At Long Last, Number 100

Note: Several days ago, I started this list and got up to about 75. I saved it (after it had been auto saved every minute, for hours, by blogger) and took a break. When I returned, I found that only up to 22 or 23 had been saved. I was INCREDIBLY discouraged, as you can imagine, but have decided to have another go at it. These days, I'm working hard at being thankful, in general. Kind of funny to have the previously mentioned experience, while actively striving to be thankful. Certainly stretched me in the area of being full of thanks and NOT complaining...

In no particular order, 100 things that I am thankful for...

1. air conditioning
2. my college education
3. my darling Amelie
4. my sweet Violet
5. my anticipated _ _ _ _ _
6. my incredible, supportive, encouraging, tolerant, helpful, funny, wonderful husband
7. friends with whom I can laugh and cry
8. our church family
9. helpful and supportive parents
10. in-laws that love us and care for us
11. next-door neighbors that were friends before they were our neighbors
12. my washer and dryer
13. my body pillow
14. preventative health care
15. our pastor and his wife
16. Jesus dying for me, a most miserable and wretched sinner
17. comfortable furniture to sit on
18. the internet
19. the grace that the Lord bestows upon me the I DO NOT deserve
20. Duncan's job
21. Duncan's commute (or lack thereof)
22. the solid, Biblical preaching we are privileged to hear every single week
23. my college experience
24. the travels I did in my youth
25. especially my two trips to Honduras which drastically shaped how I view the world and my place in it
26. the Episcopal church I attended in college, where the entire Gospel was preached and people actually believed the Bible
27. the leaders of our church
28. chocolate
29. the fact that my children have 11 older cousins, most of which adore them
30. other peoples' blogs and their encouragement to me
31. the older members of our church that are so encouraging to us
32. the fun that Duncan and I have together
33. the fact that we have a reliable mail system
34. and reliable phone service
35. my refrigerator
36. extended family that are so generous of their time and resources
37. the fact that when I go to the grocery store, the shelves are full
38. e-mail
39. my dishwasher
40. feeling my baby move
41. Duncan's integrity
42. Amelie's sense of humor
43. Violet's developing personality
44. Pine Springs Camp
45. our wedding
46. our marriage
47. Duncan's friends from high school
48. my experience teaching in public school-- the people I met and the experiences I had
49. the incredible woman of faith, who was also chock full of wisdom, that was my teaching partner for two and half years
50. the phrase: "and the world will keep spinning" that she taught me, to keep a proper perspective on life
51. Netflix
52. the ability to stay at home and raise my children
53. the flexibility of Duncan's job
54. the satisfaction that Duncan has from his new job
55. the fact that the majority of my children's clothes have come as hand-me-downs or gifts
56. that when my children need something, I can go the store/go online and get it
57. our backyard
58. my Bible study from this past year
59. my adopted family in college whose home was a refuge to me on more than one occasion
60. Young Life in high school--where I first heard the truth of the Gospel
61. the TiVo that Duncan made (yes made--I was kind of annoyed by the whole thing for a while, but now that it's functional, I LOVE it!!)
62. our first year of marriage in State College and the community we had there
63. our second year of marriage, living with my parents and saving like crazy for this house
64. our 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th years of marriage, in this house
65. our van and its flexibility
66. e-bay and the fun I've had with THE dress
67. Ikea
68. the toys my children have to play with
69. the books my children have to read
70. the public library
71. Chick-fil-A
72. the Bible
73. the Wiggles
74. flavored, unsweetened seltzer
75. running water
76. electricty
77. hot showers
78. heat in the winter time
79. Crocs
80. coffee
81. never having to worry about what I'm going to wear
82. the remote starter on our Malibu
83. the promise of eternal life in heaven
84. tea parties
85. digital pictures and their seeming limitlessness--as long as you back them up =)
86. cell phones
87. Duncan's new goatee that he grew just for me
88. the autumn
89. whipped cream
90. half-caf grande vanilla americanos from Starbucks
91. the color purple (not the book/movie, while they're good, I mean the color)
92. Sandra Boynton books
93. PBS
94. the willingness of others to help me and support me while I'm not very able-bodied during this pregnancy
95. our reclaimed space where our shed once was in our backyard
96. two eyes that see
97. two ears that hear
98. two legs that walk
99. flowers
100. so many things for which I can be thankful...

So, what are you thankful for? I challenge each of you to actively think about it, at the very least.
Here's to the next 100!