A Month of Thanksgiving

For the past month I've literally been totally preoccupied with evaluating myself (lots of walks and laying in the grass).  Who knew it could take a whole month?  Well, it has, and I'm not done yet.  I've discovered quite a few things about myself in this whole process, good and not so good.  Which is all good, honestly.  And I've made a few really important decisions, followed by much prayer and undeniable confirmations that what I have decided, though not totally understood by me, is the best thing for me to do.  For example: I have decided to quit competing in ballroom dance.  Remember that poster that I saw that said "Sometimes on the way to a dream you get lost and find a better one?"  Well, I was being serious, though I'm not exactly sure what that better dream is, I just know it's there.  See?  I just have other things that are more important that I really need to focus on in my life.  Apparently it couldn't wait even a year longer (this is me kissing tour team goodbye).  I suppose the Lord has something else in store for me somewhere.  Somehow.  

Anyway.  One of the things I've decided to work on is gratitude.  So here I am, just sitting at my kitchen table, listening to the movie Shall We Dance (Fred and Ginger) while my sister is curled up on the couch, enjoying the smell of apple pie in the oven, glancing out the window at the beautiful mountains dusted in snow, being grateful for all of it.  And it really is as great as it sounds, I promise.  It's basically a perfect afternoon.  Basically.  I mean, there are just a couple of things that could make it better, but then it really would be PERFECT.  But I'm grateful for just how perfect it is anyway.  

I'm grateful for what happens when you stick some apples, sugar, and cinnamon in an oven for an hour.  

I'm grateful for a brother and sister who live so close by.  

I'm grateful for this beautiful month and for snow! 

I'm grateful for happiness that comes from love and eternal marriage, and being able to be a part of my darling friend's big day.

I'm grateful for my very understanding dance partners.

I'm grateful for my best friends. I love them dearly. All of them.

I am just such a very fortunate girl.  

So there you go.  That's the start of my Month of Thanksgiving.  I'm so extremely far from perfect, so I'll probably forget half the time that I'm working on it, but at least I'll try.  

So, what are you grateful for today?  I'd like to know.