Being Thankful: The List

So, here it is. My list of 30 things to be thankful for (with photos when available):

1. First and foremost, I'm thankful for my significant other: Big E.  He is without a doubt the closest friend I've ever had, puts up with my moods and has my back. (I could go on but you get the idea)
    

2. Family- because without them I wouldn't be where I am today. And I mean my whole family- parents, kids, siblings, cousins, aunts...                                                                                                            
 

3. Laughter.  I guess that seems a little broad, but I'm talking about the ability to find something humorous in a situation that might not feel funny.  Or just being able to laugh even though the stress load might be too much.  Or the ability to just be funny or be around funny.

4.Good friends.  I don't think it needs an explanation.  

5. Farts.  Because farts are funny.  Or even just potty humor in general.

6. The beach- because there everything seems better and the stress isn't allowed to be there.

7. Dogs. Especially ones that can fly.

8. Wild Gator Rides (rides so wild they're capitalized)

9. Pet Chickens- not only do their eggs taste yummy, but they're hilarious creatures that run like a T-Rex and play keep away with cherry tomatoes (in the photo l-r: Zombie, Blaze Starr, Squatch, Big Bertha and Martha Stewart).

10. Football.

11. Camping trips. I've never had a bad one.  I've had pretty adventurous ones but never bad.

12.Hiking. Like camping, I can't say I've had a bad hike, but I've had long and adventurous ones (like the one from the photo above- 7+ miles)

13. Investigating the paranormal- boy do I have stories I can tell about that.

14. Canning/Preserving.  Something I just finally taught myself how to do and something I surprisingly love.  I think it's being able to see a finished product after all the work. 

15. Gardening- it's one of my stress relievers.

16. The word "Squatch" as in Sasquatch aka Bigfoot.  Used as a noun, verb or adjective.  "We're looking for squatch" or "These woods are squatchy" or "Let's go squatching"

17. My camera.  I love my camera.  I love taking photos.

18. Ice Cream.  Especially when it's homemade. 

19. Butterflies.

20.Sunsets, especially at the beach/on the water.

21. Having a job and having one that allows me to leave when needed either for sick kids, or school events or vacation.

22. Pajama pants when it's cold and rainy/snowy outside.

23. Hugs.

24. A significant other who listens to you and knows you and remembers the things you say.

 25. Fossil hunting.  Nothing like the thrill of the hunt and the thrill of the find.

26. My kindle- I never thought that I would really like it because I love books, but I love that I can store all my favorite titles in something that fits in my purse.

 27.Funny hats and the people who wear them.

28. Rainbows because they're a reminder that no matter how bad the weather, something good can come from it.

 29. Unintentionally funny drawings (get your mind out of the gutter, it's clearly a canon)

30. Happy memories

Being Thankful

Around this time of year, I start to look a little like this:

It's that time when people start telling everyone via social media what they're thankful for

to the tune of one thankful thing a day.

Eventually I notice around Day 10 of being thankful

that the thankful things begin tapering off 

until I don't see them anymore.

And the cynic in me 

chuckles.

Because really, life has too many stressors

and is too depressing 

to maintain 30 whole days of reasons to be thankful.

Unless you're Pollyanna.

But who chooses stress over the positives of being thankful?

So, I'm going to force myself to think of 30 things to be thankful for

in an effort to form new brain grooves so I won't be as much of a grinch.

(I'm pretty sure brain groove development is possible with repetitive habit forming actions-

at least it sounds good so we'll go with it.)

Stay tuned.

Wordless Wednesday

It is Wednesday, right?

I'm not a fan of jellyfish, really (or stinging nettles if you want the local name)

 but I think they're gorgeous in a tank.  

These pics were taken at the Virginia Living Museum 

(one of my very favorite places).

Monday Meditation

 “To the sea, to the sea! The white gulls are crying,
The wind is blowing, and the white foam is flying.
West, west away, the round sun is falling,
Grey ship, grey ship, do you hear them calling,
The voices of my people that have gone before me?

I will leave, I will leave the woods that bore me;
For our days are ending and our years failing.
I will pass the wide waters lonely sailing.
Long are the waves on the Last Shore falling,
Sweet are the voices in the Lost Isle calling,

In Eressea, in Elvenhome that no man can discover,
Where the leaves fall not: land of my people forever!”  

~J.R.R. Tolkien Lord of the Rings

(I actually searched for "life ring quotes" as I had a photo of a life ring on the local dock I planned to use.  Instead I got Lord of the Ring quotes.  Found the above quote.  I've never read Tolkien.  Maybe I should.)

Those Who Have Served

 "This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." 

-Elmer Davis

James Jackson Pilot U.S.S. Tulip Civil War

Uncle Oregon WWI

Postcard from Oregon to his mother WWI

My grandfather 3rd from left WWII

My grandfather WWII

My grandfather in the middle WWII

Pepop WWII

 To those who have served and are serving and to those who have made the ultimate scarifice

Thank you