Giving Thanks: 100 Things I Love

A couple years ago, I made a gratitude list like the one I'm sharing today, prompted by Amanda of Lets Take the Metro. This year, the challenge to come up with 100 things on Thanksgiving came from Jorje of Momma Jorje. I joined in gladly, remembering how fun it was to come up with my list last time.

I think I enjoyed making my list even more this year, if that's possible. I hope you like reading it, too!

1. I am so aware this time of year that I have my basic needs met (though I sometimes—perhaps unnecessarily—worry about it).
2. I have enough to eat, 
3. I have clean water to drink,
4. I have a warm place sleep, 
5. and I am surrounded by a community of people who love and care about me.
6. I am more often than not in a position where I'm able to help others (even in small ways),
7. and I'm so grateful for the help I receive, too.


8. I am so blessed to have Jaymz as my friend, partner, and co-parent. 
9. We make an excellent team, and we have a lot of fun together.


10. 
    As often as I request it (and sometimes more frequently) Jaymz makes a carafe of cold press decaf coffee for me.
11. I keep it in the fridge and it's ready for me to heat up whenever I want.
12. I add cinnamon, 
13. half & half, 
14. coconut sugar, and boiling water. 
15. Consuming this collaborative effort is one of my great pleasures in life.


16. I feel very blessed to be pregnant with Baby #2. It was more difficult for us to conceive this time, 
17. and I don't take my fertility for granted.
18. This pregnancy has truly been joyful for me, and I appreciate the ways my body is adjusting to the changes gracefully this time around.
19. I am in awe that my body and my baby know exactly what to do. 
20. I am privileged to have access and options when it comes to healthcare, 
21. and I have skilled, caring, wonderful midwives to look after me and baby during this exciting process. 
22. Watching my belly move as the baby rolls around inside me makes me laugh. 
23. Jaymz makes me laugh, too, and laughing feels awesome!


24. 
    I love Daniel's smile. He can truly light up a room and engage everyone in it, seemingly without even trying. 
25. I appreciate his wit 
26. and sense of humor, 
27. his drive to learn new things, 
28. his creativity,
29. imagination,
30. and his incredible memory. 
31. I love the way he appropriately uses big words (and in ways that I wouldn't have thought to do). 
32. I am especially grateful for his sensitivity 
33. and empathy, even when those qualities prove challenging. 
34. After all, I am highly sensitive, too.


35. I really enjoy living in Portland. 
36. This city is so friendly, 
37. very green (in both color and environmental-friendliness), 
38. and it suits our family well in many ways. 
39. I like the relatively mild weather year-round 
40. and even the rain. 
41. I love the quirky people 
42. and the pervasive live and let live attitude.


43. 
    I appreciate the many ways I'm able to show myself love in my everyday life. 
44. Crocheting, 
45. sewing, 
46. crafting, 
47. and even cooking
48. provide amazing outlets for my creative energy while also being useful in practical ways. 


49. I am grateful for bartering, which has allowed me (among other things) 
50. to attend yoga classes in exchange for work for more than a year now. 
51. 
    I'm thankful for massage at the skilled hands of Arwyn, 
52. which has allowed me to enjoy a better quality of life while living with chronic pain. 
53. I am grateful for baths 
54. and essential oils, 
55. both of which provide a sense of sanctuary at the end of challenging days.


56. I appreciate having this blog as an outlet for my thoughts, feelings, and any other bits of randomness I feel like sharing. 
57. I recently published my 700th post here, which feels like a significant accomplishment. 
58. I'm thankful that I participated in NaBloPoMo this year, as it's been a valuable exercise in prioritization and focus, 
59. and it's also reminded me of what's important to me and how I most want to spend my time. 
60. I'm grateful for the friendships I've cultivated as a result of writing here; I never could've imagined what a blessing those connections would be in my life.


61. I've enjoyed settling into our first home. We've lived here for a little over a year and a half already, but it still feels new in some ways. 
62. It's definitely still a work in progress.
63. I'm proud of how productive my garden was over the past two summers.
64. At the same time, I'm also looking forward to taking the summer off next year when my plan is to broadcast seeds in the vegetable garden plot and grow wildflowers. 
65. I've been particularly enjoying watching the songbirds visiting the garden and our bird feeders lately, as they fill up for the cold months while fertilizing the soil at the same time. 


66. 
    The inside of the house is coming along, too. We recently installed art wire in our dining room so we can display Daniel's creations, and I love how homey that makes the room feel. 
67. I'm excitedly anticipating the work we have planned for this weekend: decorating the room where I will give birth 
68. and rearranging our room to ready it for Baby. 
69. Perhaps in a few weeks we'll be ready to hang family pictures and art on the walls, as well. 


70. I feel like I owe so much thanks to Daniel's OT, Lisa, who has been an incredible source of knowledge, support, and encouragement for us over the past couple of years.
71. They are far too many to count, but our other sources of support are truly invaluable. If you're reading this, you have likely touched our lives. (Jaymz and) I will forever be grateful for the ways you've helped us. Thank you.
72. I am grateful that dear ones have been eager to participate in 
73. my virtual mama blessing. 
74. It's been delightful to receive your gifts of words 
75. and tokens of support.


76. 
    I am thankful for my kitties, Jack 
77. and Eddie. 
78. They provide warmth, 
79. cuddles, 
80. entertainment, 
81. and (free for the price of cat food) therapeutic benefits to all three of us.


82. Perhaps most of all, I am grateful for the ways kindness,
83. comfort,
84. beauty,
85. and joy sneak up and surprise me every day: 
86. 
    a "thank you" plant gifted from a neighbor, 
87. a caring and attentive server at a restaurant, 
88. an unexpected piece of mail, 
89. a simple expression of love 
90. via text message.
91. Showing Daniel how we can see our breath when it's cold outside, 
92. and making him laugh.
93. Holding his hand 
94. while we walk outside together.
95. Feeling the baby hiccup while s/he's still growing inside my body.
96. Goodnight hugs
97. and kisses from the two people I love most in the world.
98. Rainbows,
99. stickers,
100. and warm wool socks.

I am grateful for so many things. ♥