Thankfulness

On this beautiful, brisk fall day, Walt and I welcomed Thanksgiving with a long walk along frozen sidewalks and crispy grass. Sugar acted like a puppy, lunging at new scents and enjoying the cold air. Coming home, I settled in my favorite chair to read my bible and pray. My journal is full of thanks, no requests today.

*I am thankful for energy to walk for an hour and a half, remembering the time at the end of my treatments when I barely made it through our small neighborhood.

*I thought about the time in 2012 when today was my only break from daily radiation treatments, thankful that I don't have a trip to the hospital in store tomorrow.

*I am thankful for my messy curls sticking out of the hat I threw on this morning.

*I am thankful that my next doctor's appointment isn't until April, a six month stretch from my last appointment in October.

*Needless to say, but important to recognize, I am thankful for health.

*I am thankful that I did not meet my insurance deductible this year, the first time since my cancer diagnosis in 2012.

* I am thankful for my own family, remembering Thanksgivings shared with other families when I was single and far away from relatives.

* With that in mind, I am also thankful for our good friends who open their home to us yet another Thanksgiving, so my family can merge with hers and other friends, enjoy the varied dishes (especially her famous stuffing!), and share our lives.

My list continues, pages and pages of things I'm thankful for, gifts like Salvation and Mercy and Hope. Memories of Thanksgivings hosted by Walt's mom, huge spreads put on by my mom when I was young, my own attempts at cooking the big meal.

We have so much to be grateful for. Life is not perfect, it's downright hard sometimes, but it's always good. Worthwhile.  Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His love endures forever. Psalm 118.

Thanksgiving thankfulness!