gratitude challenge

Today I am thankful for my farm, each day I wake up and can face the day starting here on the farm is a day I count a blessing. Thank you God for this farm.

and many more...

This the last day of this challenge and I'm glad I was able to participate in it again and both years when I'm done I feel like it's gone too quickly, 30 days is not enough time to list all of the things I'm thankful for. So here are a few more things I'm very thankful for; some more than others, but thankful just the same.

1. my hot and toasty electric blanket, it' makes crawling into bed at the end of a long hard day in an unheated bedroom tolerable!

2. a good supportive bra or 2 or 20...
3. a great fitting pair of jeans and my cowboy boots!
4. Bridger
5. the digital camera
6. the kindness of strangers during this year with Ron's health.
7. being able to pay the toll for the person behind me on the interstate or buying the person behind me in line at dunkin dounts a hot chocolate and wishing them a good day or a Merry Christmas.
8. great neighbors
9. a mother-in-law who serves meals for three vegetarians and a mostly meat eating family and makes sure there are delicious options for both.
10. Tyler's giggle
11. Andrews gentle heart
12. the nurturing side of Faith
13. vitamins and whole body and soul nourishing food
14. Garlic - my horse eh, the food too ;-)
15. flowers
16. cilantro - basil pesto
17. wood heat

and there are so many more. This was just a few off the top of my head. I started reading a book about making a list of 1000 things that we consider gifts, I couldn't finish the book because of  time and the fact that it was too mind numbing for me but I got the general idea and this quick list just made my think of making my own list. Hmm, maybe if I did that next year I wouldn't feel like November's Gratitude challenge went too quickly....

for better relationships

I am so thankful for a relationship that is way better now than when we were kids, a relationship that is honest, fun and a blessing beyond measure.  Thank you Jenny for being such and wonderful friend and blessing in my life. You are an amazing beautiful woman and friend. I love you!

for knowledge

I am thankful for knowledge, information and common sense.

for water

Very thankful for our Kangen Water machine!

my knitting needles

I'm thankful for my collection of knitting needles, the ones handed down from my great grandmother, the ones given to me by my grandmother the ones purchased at goodwill and thrift stores and the few that I purchased. I'm thankful that I can create beautiful things with them and that those beautiful things are helping make ends meet.

for medicine

after another trip to the ER of the local hospital tonight with Ron, I'm thankful for medicine and medical care. I'm also thankful for my health.

for answered prayer

photo courtesy of  D. Baker

toasy toes

I'm thankful I found some nice toasty warm footwear last year; Bogs, so any of you looking for toasty toes, look now further -go to the nearest store and pick yourself up a pair today! Worth every cent!

fourth time!

I am thankful I have a daughter who LOVES donating her beautiful hair to "lots of love" (as she called it when she was 5 years old). This is her 4th time donating about a foot of hair. The last time she donated was June 15th, 2010. Way to go Faith! Keep going!

for wool

I LOVE wool! Wool sweaters, socks, mittens, hats and the animals that produce them! I love the fact that when you put them on it's like an instant furnace. I'm thankful oh so thankful for wool!

change

I'm thankful for my ability to effect change. It may sound cocky, but it's the truth. I was able to do it in a positive, no pressure, nonthreatening way and I am thrilled! And because of this a few more animals were allowed to live out life as they were intended to life and lived a good life.

for success and a good nights rest

I am so thankful for the success of today's Open Farm Day, glad it's over for this year, tired and thankful I have a nice warm comfy bed to crawl into tonight. I'm thankful for all my sister's cooking skill, my mothers sewing skills, my childrens help and my husbands patience.

eternally thankful...

... for my salvation.

crafts

LOVE having an outlet for my creativity, soapmaking, knitting, quilting, scrapbooking, spinning, what have you, I love being creative and am thankful for that gift.

the barn and inhabitants

 I am thankful for all the critters in my life. They are a blessing to work with and they keep me sane - most days!    

my home

I am so thankful I have a wonderful place to call home. I absolutely LOVE it!

for commitment

I love this picture and even more so the couple in it. It represents love, peace, respect, sacrifice and commitment and it's the commitment I'm thankful for because it really involves all the others. Today is our 16th anniversary and there were times that I wasn't sure we'd make it. I'm being honest here. There was a time when throwing in the towel would have been the easiest thing to do, mind you it wasn't always that way and it wasn't a daily thing, but I'm thinking likely some of you can relate and know where I'm coming from. When it would have been easier to throw in the towel I realized that I stood before God and Ron and witnesses and committed to love him and be joined together with him until we are parted by death. That was a sobering reality! It made me realize that if I went back on my commitment  not only to Ron but to God that would be a huge statement about who I am, if I took back my commitment I'd be a person who talked the talk but not walked the walk and that is not who I am. I took a look at our relationship in a whole new light and saw things I could improve on, where I could grow, where I could change, (some I'm still working at...) and not just expect all that from him. I married all of him and he married all of me including my flaws. I have a long way to go but it's worth it. I wish that more people would realize that when you make a commitment make the commitment!

Ron told me a long time ago that marriage is not 50/50, it's 100/100 and it has proved to be a wise statement. It's hard work, it's heartbreaking at times, sometimes you get your feelings hurt and yes you are capable of damn near killing your spouse with hurtful things you do or say, so are they. Marriage is not always fun and it certainly isn't always champagne and roses - though it is sometimes!

But if you work through all those things that's when you get to the good stuff; the part of you that is able to trust only this person with your life, who is the first thing you see when you wake up in the morning and who reaches out to catch you when you stumble or fall. The person who knows you in the most intimate way and has the ability for feel you pain even when you're "fine." The person who you share children with and can make your day with a kind word or warm embrace. Who can make you feel like the most cherished person on earth with a kiss on the forehead. The person who is there when you look into the future and who is also in the past and both places bring a smile to your face. The person who goes out of his way to do something he knows will make you smile or thrill you to the moon and puts your needs before his own happiness, the person you cannot breathe without. Yes my friends, that is the good stuff.

Thank you Ron for the 16 years of marriage, the time before that as friends and the many years we have ahead of us. I love you!

for a strong bond

I know after I'm gone that they'll have each others backs.

wheels!

I'm thankful for transportation that is not always horseback. With all the traveling we did today it would have taken forever or not been possible if we had to rely on a horse and buggy or our feet. I do find horseback to be a wonderful mode of transportation and I do like to take a walk, but I am thankful for my truck despite the fact it needs an engine and tires and Ron's car to get us to the places we go faster and gets us home quicker as well!