Giving Thanks

Today is Thanksgiving. I was in Starbucks yesterday where I overheard a man asking one of the "baristas" (?) if she was working tomorrow. She said no she hadn't gotten a shift but she had really wanted to work because the pay was time and a half. She said, "I give thanks everyday. I can eat dinner on Friday." So after he left we continued the conversation and I asked her if she had checked to see if anyone who is working had really wanted to be off with their family. She hadn't thought of that yet. I told her she may very well make someone's day that didn't want to work. She was so excited. I like the thought of her being the one behind the counter today - she was so positive. I hope she got to switch.

All that to say it made me think about being thankful every day and not just saving it up for one day a year to get really thankful. I think I'm thankful most of the time but there are many days that go by that I'm pretty sure I don't think much about it. I need to change that. I need to be more thankful. I need to be more grateful for all the amazing people in my life, my great boys, my family of choice as well as my family of origin, my dog, the house I live in, even this town is a very good town to live in. There are so many things all around me that lead me into thankfulness. I just intend to be more aware in the future.

I'll tell you what, nothing makes you more grateful for something than when you lose it, or it moves far away. My best friend in the whole world, my spiritual mentor, got married and moved to a completely different state. What was she thinking??!!?? And as much as I miss her I realize it has made me way more thankful for who she is to me and my family. She is still the same person. We have the same relationship but it will be different. I can't stay upset for long though because the man she married is a saint. Seriously this guy was made in heaven just for my friend. He is patient and kind and loving and he's spoiling her and she deserves it all. We prayed for this man to find her and he did. And I really am so grateful. We forgot to pray that he lived in the same town. As if God is taking notes on what we want and filling the order. I know - crazy. I don't really think this way. Really. I'd hate to think God was limited by my wants or desires. I'm pretty sure His ideas are way better than anything I could come up with.

So, today I'm thankful that I've become aware to be more thankful. Soon I'll post pictures of the dolphin safari I went on in California this last week. It was incredible!!! It was quite a fascinating experience, the whole 4 days. And for that I am thankful!!

AND I'm very thankful for all of my friends here in cyberspace. Happy Thanksgiving!