A personal Thanksgiving list

And a little child shall lead them....
Well, she isn't quite a child any longer, however, one of my nieces has taught by example. I've personally struggled this summer and sadly it has followed me into the fall and the holiday season. I mentioned I was lacking any Holiday Cheer and she suggested taking a look at her blog. She had just updated it. So, thank-you Heidi, your heart spoke to mine and I owe you big time!
Here is my Personal Thanksgiving List; I am thankful for..........
*the opportunity to 'discuss' grades & homework with my teenagers because it means they have the ability to attend school and develop and learn.
*the fact that I worry about how we will pay our bills because that means that we have money to juggle around to pay that bills.
*the fact that some days I leave the house early in the morning and return home late in the evening because it means I have a job that supplies an income to help meet our needs.
*the fact that I worry about making the house payment because that means we have a roof over our heads, a warm, safe shelter to call home.
*the fact that there is always laundry to be done because that means that we all have clothing to keep us warm and dry.
*the fact that I have aging parents that I worry about and feel neglectful of because that means that I still have my parents in my life and in the lives of my children. That means that I still have the anchors of my youth to turn to for solace and comfort in times of need and in times of joy. That means that my children still get to have that many more special memories to make their Grandparents.
*the fact that I constantly worry about my marriage and wonder how to make it better and long-lasting because that means that I still have my Eternal companion of almost 20 years. It also means that I want nothing more then to spend the next forever happily with him.
*the fact that I miss not seeing my brothers & sisters very often because that means that all of my siblings are still living and are all an important part of my life even though we are rarely together in one place at the same time.
*the fact that my heart breaks for my neices and nephews as they go through their own heartaches and trials because it means that I have a huge amount of neices and nephews that I love immensely and would gladly take their hurt away for them. It also means that I have a close relationship with so many of them that means the world to me.
*the fact that I rarely see my husband because it means that he has 2 jobs, plus refs basketball games all so that we might be able to make ends meet.
*the fact that I worry about Christmas on very, very limited funds because it means that we do have some funds to work with for Christmas. Not everyone does.
*the fact that I worry so much about each one of my children and how they have been affected by things in the past year because that means that I have been blessed with four of the most beautiful, healthy, loving, precious gifts I could ever be given in this lifetime. I am still so overwhelmed by His faith in me by entrusting me with them.
Again, I say thank-you to one of my neices. I will forever see her as a little girl, although she is now a married woman dealing with very grown-up issues of her own. I truly have so much to be thankful for, especially this year.