thoughts for today

Just sitting here working on my blog and thinking about how fortunate I am and counting my blessings. I complain about stuff and then I always have to remember that there is always someone worse off than I am. I have a lot to be grateful for. Here are just a few things:

Bob, Sarah, Shawn, Keith and Megan. I'm grateful for my family, Bob's family, Keith's family and Megan's.

We have a beautiful home, with beautiful things. Our surroundings are gorgeous, too. I know I complain about Southern Maryland because of the lack of good shopping, good medical and the slim choices for jobs. But, they really do have a lot to offer, too.

Although I do love to visit big cities and walk around in them--I love to hear city noises--as Neil Diamond says, "beautiful noise." I love the shopping and restaurants, theaters, the people--a city can be intoxicating. But, I think I am always grateful to have a home with a country setting to come back to. It's not so far out in the country and so rural that you don't get cable, Internet or cell phone service -- and I'm grateful for that because I like my modern conveniences.

With an acre of land of our own--and all the neighbors have about an acre--none of us are right on top of each other. Yet, we have neighbors and you get that suburb feel. At the same time, we are surrounded by trees and have the pleasure of sitting in our backyard watching and listening to the birds and squirrels, listening to the crickets on a warm summer evening and can be lulled to sleep on the swing while listening to the hypnotic sounds of the fountain in the pond. I love to be in my own yard and feel as though I am in a park.

The highway is right there, we can walk to it, and we can hear the cars. But, those sounds don't drown out the beautiful sounds of the birds.

We have Wal-Mart across the street and 2 other shopping centers 5 and 10 minutes away--so for all of our immediate needs, we are covered.

Every day, as I leave for work when I'd rather be at home, I thank God for the birds, squirrels and all his creatures and thank him for the opportunity to live here to enjoy and notice the animals, trees, flowers--nature.

I am grateful for our friends and new family we gained when Sarah married Keith.

I complain--but am grateful for the job I am fortunate enough to have.

I am grateful for all the wonderful opportunities I have had to travel--both near and far from home--and all the continued opportunities I will have to travel.

I am grateful for our new friends, Andrew and Annie and all the new friends I/we will make.

I am grateful to have a garden in which to grow fresh veggies and herbs. And, grateful for neighbors who let us plant a garden on their land--and I'm glad to be able to share the fruits of our labors with them.

I am grateful to have modern conveniences like dishwashers, washers and dryers, cars, computers and so many other things that we take for granted and that make our lives so much nicer. We fortet about all the people who go without the necessities, let alone have all the modern conveniences.

I know there are lots of things I am grateful for that I'm just not thinking of right now.

I am truly blessed and to that, I say THANK YOU!