So Thankful

for the abundance of food in our home right now - the pie making has begun and the plans are all made, each recipe in a folder on the kitchen counter

 that my Mom and step-father are coming from Connecticut to be with us for Thanksgiving

the trees that grow so abundantly up here in nothern Vermont that provide the material of which we make our living from

that our best seller this season so far  is the simple couple's ornament - which is nice because it  uses so little of the branch

for our children's abundant creativity (in the picture above they are carving on ice harvested from our pond)

for amazing thrift store finds yesterday - a log cabin quilt ($8.00!) and some beautiful handmade pottery (for just a couple of dollars total), and a shirt that our almost seventeen year old just loves (no worries from him about wearing used - thankful for that too!)

that our oldest son is home with us from college - all nine of us now snug in our cozy home for the week - I am remembering to be thankful for each one of them -  even among the noise and chaos

I just feel so blessed and thank God for every one of the blessings He has given me.  Practicing gratitude has been a gradual practice in my life that has now become a habit and for that I am thankful.   When all 7 of us lived in a small mobile home without electricity for over two years and I carried water, washed clothes by hand, kept our food cold with ice blocks, cooked on the woodstove - I realized that I could either be grateful for what God had provided me and look at all of the little blessings, or I could cave in and harden and be miserable.  

I just reminded Abraham and Sarah how blessed they were to be enjoying a piece of chocolate cake with milk and to be sitting in a warm house.  Sometimes it isn't always easy to find things to be grateful for and I know that sometimes we all go through trials, but practicing gratitude for even the smallest of things can truly lead to joy.

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving - it truly is a beautiful holiday to celebrate!