The short list

Things I'm thankful for? Goodness, there are any number-- so many that listing them would take more time than I have, or want to take away from actually enjoying them. But here's a start:

I'm thankful...

• for our children-- both home, and safe, and healthy.
• for my husband and his patient good nature in the face of my early rising, sermon prepping, parish juggling and compulsive attempts at organization.
• for friends who are so great that we can live as 8 people in a small ranch, on top of one another for three days, and still like each other enough to look forward to doing it again.
• for plenty of good food to eat and share, and still have yummy leftovers.
• for pie, and warm chocolate chip cookies.
• for silly movies shared with folks who laugh in all the right places.
• for parents, siblings and their spouses, nieces and nephews... extended family, who we'll see at Christmas!
• for those distant friends (and the occasional well-behaved sparring partner) with whom I keep in touch via cyberspace, and who laugh and cry and care and pray, all around the world.

Thank you, Lord, for all of these.