I want to write this evening about all the things I am thankful for in my life.  Reflecting over the past year, I have had many people, experiences, and lessons in which to count my blessings.  First, I would like to write about the people I am thankful for...

I am thankful for my children's grandparents.  I am lucky to have all four of them and even one great-grandmother in our lives and, for that, I am so grateful.  I pray for their health and well being for a long time coming.

I am thankful for my husband, Rich.  There is not enough room on this journal to talk about how much I love this wonderful man.  He is everything a husband and father should be plus much much more.  Rich is a friend, lover, provider, and protector.  I pray every night for him to be protected from harm & illness so that we can spend many more years together.

I am thankful for our three children: Jared, Klara, & Will.  They are such a huge part of our lives and they bring us a lot of joy.  I am so thankful that they are healthy, happy, and that we are able to give them what they need and want.  I often lose my patience and feel like I want to run away (hahaha) but I know that one day I will miss their little antics in this house.  God protect them from all the evil that abounds in this world.

I am thankful for friends.  I have many types of friends and, believe it or not, I am thankful for each and every one of them:

1. The friends who are tried and true through thick and thin.  The friends who never leave, no matter what the circumstances.  It is your friendship that makes my life brighter and happier.  For this, I thank you.
2. For aquaintances who stop by and see how I'm doing, whether it be at my house, on my blog, or by phone.  Maybe just an email.  They are the people who I am not intimately close to, but they are such blessings to have nonetheless.
3. For friends & acquaintances who are no longer in my life.  This includes people who provided me a period of joy & happiness.  There are many reasons why such people may not be in my life any longer...perhaps death...but most likely a disagreement that could not be resolved.  I forgive these people and know that there was a purpose to our time we had together.  This is a blessing.
4. I am thankful for the people in my life who I care about and love, but who no longer seem to show the same care & love towards me.  The people who I just cannot forget about, nor want to.  These may be people who will be in the above category next year....I don't know.  This type of friend makes me the saddest.  It's the type of friend who I feel very close to and, for no apparent reason, has chosen to take no more interest in my life.  Where once they showed their care and friendship by phoning and talking all night, lively email exchanges, or just a simple, small act such as leaving a comment at my journal.  All of these things meant so much to me, but they are now gone.  And why?  I do not know.  This is the type of friend that breaks your heart and leaves a scar on your soul.  However, God has a purpose for this type of friendship and I will never abandon these friends.  They always know where I am and how to get in touch with me if they need me.  They know that I love them like they are my family.  God grant me the strength to leave this type of friend in peace so that they can have the space they need to deal with whatever it is that is disturbing them.  Sometimes solitude is the best and loving gift that one can give a friend who fits this description. 
5. Finally, I am thankful for...well...not really friends, not really aquaintances, but those who I have very little in common with and often find myself in debate.  Not the ones who are disrespectful and rude, but the ones who overlook the differences and try to find common ground.  Their comments and thoughts are much more appreciated and thought-provoking than those who are ugly and hateful.  I have learned a lot over the past year about getting along with others and I appreciate that.

I am thankful for my extended family.  They are much like the group of friends and are a wonderful support system.

I am thankful for my health, even though I had to get a shot in my butt yesterday, hahaha...

I am thankful for all of my needs being met:  a warm home, electricity, water, food, transportation, and just about anything else I could possibly and reasonably want.  I know many on this earth are not this fortunate and I am extremely grateful I was blessed with these things.  I thank the Lord that He leads me to try to help others when I can.

I am thankful for every good and bad experience I have had this past year because there was a lesson to be learned with each incident.  I pray that I can take these lessons and learn from them and use them in the future.

But most of all....I am thankful for Jesus Christ and his ultimate gift of eternal life that I have been given.  Because of Him, I have hope.  I am so undeserving, but incredibly grateful for this supreme gift of love. 

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving....God bless ALL of you!