Thank You, Lord, For What You Have Given Us This Day.....

The things I am thankful for:

* My family.

* Our children. Because of them, I am bestowed that special title, "Mom".

* My job. Without it, we would be on the streets, and that ain't no joke in this economy.

* Our home. We have one, and there are an awful lot of people who don't.

* My family's ability to "ride it out". As we begin this holiday season between now and the New Year, I am struck by the fact this will be the first season where I won't see Brian. You might remember Brian is my husband's cousin who committed suicide in September. There is usually a small gathering at some point where I see him. I won't this year, and it's already making my eyes teary thinking about that moment. I am so thankful to my extended family and their amazing ability to ride out difficult storms. Because of them, I can stand up in the storm.

* I am so thankful to friends. Friends who give me the chance to laugh and focus on something besides my daily grind. Friends who tell me difficult things I need to hear. Friends who let me cry with them. Friends who let me share difficult things in my life that I need help with and don't flinch. Friends who would fall on a sword for me. Friends who I would fall on a sword for.

* Opportunities. We have so much opportunity as Americans. As a small business owner ("capitalist" if you want to draw a line in the sand) I have been able to achieve some pretty hefty success. I pray that as we watch big government take away such basic opportunities, that we remember and are thankful for the successes we had when we did have such opportunities. Does it sound like I might be saying goodbye to something? I might be saying goodbye to the basic American right to start up and run a business. You are absolutely right. On a national and local level, I do believe if we don't turn this ship around, that right will be lost by the time then next election is upon us. I am extremely thankful that at this point, I still have that basic right.

I am extremely sad to see our basic American rights whittled away. Given away without thinking of the losses. Frittered away.

* I am thankful for our military troops. I want to thank my husband, father, and father-in-law for their combined 50+ years in the military. All of you make me proud.

* I am thankful to be alive.

* I am thankful for the Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to cover my painful iniquities to allow me to hope. I have the hope of heaven that is beyond this current world. If I didn't have that hope, trust me, I would be gone. The current temporal earth offers me nothing but hopelessness. Thank you Lord Jesus. When this is all gone, it's just you and me, and that warms my heart.