Why are you thankful this year?

Since November 1st I have enjoyed reading why many of my Facebook friends and family are thankful this year. The challenge is to post 1 thing you are thankful for each day as your status. Last year I read, "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann VosKamp and she challenges her readers to list 3 things a day they are thankful for throughout the year, not to save them up because you never know when your next November won't be here. 

In honor of Thanksgiving 2013 and "One Thousand Gifts", my list for the entire month of November. 

1. For friends and family taking time to call 
2. The smell of dinner in the crock pot when I walk into my parent's kitchen after a very long day at work
3. An entire day with my sister-in-laws and cousin to enjoy our other sister's performance in "The Sound of Music"
4. Worship in the morning, women's Bible study in the evening & a movie with my family to wind down our day
5. My writers' critique group - lovely ladies, friends, and women of God ~ not to mention awesome editors!
6. Watching our daughter mature into a young woman
7. Conversations in the car when no one is listening
8. Encouragement of local bookstore for my upcoming book
9. To watch Mary perform in her first high school play
10. An official and fabulous photo shoot for my portfolio and marketing package to send to television, radio, & other medias about my April 3, 2013 release
11. A day of rest ~ even if it was induced by allergy meds. :(
12. A day of baking with my sister-in-laws
13. A "bored", sorry "board" meeting with fellow men and women of God who prayerfully believe in serving
14. For an opportunity to interact with the community
15. For improved health of sick friends and family
16. 2nd round of proof books arrive and my husband and daughter treat me to dinner at Pizza Hut (my favorite)
17. A ten-hour work day on my writing and speaking
18. Powerful worship service and a finished thanksgiving video to be posted Wednesday and Thursday here on the blog. Thanks DAD!
19. Inspired by the energy of our youth
20. For a community who comes together each year to celebrate all we have to be thankful in our school district 
21. Thanksgiving Eve ~ Parade in the morning, yipee!
22. Happy Thanksgiving with family
23. Black Friday Shopping - enough said! Love this day ~ and we usually don't "need" anything, just love the buzz and joy on people's face as they save money while blessing another
24. Rest and recovery....
25. Eight years ago this Sunday I returned to church and met Jesus
26. Another evening with our youth
27. Thankful for insurance to help pay for doctors
28. 3-color day at Sally's
29. Family day
30. TGIF
31. Dec. 1st - spending the day at the Presbyterian Church in Mexico, New York as part of Christmas in Mexico 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Photo below is my Grandpa Searles. :)