Thursday Thirteen: Things for Which I’m Thankful
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Since I’ll probably be too busy eating turkey and my mother-in-law’s fabulous dressing and piles of delicious food at my sister’s house to be worried about posting a Thursday Thirteen next week, I thought I’d better go ahead and post the list of things for which I am thankful this week.
1. My God who has loved me from the beginning of time, despite how unworthy I am. I am thankful for His love, His mercy and His Saving Grace, His Son, Jesus Christ.
2. My husband. I am thankful for his love, his faithfulness and his unwavering support. I am thankful for his friendship and his willingness to get up and go to work each day so that I can stay at home and raise our three blessings.
3. My children. I am so thankful for these three lives that bless my life a hundredfold each day. I am thankful for their loving natures, their senses of humor and the fact that each of them is healthy.
4. My extended family. I love our weekly “Family Night” at my sister’s house where I can spend time with my mom, my sister and my relatives that I might otherwise see only on holidays. I treasure the friendships that I have with my extended family. I’m thankful for my restored relationship with my dad and step-mom. Several years went by where that relationship was non-existent. Now, it’s among the relationships that I treasure.
5. The freedom to homeschool. I can’t imagine having my kids gone all day, every day, segregated from each other and their family. I am so very thankful for the opportunity to spend my days with them, training them academically and spiritually based on our beliefs and values and according to their natural gifts and talents.
6. My friends. I have some of the most awesome friends. I know that God has placed them in my life and I am thankful for each and every one of these ladies I call my friends.
7. My homeschool group. I don’t know that I would have survived my first year homeschooling had it not been for the original members of my homeschool group. And, each year, we’re blessed with more terrific families who are always willing to offer their support and encouragement and to pray for the needs brought to them. I’ve never met a stronger group of prayer warriors in my life.
8. God’s provision for my family’s needs. We may not have all the “stuff” that other people have, but we have never done without. God provides all of our family’s needs — food, clothing, shelter, transportation — as well as a great many of our wants.
9. My blog friends. I have met some ladies, though blogging, that I count as true friends. I am thankful for each of them, as well as all the folks who read my blog. I’ve always dreamed of writing, so blogging is my creative outlet. I am so thankful that there are people out there who want to read what I write.
10. My van. Yes, it burns oil. Yes, it releases a huge, smelly puff of smoke every time it’s started. Yes, it creaks and groans. But, it’s paid for and it get us where we need to go.
11. My laptop. Yes, I realize that’s probably sad, but I do so love my laptop and the mobility it provides.
12. Holiday breaks! I am so thankful that music class is, as of yesterday, over until January and that we only have two more days of school before we’re through until January. I love homeschooling, but I love the break, too!
13. My memories. There are family members who are no longer with us for the holidays. The hole they’ve left will never be filled and they will always be missed, but I am thankful of the memories I have of them and the way they touched my life.
For what are you thankful this holiday season?
Kris Bales is a newly-retired homeschool mom and the quirky, Christ-following, painfully honest founder (and former owner) of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She has a pretty serious addiction to sweet tea and Words with Friends. Kris and her husband of over 30 years are parents to three amazing homeschool grads. They share their home with three dogs, two cats, a ball python, a bearded dragon, and seven birds.
I especially liked number 13. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Geriatric Nurse