I Am Thankful For...

This post, title and all, is one I've been working on in my mind for the past several months. I had grand plans of publishing this post right on Thanksgiving Day. But alas! Just like last year, after spending a good portion of the day in the kitchen preparing food and drying dishes, I was too tired to complete my blog post yesterday, especially after enjoying our large, Thanksgiving meal. 

I told my mom that I think I enjoy the day after Thanksgiving almost as much as Thanksgiving day itself! Because we always have leftovers, we don't have to cook the next day! 

I love our Thanksgiving holiday. I know that, for some in our country, this holiday means nothing more than a day off work, over eating, and a day associated with turkeys. How sad! For me, Thanksgiving means so much more than that. 

Although I enjoy a delicious meal with my family (which does include turkey), I enjoy the opportunity to reflect and thank the Lord for His many gifts and blessings to us. Thankfulness is something I desire to cultivate in my daily life, not just once a year. 

However, I still think it's wonderful that we, as a nation, have a day set aside to remember to thank the Lord.      

As a young girl, I remember being asked around Thanksgiving: 

"What are you thankful for?"  

My typical, 9 year old girl, answer was usually something like: 

I'm thankful for my Dad and Mom. 

I'm thankful for our home. 

I'm thankful for clothes to wear and food to eat. 

As a girl, my list would've likely included our cat, Smokey, and possibly, my purple bike.

As I got older, my thankful list broadened to include things like: Salvation and God's everlasting love for us. God's Word and God's Spirit would have also been included as being some of God's greatest gifts to us! 

Whether younger or older, those are all things I am still very thankful to God for on a daily basis! (well, except for that cat and bike; those have been gone for a long time.) 

Sometime earlier this year, I began thinking about things that I'm thankful for. I realized those things would make a nice Thanksgiving post. 

Instead of a 9 year old girl's thankful list, this is a 39 year old woman's thankful list this year.

I am thankful for...  

My bedroom window. I actually have two windows in my bedroom, but I love the one that is closest to my bed. I love my bedroom window. I love the tree right outside my bedroom window as it changes with the seasons. I enjoy seeing the stars (or snow) at night through my bedroom window before I pull down my shade to go to bed. I enjoy the peeks of light that stream through my bedroom window (and shade) every morning. I witness God's marvelous creation in the changing seasons and hours all from my bedroom window. I am thankful for it. 

My bedroom window in early autumn - October 2019

My bedroom window in winter - January 2021 

My bedroom window in spring - May 2021 

I am thankful for... 

Our neighborhood. This view is looking out of my other, bedroom window. It's not as nice as seeing a tree, but I'm thankful to live here. I love to walk in our neighborhood, and I frequently tell the Lord "thank you" as I'm walking. I'm thankful to live in our nice neighborhood. 

I am thankful for...

Our local, grocery store called Safeway. This store is just a mile down the road from our home. I shop there all the time when I need something. They sell lots of groceries and produce, and some, for a good price if you look. (I'm a bargain shopper!) I'm so thankful for Safeway.   

Our Safeway grocery store - November 2021

I am thankful for... 

Our small post office which is directly next to Safeway! Like the grocery store, this post office is just one mile from our home. It seems like I mail packages frequently. (especially harp CD's) I love the little, post office near our home, and I am so thankful for it.     

Our small, post office inside a small pharmacy.

I am thankful for... 

Park # 1 which is less than a mile from our home. I can almost see this park from our house. It takes only 2 minutes to drive there. I love walking there, and I frequent it often! There is a small pond there with spectacular mountain views. There are lots of areas to walk around at this nice, large park. I am so thankful for it!

The small pond at this park I love so much
 - November 2021

I am thankful for... 

Park # 2 which is only 2 miles from our home! It only takes 4 -5 minutes to drive to this park from our home. This park has a beautiful river flowing beside it. This has become a favorite park of mine this year. I like to pray and read my Bible here. I love nature; I love God's creation. I am so thankful for this lovely park! 

The flowing river beside this park. 

 

This small park has a pavilion and a grassy area 
for people to enjoy picnics on when the weather is nice.   

In recent months, there was a day when I was having fun looking at Google Maps on my phone. (which is different than Apple Maps that came with my iPhone.) I confirmed that the two parks I love so much, our nearby grocery store, and our nearby post office are all within a one to two mile radius of our home! That made me realize just how blessed I am to have such wonderful things close by me!    

God's countless gifts are everywhere if we open our eyes to see them! Our Father in heaven is a good Father Who delights to give good gifts to His children! I see so many of them around me, and I am so thankful for them!