Beyond the Day of Thanks

Thanksgiving day is terrific!  Our society seems to skip over it now more than ever.  We go from Halloween straight to Christmas skipping the day of being thankful for our nation and all that we are blessed with to go right to a day filled with greed.  And of course, we don't have Black Friday anymore but now it started Thanksgiving night.  Run out from family time, wait in line for hours long for stuff!!!  Well, instead of making my list and checking it twice to make sure I've got all of my wants listed, I'm going to start my 1000 Gifts list.  Just as my previous post, this will be an on-going list over time.  But, here's the start:

1. Thankful for time with my sister filled with so much laughter that she got the hiccups.
2. Hot spiced apple cider and a crisp fall morning.
3. Rollie-pollie baby following me from one room to the next.
4. Crystal clear blue sky filled with warm happy sunshine.
5. Children's craft-wreaths hanging in the door.
6. Cartoons with great messages to give my little ones something different to occupy them with so I can have a little bit of time to ease into my day.
7. Indoor plumbing.  (Could you imagine having to potty train or having to take yourself to a potty outside and in the cold???)
8. Independent toddler feet running through the house.
9. "Hi Mommy!" happily singing from my 2 year old when he spots me sitting there joyfully watching him.
10. Uncontrollable baby belly laughs accompanied by snorts and squeals : )
11. Tickle wars with my children; something that I can do that will always put smiles on their faces.
12. Tickle wars with my husband; something that brings us back to that first love and leaves us in a heap together breathless and happy.
13.  Birthday lunch with my little girl; chocolate and powdered sugar all over her mouth and much needed giggles and happiness.
14.  Kind strangers happy to take the camera and include me in a picture.
15.  Prayers from total strangers.  Every prayer offered up I hold as a gem in my life.
16.  Unexpected Christmas given by a local hospital.
17.  To help bring tears of delight in the midst of great sorrow and pain.
18.  Bedtime stories, cooking shows, lots of cuddles on the couch at night.
19.  Tylenol to sooth my sweet baby's pain.
20.  "Chance" meeting of one willing to help me meet a desire.