Last year, I decided to make a list of all of the things I am grateful for. I realized that even though I am super grateful for tons of things in my life, I don’t really stop to think about them enough. So, in the interest of new personal traditions, self-growth, and self-reminded humility, I’ve decided to make a list again this year. Some are the same…I hope they will always be constants in my life. Some are different…it’s crazy what new enlightenments a year brings.
- My family. My family is my world, I am grateful they still put up with me.
- My readers. Why you keep coming back, I will never know, but seriously THANK YOU.
- Lucy. Aw, Lucy. She makes me laugh and she gives me a constant sidekick.
- The rain. You live in Seattle, you have to have a deep appreciation for the rain. I do. It means plenty of water for my garden and my tea.
- Long walks in the rain. This is not cheating, because I already listed rain. It’s totally different. I like drops on my face as I walk. I like the exercise. I like the smell.
- Food in my fridge. There have been years when the fridge has been bare–because I CHOSE the challenge of living on $100 a month. My stomach has never been empty, though.
- Muffins. Muffins are delicious mini-cakes that you can somehow justify eating for breakfast. I, personally, am grateful for everything they stand for.
- Local fruit and veggie stands. Good deals. Good food.
- Washers and dryers. Housework would stink if I had to run all my belongings down a washboard. I like that machines do it for me.
- A roof over my head. I know I totally complain about wanting out of the HOA house, but at the end of the day, I am pretty stoked that I have a roof over my head…snoopervising committee or not.
- Cookbooks. My cookbooks and recipes make me seem more creative than I actually am…really, they get all of the credit.
- Mason jars. For canning, for crafting, for using as tupperware.
- Fall. Fall is the best. The smells, the cold air, the leaves. It’s still mild enough to be outside, but not so hot you melt.
- My enameled cast iron pot. It’s sturdy. It performs year after year. It’s one of those items that investing in quality has totally paid off.
- Sensible shoes. High heels are lame–I ask way too much of my feet to do that to them.
- My UPS man. I work him to death with my Amazon deliveries. Thank you, sir. I am always happy to see you.
- The HH’s job. And the HH for being willing to go to it everyday.
- Central heating. I am cheap, but certainly not crazy. When it gets cold up in here, I LOVE being able to flip on the heat.
- Showers. Warm water. It’s what the good stuff is made of.
- My laptop. It is my connection to you, and it is portable. When you really start to think about it, how cool is that?
- Lazy Sundays. Nothing on the docket–just an entire day of snacking, pj’s, and movies.
- Coupons. While the days of coupon-mania are long gone, I still really appreciate a great coupon, combined with a great sale.
- My garden. This year, last year, next year. I will be thankful to get my hands in the dirt and grow my own food every year.
- The giggles. Like the kind of laugh that only comes a couple of times a year. It brings tears to your eyes and a sore stomach the next day.
- Airplanes. How cool is it that in less than a day, I can be on the other side of the country? P.S. I always picture the pioneers looking down, thinking, “NOT COOL,” every time I board a plane. We have it so easy.
Okay, enough about me…what are YOU thankful for? List your top 5 in the comments…go!
~Mavis
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Laura Z says
My family is safe, while so many people are refugees of war and famine.
My family is educated, while so many people do not have that opportunity. Books are so wonderful!!
My family is able to to worship freely, while so many people cannot.
We have more than enough of everything we need — clothes, shoes, food, clean water, vaccines.
I am grateful for every day that I am alive, and for all the beauty I see in nature and in others.
We are truly blessed. 🙂
j. a. owens says
I think you pretty much covered it. A blessing to me is this blog.
randi says
1: my and my family’s health
2: the occasional massage
3: Jimmy Fallon and Saturday Night Live
4: teachers in all their forms
5: sunshine
Linda says
My daughters the most gracious gift God ever gave me. My job. Food on the table and a roof over my head. And my husband always there for me.
Delores says
1) my husband who works hard for us every day, who puts up with my temporary (or not) instanity, who loves our kids so much and does so much for them
2) my children, and having my son home for Thanksgiving and another son who works so hard and a daughter who is now my friend
3) friends
4) podcasts — I discovered podcasts this year that I really, really like (Art of Manliness and This is Your Life)
5) Life…. life is just awesome and sometimes hard and sometimes incredibly joyous and it makes me laugh and fills me with hope and peace and then with sorrow and anxiety. But I am so thankful for all of it.
