I Am Grateful

I should be working on the final paper for my class right now but I feel the need to write a long-overdue Thanksgiving-inspired post and offer gratitude for some of my many blessings. So here we go, in no particular order.

I Am Grateful (For):
1. A very supportive, close family, including much of my extended family on both sides. I know they would do (and have done) anything in their power to ensure I was cared-for, not destitute, and happy in every way.

2. A sister who lives just 30 minutes away. What a comfort it is to have my awesome sister so close, not to mention her three cuter-than-a-baby-bunny kids, whom I get to see frequently. DC feels more like home because she is here.

3. A handy brother-in-law who also lives just 30 minutes away (imagine that!) and is always willing to help out with my home improvement needs. Coming as I do from a family of unhandy types, and living in a historic (read, old) building, in a flat that "needed a little work" when I bought it, this is particularly valuable to me. On top of which, he's a great guy and a nice member of the family.

4. To be in school again. I never thought I'd want to get an advanced degree, but since starting my master's program last year I have felt so alive and invigorated by being a student again. (Though apparently not invigorated enough to study right now hehehe.)

5. WARMTH. I hate being cold. I'm so grateful for warm clothes, lots of warm blankets, a car heater that works, a home heater that works, a water heater that works--and the knowledge that I have good friends in Orlando who let me visit when I need to warm up in the middle of the winter.

6. A body that works. I am grateful every day for good health. But more than that, I am grateful that I have all my limbs, all my senses, and that my body does everything it was designed to do.

7. A core group of loyal, terrific friends. I won't name them because I'm too afraid of inadvertently leaving someone's name off the list, but you know who you are. Most of you I've known for a very long time, a few I've only met in the last 1.5 years. Regardless, it's good friends like you that really make life worth living.

8. Employment. My job isn't so hot right now, but I must recognize that at least I do have a job, which is not a small thing, particularly in these uncertain economic times.

9. FAITH and the many manifestations of the hand of God I've seen in my life. I'm sure I'd see them in massive numbers every day if I took the time to notice. I am infinitely grateful for my faith in the Savior and my knowledge that Heavenly Father and Jesus are always aware of my needs and are constant in their character and their love for me.

10. To live in DC. Have I mentioned how much I love this city? This area? I love the arts and culture, the intelligent people I meet, the opportunity and energy and history, the free museums, diversity of thought, language, and ethnic backgrounds, not to mention some seriously amazing restaurants. Truly, as Dorothy said, "There's no place like home," and DC is that for me.

11. Indoor plumbing.

12. The Internet.

13. Gourmet frozen pizzas from Trader Joe's.

14. Really nice dark chocolate.

15. A great boss and good co-workers (they make the crummy work situation more bearable).

16. Writing, singing, and linguistic talents.

17. Stories from the Old Testament about people with seriously hard lives, who help me put my own experiences into perspective.

18. Forgiveness.

19. That Deborah Tannen agreed to be my master's thesis advisor.

20. To be thin. I know this seems shallow, but for most of my life, I have not been thin. Now, somehow, I am thin. (Ok, so I worked hard to go from not thin to thin, and have to work at it now as well, but still). I'm still amazed every time I try on an item of clothing in that smaller size and it actually fits. It is an incredulous occurence to me every day.

21. Music. Right now I'm digging the jazz tunes of the "Charlie Brown Christmas" soundtrack and the awe-inspiring score from Handel's "Messiah."

22. Safety of self and loved ones, and the guardian angels who guarantee it.