a mother and I am grateful every day for his existence.

3. My family in general. My family is awesome. They are loud, sometimes obnoxious, and loyal to the core. They would lay down on a grenade for me. They are the foundation of my soul. Without them I don't know where I would be right now. Some of them have been there with me through my darkest days, never judging, and always forgiving. They embody what unconditional love really is. I love them so much.

I even got really lucky and acquired really amazing in-laws over the years. all of my sibling-in-laws are incredibly amazing people. They are so special to me. And I actually don't fit the stereotype of the wife with the crazy and annoying mother-in-law. I love my mother-in-law. She's the most thoughtful, generous, and compassionate lady I know. She sees the good in all things. She is a beautiful soul and I adore how much my son loves her. My father-in-law, I love him dearly. He's kind of like a dad to me in a way. I had two growing up and both of those guys kind of checked out on me, so, he's there. We have too much in common and sometimes we irritate each other. But despite that, I know he loves me.

4. Alcohol

5. Clean water

6. A quaint little roof over my head

7. The Kingkiller Chronicles & The Slow Regard of Silent Things





8. Harry Potter



9. Being able to feed and clothe my family

10. Friends - like real ones, not just the ones you acquire on Facebook. The ones who ask you how you're doing every now and then. The ones who listen when you need someone to listen. The ones who are always there. The ones who hold you up when you can't do it yourself.

11. Forgiveness - I f*ck up a lot.

12. Being able to stay at home with my son while he's growing up (too fast).

13. Having two vehicles.

14. Having a privacy fence.

15. Pizza

16. Mellowcreme pumpkin candies



17. Finished walls.

18. Netflix

19. Clean air to breathe every single day.

20. Nebraska and all its beauty.

21. Husker Football

22. My nephew.

23. A warm bed at night.

24. Heat in the winter.

25. The internet

26. Autumn leaves piled all around and crunching beneath my feet.

27. Running

28. The Colorado Mountains

29. Random acts of kindness.

30. My son's curiosity.

31. Caffeine

32. My smart phone

33. Being able to order food delivered to my front door! Oh Dominos...I love you so much.

34. Flowers

35. Sunsets and Sunrises

36. Good credit

37. Apps that make my life more organized and easier. (Pepperplate, Google Keep, Google Calendar)

38. Music streaming services

39. Shoes

40. Vaccines

41. My doggy right after she has been bathed.

42. My deep bath tub. And hot hot HOT water.

43. The scent of vanilla.

44. Firefly



45. That my sister-in-law is a freaking amazing and talented stylist who does an outstanding job on my hair.

46. Sanuk sandals

47. Did I mention the Kingkiller Chronicles?

48. Ibuprofin

49. My kindle

50. Ally Hamilton

51. Yoga

52. That I have time in my days to run or do yoga.

53. People that aren't assholes.

54. Morning snuggles with my son.

55. Reading to my son.

56. Listening to my son read to me.

57. Doctors

58. Corrective lenses

59. Cameras

60. The sound of a thunderstorm.

61. The scent of morning, especially after rain.

62. Trees

63. Reddit

64. Quilts

65. Music

66. The sounds my son makes when he's fake crying.

67. Being able to hear my son say, "I love you."

68. Kisses

69. Hugs. It's a little weird that I am thankful for hugs. I have "personal space issues". I'm always unsure about hugs. But when I get one, my heart feels so happy. I feel connected and cared about.

70. That my son thinks poop and farts are as funny as I do.

71. Buckwheat pillows



72. Electricity

73. Skinny jeans

74. Living in a "city" versus a small, isolated, rural town. Although, I do miss the sunsets I used to be able to see.

75. The lessons and memories I hold of my grandparents.

76. Hope

77. Handkerchiefs

78. Sporks (Seriously people, why is this not a thing. It's so nice to have one tool for multiple jobs!)



79. The feeling of super soft fluffy carpet under my bare toes.

80. Things that glow in the dark.

81. Pies made by my mother-in-law.

82. Chocolate

83. Strawberries

84. Neighbors I don't hate.

85. That I was so lucky as to have been given a honeymoon in Hawaii.

86. Gifts with no strings attached because they are given with love, not an agenda.

87. The sounds of a tent at night when you're camping.

88. The smell of a campfire.

89. Bear spray

90. (Have people really even read this far? Kudos to you if you have!) Rainbows

91. Those beautiful sunny days where the sky is a rich blue and the clouds are all puffy and joyful.

92. Wooden train sets

93. The local children's museum.

94. Fun runs

95. Having a partner to do fun runs with for-eva!!

96. Siblings to grow up with. Sometimes we really beat the hell out of each other, but we loved each other with the same level of ferocity. And if anyone tried to mess with any of us, there would be hell to pay.

97. Being a citizen of the USA.

98. Having the right to be educated, to vote, or to be employed as a woman.

99. Being able to teach one person for another generation how to be kind, helpful, compassionate, generous, thoughtful, and open-minded.

100. November days that are so nice, I can go outside in a tank top. (Although I feel a little guilty about that...global warming and all. I mean..I do want snow at Christmas, but damn I hate being cold!)

101. And last, but certainly not least, and definitely not the last one by far. There is so much to be thankful for. I think that if everyone at least tried to see the bright side of a situation we'd all be a wee bit happier. But getting back to the completion of my short list. ;) I am thankful for being alive. To be able to tell people I love them. To be able to do a kindness for someone I don't know or someone I do. To maybe weave some goodness into this ugly world. To live a life of purpose, however small it may seem the impact is. It means something. It means that humanity is not lost. And we should never ever let it die.