Brianna says
I’m thankful for everyday, but here is my attempt at my big 5 of 2016.
1. My husband and his devotion to our country and his boots on US ground this whole year.
2. My children who are healthy, smart, and test my patience everyday and haven’t given me a gray hair.
3. My parents, enough said what these amazing folks do for my family.
4. My generous investors who were secretly house hunting for us the past year and finally found us ‘the house’ off our wish list and bought it for us. Hallmark doesn’t make a card for this to show my gratitude on such a level and I will forever be thankful. Someday, we hope to pay this act of kindness forward. We will be moving there after next summer.
5. Learning to think outside the box. Mavis you have been so helpful on sharing you tactics for saving money, grocery shopping, cooking, decluttering, etc. I’m doing a Green Friday this year and putting my green bucks in my savings account rather than crowd-frenzy shopping! You tips have helped me save and pay off debts and bills I didn’t think I could from my budget:)
Laura Z says
Wow! Your house story is amazing!!! Incredible generosity. You must be special folks to have benefactors like that!! Glad your husband is home with you this season. What a wonderful gift.
Lea says
1. My family
2. My husband’s new job
3. Friends
4. Plenty to eat – so many aren’t so fortunate!
5. Education, Health Care, Roads, Running water, etc. – all the things our taxes pay for that we usually take for granted here in the USA.
mandy says
I’m thankful for my entire family and that we’re all together..My sony is doing so good in school and in life in general, making me proud. My sweet little grandma is hanging in there and she is a joy to spend time with. My dad got hew hearing aids, so we’ll be able to have conversations with him.
I’m thankful for having blogs like Mavis’s for nightly reading.
I’m thankful for my garden and the nice people I’ve met there.
I’m thankful to my sony and sister for taking care of my garden when I was home having fun with my grandma this summer. I’m fortunate that my grandma and I think alot alike, so we kept up with each others tricks.
I’m thankful we’ve been a little more comfortable this year with groceries.
Have a place to live. A car to drive.
I’m also thankful for all of the strong women, children and men in Standing Rock. Protecting water for us and our future generations. I admire their sense of peace and strength of prayer.
Claudette says
1. My family, above all else.
2. Modern medicine. I won’t bore you with details, but I’ll just say I’m 44, and as far as I’m concerned, it’s all “bonus time” for me from here on out. That’s a whole other lifetime ahead of me that I can thank modern science for!
3. What Lea said about education, roads, police, libraries, military, and all the wonderful things our taxes pay for. What a blessed country we have!
4. My job. It doesn’t just pay the bills. It’s interesting, provides me a constant source of learning, and I have great colleagues there.
5. Perspective. So many have so much, and they can’t see it. It’s a blessing to know what you have.
Rebecca says
Here’s my top five for 2016:
1. My family – – – especially the grandsons!
2. Health – – – myself and my family
3. Paying off the mortgage and downsizing to a lovely rancher in the woods
4. Retirement is only 7 months away
5. Miss Kitty who makes me smile every day
Sue says
Gods love!
My family
My four grandchildren, my blessings!
Retirement, with everything paid for, two cars, two houses, one for living and one for fun.
Gardening, seeing things grow.
My green house.
Spring!!!!!
Fall!!!!!
The beach!!!
The lake!!!!
The birds, deer, and all the animals I am blessed to see daily.
Travel, the wonder of it all
Books,I can’t have enough.
Cheesecake!
Earlene says
1.Gods amazing love for me!
2. My husband of 45 years. Who is still working at age 70 like he did when he was 40.
3. For my amazing adult children and in laws , I love them like they are my own kids.
5. For my 5 wonderful grandchildren, smart and healthy
6. For my job and employer, though I rather be home , I do enjoy my job 80% of the time.
Marilyn Richardson says
Thanks for Mavis. We get such a giggly daily, specially the cranberries today. And of course the best recipes I can’t keep up with,