A church hymn expresses the following reminder:

“When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done”

Johnson Oatman, Jr. , 1897

The annual Thanksgiving holiday serves as a reminder for us to reflect of all that we are thankful for and the many blessings in our life. As I sit writing this post now, I am watching some of my favorite people on earth sleep (my sisters and their partners are visiting us for the holiday so the kids are all sleeping in our room while our guests use theirs). I am grateful for the many things my children have taught me and the patience my husband gives me.

In celebration of Thanksgiving, here are some things I’m thankful for:

• Clean bed sheets. Crisp white bed sheets that run smoothly against my skin is as good as it gets to sleeping on a cloud.
• Nature. Taking a hike reminds me of all the natural beauty that surrounds me. 
• Thrift/vintage stores. I love scoring a good piece for the home or for my closet that I either saved money on or are one of a kind. My kids enjoy coming along and we have so much fun together.
• Forgiveness. Forgiveness brings peace and unloads burden. I am thankful for those that have forgiven me when I spoke too soon or acted too swiftly. 
• My journey. The people I’ve met, lessons learned, my parents, my siblings, the hardships I’ve faced, mistakes I’ve made…these things encompass my journey and makeup who I am.