Thankful: Never Mind the Cliché

Thankfulness. It's a word you expect to hear this month and next. Comfort comes in the expected. Traditions are all about living up to expectations. Like a new year's resolution, we often say from now on we'll be thankful all year long and not just during the holidays. Yep, just like a resolution we often break the vow. OK. I'll stop speaking for you. I often go back to taking my blessings for granted.

But cliché or not, whether I slip up and break my resolve or not, I'm shouting out thankfulness today and beyond.

(May I be really cliché and make a list? Count my blessings? Name a few of my favorite things? Good. I knew you wouldn't mind. You made your list already, didn't you?)

I'm Thankful for:

1. finding what I seek at the grocery store

2. having a grocery store where I can go shopping

3. having the money to spend to buy food at the grocery store

4. having the freedom to spend the money that I have to go to the grocery store to buy food

(see, I'm not complaining that I have been to three grocery stores in three days getting ready for Thanksgiving!)

5. having a day off from work to rest and get over a cold

6. having a job that allows me to take a sick day when I need to get well

7. having a job that gives me paid sick leave so that when I take a day off I don't lose money

(again, not complaining that I'm sick!)

8. owning a washer and dryer

9. owning a washer and dryer that work

10. owning a working washer and dryer so that I don't have to haul my laundry to the laundromat or to my mother's house

(guess who got to do laundry yesterday?)

11. reaching the end of evening sickness, aka morning sickness

12. reaching the end of evening sickness and entering the 2nd trimester of pregnancy

13. reaching the end of evening sickness while entering my 2nd trimester and enjoying food again

(though experiencing some acid reflux, burping, and continued fatigue)

14. getting a good night's rest

15. getting a good night's rest in fuzzy sheets

16. getting a good night's rest in fuzzy sheets and not having to get out of bed while it is still dark

(hurray for holiday vacations!)

17. spending time with family on Thanksgiving

18. spending time with family over a holiday that includes lots of great food to eat

19. spending time with family for Thanksgiving and actually wanting to eat all the great food!

(thankfully I am not making the majority of the food!)

20. the little one growing inside of me

Next year over the holidays Luke and I get to be thankful all the more as we celebrate with our son or daughter. 

Happy Thanksgiving!