We are one week away from Thanksgiving and 6 days away from my moms birthday.  What better time to do a thankful list.  Perfect timing would be Thanksgiving day, but I’ll be in (not so sunny right now) Arizona, where my parents have decided to nest for 7 months this year!! Before we fly out Saturday, I have a business trip to Portland with 3 meetings, multiple trainings and lots of smiling with plastic in my mouth. (Have I told you about the plastic splint my dentist has plagued me with for 4-6 months? NO? oh…so sad, story for another day I suppose).

Here it is, in no particular order, except the first one:

1. My husband, the gentle leader, compassionate lover and peaceful friend. 
2. Children that teach me more about myself then I can ever hope to teach them.
3. Parents who sought after the American dream and found it, that I can live it today.
4. A brother who brings me lunch and loves my husband like he’s his brother, YO!
5. In-Laws that love their son wildly and treat his step children like they are his first born!
6. The people who give up HOURS of their week to work for our company, you are the reason I loose sleep at night and work when you are sleeping!
7. Chocolate
8. Coffee
9. Mexican food
10. Dip, specifically Dad’s Dip (you are the king Daddy, we should really market this stuff)
11. Round-abouts…its how we drive in my city
12. My City: Bend you are simply divine and clearly the most beautiful place in the world
13. People of Bend: you are the kindest most generous city I have ever known and I lived in Eugene where “free love” began.
14. Piper and Syd, you two canine’s are perfect friends that bring balance to our family
15. Shelter, I have it and lots of people don’t
16. Air, it is manna from heaven, thank you for supplying us each day Lord
17. Blankets, life without at least 6 blankets in the living room is lacking sufficiently
18. Jesus, Father, Holy Spirit, do I even need to list them or are they a given?
19. Peace, there is no war in my area of the world but others are not so blessed
20. Orthodontists that know how to stop jaw pain and are kind (shout out to Dr. G!)
21. My eyes, my hands, my muscles, my body, my lungs my breath…you get the idea
22. Trinity Lutheran School, they educate my kids and pray for them, an unusual combo
23. Friends…the ones I see everyday and the ones I see every year, you are important to me!
24. The Sun, I would like to live closer to it
25. YOU…because you read what I write and with each post at least one of you hears the voice of God and moves a little bit further in your journey.  I know because you share with me..privately..maybe you can comment every once in a while.  No pressure.

Thanks for being a part of my life and trusting that my words somehow are worth your time.

Happy Thanksgiving….

~Tracy