Blessings

My friend, Beth, inspired me with her post yesterday about the things she is thankful for. She is right it does make you feel better to ponder your blessings.

I would start by being thankful to God, our creator, for the miracle of our uniqueness and that of the creation around us. How wonderful it is to be able to experience life with all the senses given to us and the emotions as well, good and bad. Then I'm grateful for my family, beginning with my parents and their families and the love, laughter, and support I've always felt in our family circle. To my Dad for his sweetness and his sense of humor and my Mom for her "ahead of the time upbringing" which encouraged a love of classical music, books, and art. I've also been blessed with wonderful brothers of whom I'm very proud and know that I can call on them if ever I need to.

Then for my husband, my opposite in almost all things, but somehow, together, we compliment each other, so that where one is weak the other is strong. Who, even not the most romantic of men, can still surprise me sometimes with a thoughtful gift or home-cooked meal. I appreciate his faithfulness both to me and our family and to God. Of course, I'm forever in awe of the blessing of my 2 daughters. They are a joy to my life and such wonderful, special people. Beyond a mother/daughter relationship we also share a friendship that I'm thankful to have. Now we have the blessings of the son-in-laws who have joined our family. Such great young men who are also funny, warm individuals. To see my daughers loved liked they are by these guys is awesome.

I'm glad for our home, the house that my husband and I mostly built with our own hands. I'm thankful for our jobs. In my job, I'm blessed with friends, who even though we may have our differences, when the chips are down will stand right beside you and with whom I can share laughter and sadness. Then there are the friends of my church family, who I know will pray for us in both the good and bad times. And in this amazing age we live in, there are now friends made through cyberspace, some of whom I've met, while others not yet, who I know would also be there with a prayer, a kind word, or a shoulder to cry on if I need it.

I'm sure I'll look back at this later and think of many other things I could have mentioned, because I have been very blessed. Thanks, Beth, for the urging to spend time being thankful.