Recently, I noticed several Facebook friends expressing thankfulness each day during the several weeks leading up to Thanksgiving Day.

The purpose of the exercise was to adjust their perspective towards thankfulness and appreciation.

It’s a changed perspective we would all do well to have–expressing to God and people what we have to be grateful for rather than complaining so much when things don’t go the way we like or think they should.

And I have to confess, I do a lot more complaining than I do thanking.

You see, you can’t be thankful without telling somebody thank-you! And I don’t do enough of it!

Well, Thanksgiving Day is past and we’re now into the Christmas season. But I think it’s still needful and appropriate to express thankfulness, so  I’m going to follow my friends’ examples and list what I’m thankful for.

Only I’m going to do it in one list–ten things I’m thankful for.

These ten things are by no means an exhaustive list of everything I’m thankful for. These ten are just a start.

So here goes:

I’m thankful that in my grief, God gave me gladness, Kaleb and Kenzie.

I’m thankful that when it seemed there was nothing to live for, God gave me everything to live for, when I had no purpose, God gave me an important assignment.

I’m thankful that instead of just growing old, my life is now filled with youthful energy.

I’m thankful for friends that offer to help and though I may not ask for their help very much, I am reassured that they will be there if I need them.

I’m thankful for our other grandchildren, Abby, Joe, Lauren and Laney. I love them so much and hope the time will come when I can once again be a part of their lives.

I’m thankful for their parents, our children. They were there for their Mom and they helped look after the toddlers all during her many months of illness and extended stays in the hospital. I wish I had been more supportive of them in their grief as they were for me.

I’m thankful God has given me a second chance at parenting. I have the wonderful opportunity to do some things better the second time around that I didn’t do so good the first time.

I’m thankful that the children have a friend and nanny (Conner) that loves them and cares about them and is a good example of the kind of young person they should grow up to be.

I’m thankful that God loves me and He loves and cares about my children even more than I do. So I know they will always be provided for no matter what may happen to me.

And, I’m thankful for those of you who follow us on this new adventure and encourage us with your comments or just by laughing (or crying) along with us in each new episode.

So, sharing with you what I am thankful for helps me realize just how fortunate and blessed we really are.

Now, we would like to hear what you are thankful for because if you share with us, then it not only blesses you but it blesses us as well!

And we like to be blessed!