Or a ray of light in the Holiday Hysteria!

This is copied from another Board but I thought we could start to mention the things for which we are grateful - not World Peace and thin thighs but the small things in life.

Today I am grateful for my friends Claire and Doug who are coming over tomorrow afternoon to put up my Christmas Tree! I know I could just ask them but they wanted to know if I was decorated and said they's be over after lunch tomorrow. Maybe they'll stay for dinner - Shepherd's Pie and coleslaw, WASP Soul Food!

Next?

I am grateful that my health is improving enough so I've got the energy to decorate for my dd today. Ruth, need some help? Seems I've got get-up-and-go to spare!

Lets see,
I am grateful for my friends and family. I am grateful that my shopping is done...but today I am grateful I found a starbucks card in the parking lot at the mall...with luck there will be enough for a free coffee!

-L

What a nice idea Ruth!!

I am grateful, VERY grateful for the 5mg of Celexa that the doctor started the "little guy" on, on Thanksgiving Day. His ocd and perseverating behaviors have lessoned tremendously. He is perfect! (always was) Even with the occasional morphing into a dinosaur in public!

counting my blessings!
peach

I am grateful, more than my hubby will ever know, for simply his presence in my life.

Robin

I am grateful that my first weekend shifts are over. And I am tremendously grateful for my little girl's warm hugs and slobbery kisses when I got home!

I am grateful for health, and wonderful family, friends,the sun in the morning, and the moon at night, but most of all, I am grateful that God loves me.
Tazcat

oh there's so much!!! but for starters, i'm so grateful to be walking. sometimes i find myself looking around at where i am, like the mall, or at work, or swimming, or sitting at peachie's kitchen table, or at the deli counter in the grocery store, and i realize that i couldn't have done it a year ago. just being able to do NORMAL things is such a gift.

do you all realize that i only gave up the cane for good in the middle of august??? that's only 3 months ago!!!!

I'm grateful for the few really good friends I've made in my life. They've helped me through some rough times.
I'm grateful for my hubby who has stuck with me through thick and thin...mostly thick....even though he's been the cause of some of the aforementioned rough times.
I'm grateful I have two healthy daughters and two healthy grandsons and that my daughters seem to be in loving, stable marriages.
I'm grateful I had loving parents who gave me a good start in life and taught me important stuff .... like the importance of good health, happy families and good friends.
I'm grateful I live in a free country and that I've never had to send a husband, son or grandson (yet) off to war. I'm so grateful that I wasn't born in some third world shack and never know where my next meal is coming from or how to feed and shelter my children.
Gosh, I could go on like this for hours but I'd better leave something for the rest of you to talk about.

At this busy time of year when it is easy to get distracted by all the "things" that need to get done I am thankful for Ruth for asking us to think of the little things that add up to soooo much!

I am thankful that I found my wedding rings in amongst my Xmas decorations after they had been missing for 2 years! (never thought I would see them again)

...that I am not nearly as sick as the people I went to take care of when I went to work this weekend.

...that I love what I do (nurse) and so never have to "work" a day in my life.

...that my hubby loves me even though (believe it or not) I am not always very lovable.

...that my daughters are well and happy and fill my heart with joy

...that my son who lived for 2 1/2 years taught me so much about strength, unconditional love and bravery

...that my hubby does most of the grocery shopping

...that I sleep so well at night

next.....


Elizabeth

I am grateful for many little things and the big things like health, freedom, security.

I am grateful that I am blessed with three children that I really LIKE. Every person has a unique personality and we don't all get alone so it could have happened that one or more of my children could have been someone that I really didn't care for - I am grateful that didn't happen.

I am grateful that I am able to have a wonderful relationship with two silly spotted doggers and that my work from home job allows me to spend much time with them. It would break my heart to think of them all alone in the yard for 8 hours everyday.

These are kind of silly but I AM very grateful for them daily: Pantiliners, microwave ovens, automatic garage door openers, 50 gallon hot water heater so I can (almost) always have a hot shower, warm water beds, the world wide web.

I am also grateful to be living in the USA in 2002 instead of back in the 1800s or something. Life was soooooo hard bad then.


Kel

You knew this was comming

I am Grateful for Jesus who died for me. With out Him I don't know how I would survive (or if).

I am Grateful for: my Life, my family, my new baby girl (and all who are here and those who have passed, all who have touched my life forever and ever).....

I am Grateful for: our health, birds singing, the smell of wood buring in a fireplace.

I am Grateful if one person reads this and can relate.

I am Grateful for all my friends, living next door to me or those who I cyber chat with 3,000 miles away.

Leenie

I'm grateful for all of you, my world would be much darker without the sunshine you bring to my day.

I'm also grateful to people like my co-workers.

The childless one who played Santa so well at the Children's Chirstmas party that my Step-Son now believes in Santa again with his whole heart. (he had begun to doubt)

Also for the one who has two boys of his own, and still finds room to raise two of his nephews too. Today he told us that their family would probably be taking in another child, a 14 year old girl from an mentally abusive family. I tremendously admire people like this, and I'm grateful that the world has these people who show us the goodness of humanity.

Today, I am grateful for my family, and for my faith in God