Happy Thanksgiving

Each Thanksgiving, probably like every other family in America, we go around the table several times and list the things for which we are grateful. Here is our list for Thanksgiving 2008.

* peppermints * family * sixteen and a half years with Murphy the cat * a job in this economy * mountains * valleys * a warm home * chocolate * Gopti, the cat * books * hills * NBC (discount clothing store) * St. Louis zoo * lip gloss * American Girl dolls * a pretty home * friends gathered around the table * a nice warm bed when I'm tired * gel pens * office supply stores * Hobby Lobby * stuffed animals * fudge * Scrabble * Uno * dominoes * good sportsmanship * chocolate milk * kissing * jewelry * emerald green * the vivacity of teenagers * the sweetness of little seven year old girls * Beethoven * Moonlight Sonata * live theater * Build-a-Bear * art museums * squeaky voices * musicals * scripture * Crazy by Patsy Cline * Jesus' love * the Bible * wedding rings * sex * teaching * live music * grandparents * parents * living close to family * green apples * stinky smells that make Momma laugh * crafting time together * recycling * Willa Cather * paper * the Earth * trees * getting rid of training wheels * Old Glory * saxophones * being able to vote * funnel cakes * belts * seconds * silk ties * a new lipstick * roads less traveled and different drummers * cameras * celebrations * pedicures * hammocks * swings * trampolines * quality underwear - no wedgies * memories * apple pie * libraries * librarians * words * dictionaries * these words: conundrum, conflagration, macabre * walking at the water's edge * the wind * the moon's many faces * ring pops * little girls with sparkly nails * black and white photography * blogging * bloggy friends * Mommas and Daddys who read aloud * crystal * spheres * mercury glass * Elvis * Jerry Lee Lewis on the piano * choices * possibilities * warm socks * blowing the whistle at the end of recess * train travel * shoes that don't hurt * hobbies * iPods * technology * Sweet and Sassy club * friends * Silver Dollar City * Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade * thoughtful gifts * rubber cement * dangling earrings * freckles * laughing so hard you snort * memories of Egypt * a house full of food and laughter * family coming home for Christmas * rainbows * butterflies * animals * flowers * good perfume * playing at Sephora * chess pie * shelter magazines * Netflix * powdered sugar donuts * ferris wheels * Flickr * scented candles * decks * Pride and Predjudice * fleece * Comfort Island * Crest whitening strips * the Sparkle Room * cooking * chocolate chip cookies * Tinker the talking Christmas tree * Relyn * Jeffrey * Sloane * Brett * Lynn * Grammie * Ibu * Bapak * Dale * Ethel * Arlen * Lucy * Alex * Avery * Julian * Marisa *




The list makers: my mom, dad, husband, daughter, and me at Estes Park July 2005. Photographed by an obliging stranger.