When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around! -Willie Nelson

This is the time of year that people always begin to look back and remember how blessed they are and how much they have to be thankful for. I'm in that same boat. I know how easy it is to think you've got it bad, but let's take a moment to remember what happened in 2010....

January 12 - 7.0-Magnitude Earthquake Devastates Haiti, causing severe damage. 
The Haitian Government estimated the total number of deaths to 230,000. In addition, more than 250,000 people were injured and 2 million were homeless in the nation of 9 million. 

February 27 - Chile Hit By 8.8 Magnitude Earthquake.

Fatalities were relatively low, with some 750 people killed in the devastation. However, as many as 1.5 million people were displaced.

April 14 - Earthquake in China Kills Hundreds, Injures 10,000.

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck China, killing at least 400 people and injuring another 10,000.

May 27 - Biggest Oil Spill in History.

An oil rig exploded and gushed for 95 continuous days and spilled nearly 200 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

July 30 - Pakistan Floods. 

After two weeks of massive flooding in Pakistan, the UN estimated at least 1,600 people were killed and 14 million displaced from their homes.

October 13 - 33 Trapped Chilean Miners Rescued.

After spending 68 days trapped in a mine half a mile underground, and a massive, multi-million dollar rescue operation, all 33 Chilean miners are pulled to safety.

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough  -- Oprah Winfrey 

 I am incredibly thankful for so much this year:

1. My wonderful husband
2. My amazing family and friends that are always there for me
3. A nice little apartment to call home
4. A sweet kitty that always is there to greet me at the door
5. Two good jobs with great coworkers
6. My 2 nephews and a 3rd on the way
7. Fall leaves and fall colors.... sweaters and a hot cup of coffee
8. Two running cars that I don't owe money on
9. The joy of baking and making treats
10. Health, wealth, and happiness! (ok, so we're still working on the wealth part :)

What are you thankful for this season?

Thanks?

Thank you. Two of the easiest words anyone could say, and yet they can make such a huge impact. It's funny how people only say those words in certain situations. I was eating out at a restaurant the other day and kept thanking the waitress when she brought my drink and food and whatnot. Every time she just kind of looked at me strange, like I wasn't supposed to be thanking her. After working for so long in the food industry, I love thanking people that don't often get the thanks they deserve. Most people just assume that is what they are getting paid for. Anyways... that was my little tangent. Thanksgiving is a good time to reflect on the things we should be thankful for on an every day basis. I love how Paul puts it:

"I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." Phillipians 4:11-13

Sometimes it's hard to think that I have anything to be thankful for, but I know I always have way more than I even realize. I'm healthy. I have a wonderful family, great friends, and an amazing husband, all who love me so much! And my needs are always met. I might not have all the money in the world to do exciting things, but I have a car to take me to the Fresh Market so that I can walk around and look at all the things I'd like to buy. And that was just as much fun, if not more fun, than actually buying anything.

"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful."
- Buddha