What are You Thankful For?

Day 72.

Thanksgiving Day provides us (in the United States) a day to reflect on the blessings of our lives, and to express our thanks. Yes, it also provides the opportunity to test the strength of our belts and buttons, but it's called Thanksgiving for a reason: to give thanks.

My mother and I would eat at the food court in the mall on shopping days, and we both really liked the Thanksgiving sandwich one of the booths sold. Have you ever had one? It's so strange to think of the ingredients in one, but the result is something warm and homey, comforting and filling.

We're pretty far from Thanksgiving (257 days from now), but I would like to take this moment to list some of the things I'm thankful for.

1. My husband. A more easy-going, supportive, loving man would be difficult to find. 
2. My daughters. So brilliant, and sweet, and loving, and challenging, and fun to be with. 
3. My mother. She's amazing. Strong, supportive, independent, and a very good friend.
4. My home. It's more than most humans get to live in, yet still modest by U.S. standards. It's spacious and pretty and relatively neat. My sister even said that she likes the feeling she gets when she's in my home. :*) Could there be a better compliment?
5. My sisters. A nuttier couple of sisters there probably are not. They're mine. And I like them nutty. 
6. My grandparents. How lucky am I, that at age 31 I still have them? I cherish every conversation (okay...sometimes they become a bit long-winded), every memory.  
7. My friends. All over the country.
8. The Army. Yeah, there are rough patches. It's no fun to worry about my husband being shot or blown up, and it's no fun to leave all your friends in Colorado and move to Georgia to start anew. But the Army has given us so much. I can't imagine life without the Army.
9. My chihuahua, Diego. He's an amazing little dude. He loves me unconditionally.
10. My country. I feel very lucky to have been born here.
11. The ability to read. I can't imagine life without books.
12. The ability to cook and create delicious foods.
13. My tastebuds.
14. Music.
15. A good school for my children to attend.
16. Being able to put my children in soccer, volleyball, chorus, Girl Scouts, swimming lessons, and whatever they desire to attempt. But not all at once.
17. Bedtime. And a soft place to land at the end of a productive day.
18. Quiet mornings. Especially the ones when I wake up before my alarm. Peace.
19. Bath tubs. And bubble bath. And shower gel. And those little poofs. And a book. All at the same time.
20. Allergy medicine. It's springtime in the south.

What do you find yourself thankful for this weekend?

Thanksgiving Sandwich
serves 1

Ingredients:

• 2 slices pumpernickel or other hearty bread, toasted
• 1/4 cup mashed potatoes
• 2 slices of turkey
• 2 Tbsp whole berry cranberry sauce
• salt and pepper to taste
• hot broth (chicken or turkey)

How it's Done:

1. Spread the mashed potatoes on one side of each slice of bread. Top with turkey and cranberry sauce. Salt and pepper to taste
2. Close sandwich and cut in half.
3. Serve with hot broth for dipping, if desired.