I Am Thankful

I am thankful for the blessed life I lead.  It has its ups and downs, sure, but overall I just love the life I live.   And I think that its really important to recognize that.  I've been thinking that gratitude is really an exercise in self-improvement.  Heck, its an exercise in world-improvement.

I am thankful for my awesome family.  And Matt's awesome family.  Its almost too good to be true that both sides are so caring, talented, generous, fun, smart, supportive, and all around just, well, awesome.

A family photo op at my cousin's graduation party. Photo credit to Megan Cozza.

Photo credit to one of my parents.  This was from a family vacation from my youth.

Making lefse with Matt's mom, Sharon.

I am thankful for Matt.  We're really well suited for each other and we have so much fun together.  We fit together in matters of practicality and in play.  I'm thankful we finally got married this year, too.  I'm thankful he is my husband and I am his wife.  That feels good.

We were trying out our new double sleeping bag.  I wanted a photo.  Matt tried to jump into the frame in time.  It made me laugh.

At Bryce Canyon National Park

And, on that note, I am thankful for our amazing wedding day this June.  It was everything I might have hoped it would be.  We had a great, magical, beautiful day with so many people we love.

All wedding photos taken by the talented Jenny Williams at Jenny Lynn Photography.

I am thankful for Ginger.  She's a ray of furry sunshine in my life.  I am so glad that she is a part of our little family.  Its hard to believe she's only lived with us for nine months or so.  Its like she's always been here.  I can't imagine her not greeting me in the morning and when I get home from work.  I love her personality--her endless curiosity, her likes and dislikes--and her little orange face.

Ginger thinks the indoor clothes drying rack is her fort.  Sometimes she likes to play in the clean laundry.  Socks are especially fun to pull down, I gather.

'Tis the season for heat vent basking.

I am thankful for libraries and getting to work in one.  What incredible institutions!  They have so much to offer the communities they serve.  And what a sweet way to make a buck, too.  I learn something new every single day.

Hard at work in my office behind the front desk.

One of my job perks in making book displays.  For Thanksgiving I not only put up an assortment of books and magazines, but gave the students a chance to fill out a leaf saying what they are thankful for.  Its been really nice to see them as they've been added to the display.

Reading children's books--the Caldecott winners--which I checked out from the library.  The tiny table was mine when I was a little girl.  I spent many happy hours.

I am thankful for my friends--of old and of recent.  Dang, are they a good time!  Going to Vegas recently with my high school buddies was an amazing reminder of that.  Game nights, clothes swaps, dinner parties, concerts.  These people bring a lot of joy and good times into my life.

Casey came over to hang out and have a drink.  As a matter of unplanned coincidence we both had our hair tied up in a turban.  It was a turban kind of day, I guess.

Prego belly painting

I am thankful for the national parks.  Every one I've been to has been a truly remarkable.  America is a vast and varied, beautiful country.  I'd like to see as many of these national park highlights as possible.

Hoodoos in Bryce Canyon National Park

Old Faithful geyser basin in Yellowstone National Park

Grand Canyon National Park

I am thankful for our house.  It little and cozy and just perfect for us.  Its our busy hive of activity and our comforting sanctuary.

Processing tomatoes

Playing guitar on a lazy Saturday morning

I am thankful for our garden which provides so much bounty for our table.  The fresh taste and price can't be beat and it affords such a nice opportunity to work in harmony with the little patch of nature out the backdoor.

Spinach

Peppers

Purple broccoli

I am thankful for live music to dance to and lift my spirits.  I am almost always happiest when dancing.  I wish I was more committed to making music myself, but I've never been able to make myself practice enough.  So, I am always thankful when others can make my feet sing a happy little jig!

The happy hoopers and dancers at the Lil Smokies at Alive After Five

Government Mule

Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite at the Magic City Blues Festival

I am thankful for so many things.  More than I could hope to list.  I have so many blessings and I do my best to return the generosity the forces in the universe have bestowed upon me.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  May we all have too many blessing to count--but that we try to anyways.