On being thankful. Day 30.

I made it! I may not have written every day, but that doesn't mean I wasn't thankful every day.

So why is it so hard to just get on here and write about it? Could it be that we just don't think about it enough? That we take our amazing, wonderful lives for granted?

Listen, I live in a sturdy house with running HOT water at the flip of a handle. I get to stand in front of my woodstove and soak up the cozy heat. I have a refrigerator to keep my cold food cold, two ovens and a stovetop, a dishwasher, and a washer and dryer. I have a vacuum to suck up the dog hair I complain about, and a four-foot-wide dust mop when I don't feel like getting out the vacuum. I have a water softener to take the minerals and rust out of my wonderfully-non-fluoridated-and-chlorinated fresh well water, and a KitchenAid mixer and a bread machine. When I go out in the morning, I have my choice of vehicles to drive. Little zippy car or big fancy truck? Every person in my family has a cell phone, a computer, and an iPod. I push buttons and lights come on.

I have five healthy children, a wonderful son-in-law, and two beautiful grandsons with another grandbaby on the way. My husband thinks I am the greatest thing since sliced bread. My parents are still living and healthy, and I get to see most of my extended family pretty regularly.

I have a Savior, a lover of my soul who loved me so desperately he took my place on the cross and bought me access to the Father with his own blood. I did nothing to deserve it. It was his love-gift to me.

I am thankful.