31 Years, 31 Things To Be Thankful For

In no particular order (except for the first, let's say, 10), here are 31 things that I am thankful for in celebration of my 31st birthday today!

1. My faith in my Heavenly Father which has guided my choices and gotten me through the good times and the bad even when I didn't think I had any reason to continue.
   
2. My wonderful husband for putting up with my insanity over the better part of the last seven years.
3. My amazing daughter who has turned out just like me and is the reason I thanked my parents this morning for allowing me to live to see my 31st birthday.
4. My peanut of a son who constantly challenges me to see the world from a smaller point of view.
5. My youngest princess who brings me back to earth when I feel like I just can't handle another second of the insanity.
6. My mom and dad for allowing me to live long enough to see my 31st birthday. No. Really. If you had ANY idea what I put them through...
7. My brothers and sister for deflecting some of the attention off of me when I was being a brat. KIDDING!!! (sort of). Really though, Dennis, Steve-O, and Kat are the BEST SIBLINGS EVER!!!
   
8. My crazy dogs. That's all I've got. They're just insane.
9. My friends, both here and far away.
10. That I'm HERE this year instead of where I was this time last year!
11. The chicken coops - because believe it or not, they are a reminder of how much better things are than how they were!
12. My Honda CRV. Oh, how I love that car!
13. The Beach. I know I will always have something to look forward to as long as the waves are crashing.
    
14. That I just killed that big, scary spider before he killed me. Just go with me on this one, okay?
15. My creativity, which is not my own but is a gift that I have been entrusted with. It has provided me with an outlet and with opportunity far beyond my wildest imagination.
16. My love of reading which I get from my parents. It provides me with a way to keep my mind sharp and gives me an outlet when I need an escape from reality.
17. MMMM.... Beer.
18. MMMM.... Wine.
19. MMMM.... Chocolate.
20. My health, which I would like to get back sooner rather than later.
21. The opportunity to walk in the Breast Cancer 3 Day in October!
22. My ability to write.
    
23. My trip to Jamaica in 2000. It changed my life.
24. For everyone who believes in me, even when I struggle to believe in myself.
25. Sleep, which I just can never seem to get enough of!
26. Grey's Anatomy. Don't hate. It is what it is.
27. Being a mom.
28. Sunny days.
29. Rainy days.
30. Organization.
31. My blog readers!!!

Love, hugs, and blessings,
The Mama