Eight years ago today we welcomed a tiny little ball of fire into the world. It was kinda scary at first, stubborn little creature. Now, our lives are full of more excitement and adventure and challenges than we ever dreamed possible. So today I am thankful for:

Independance
Art
Teddy bears
Hugs
"I love you, Mommy!"
Laughter
Mischief
Song
Blueberry cheesecake
Polly Pocket
Playing dress-up
Imagination
Crayons
Knife fish
Dogs
Fairies
Stylin' boots
"I can do it!"

happy children

vegetable (well, squash) garden

fresh flowers on the mantle

mountain views from every window

purple slippers

hot coffee

rain clouds

the anticipation of a weekend turkey dinner just because

My new home
A great neighborhood
Candles
White sage
Gypsy music
S'bella's bolognese
Jamba Juice
Baby toes
Making out with my husband
Dried pineapple rings
Teacup roses
Dixieland bands
Zydeco

For my initial posting, I am grateful for the following:

For God's blessings.

My family & friends (near & far & in cyberworld).

I am alive & reasonable healthy.

I am a natural-born U.S. Citizen.

I can see, hear, smell, taste & touch.

I've lived in and am still living in "interesting times".

I am employed.

Music, concerts, etc.

Pale Ale micro-brew beer.

Summer

Fruit Loops

Shasta daisies

Coffee

Good friends

House hunting

New music

High Note Cafe (Thai Fusion cuisine)

once a convenience, now a neccessity

cell phone

second car in the family

ice and water through the door refrigerators

drive-through coffee

automatic drip coffee makers with built-in grinder and thermal carafe

Cordless telephones

Teenage enthusiasm

House hunting

Fresh paint

Oreos

Sugar peas

Rythm and Blues

Weeping willows

Tiger lilies

Chamomile blossoms

Graduations
New beginnings
Sleep
Stone floors
Baby birds
Ice-cream cones
Sunrise over the mountains
Hummingbirds
Wind chimes
Picket fences
Barbecues
Blueberries

Long weekends with my husband and kids

Thai food

Butter Pecan ice-cream

Blue skies with big puffy white clouds

Performing

Applause

Bananas

Artichokes

Ladybugs

Butterflys

Friday

FRIDAYS! (specifically after 4:30 pm)

Relaxing on the backyard deck

Sunshine

Hummingbirds

footrubs

Today my thanks goes to my husband: for loving me, for holding me, for trusting me, for making me feel safe, for appreciating me, for supporting me, for making me laugh, for making me feel beautiful, for making me feel important and validated, for forever.

Gratitudes

Weekends!
Reading a good book
Cool rains after a hot day
Watching the garden grow
Panda (dog) asleep at my feet

Lunch with my husband

Ibuprofin

Feet

Ducklings

Red

Garlic

Olive oil

Dean Martin

Eclairs

Photographs

Bubbles

Violets

Oil patches on the road

Puffy white clouds

Green

Dark chocolate

Bagpipes

Mediaeval Baebes (you simply must hear these girls ... http://www.mediaevalbaebes.com

Coffee

Children's art

The books my 7-year old writes & illustrates

Seeing my teenager work hard to complete difficult tasks - and bask in her own accomplishments

All-Bran with yogurt bits

Watches

Plastic tiaras

Lipstick

Missouri primrose

Purple

Fresh paint

Frangelico

Bandaids

Accents

Red bell peppers

Herb gardens





My new upper cupboards are hung!

Faeries

Drag Queens

Feather boas

Soccer games

Sunscreen

Barbecues

Sherbet

Strawberries

River rocks

Sea shells

Jasmine tea

The smell of rain

Bugles

Diet Pepsi

Cold, filtered water

Asparagus

SPRING

The sound of birds singing outside my window

The smell of the earth, still damp with the morning's dew

The feel of the sun on my face

"I love you, Mommy."

Knowing that my forever-mate loves me with his very soul

Cantelope

The smell of bleach in my laundry

"Thank you."

Purple slippers