Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope everyone has a wonderful time with family and friends today. Yesterday was a baking day for me; we are going to my aunt’s house this afternoon, and it’s always fun when we all get together over there. Anyway, just thought today I would sit down and write down 27 things I’m thankful for on this, the 27th day of November, 2008, Thanksgiving Day…..

1. I’m so thankful to be saved through the blood of Jesus and know that some day, we will have an eternal celebration!
2. I’m so very thankful for my husband, Dan, and my 2 children, Jacob and Jaden; I love them more every day.
3. I’m thankful for my parents and family; I love you all very much.
4. I’m thankful for being able to stay at home right now with my kids and not have to leave them with someone else; I’ve done that before with Jacob, and it was one of the hardest things to do.
5. I’m thankful to be able to write and to be able to have the freedom to write whatever I believe.
6. I’m so thankful for freedom and for the sacrifice our troops have continually made down through history to keep our freedoms alive for us.
7. I’m thankful for education, for without it where would we be right now?
8. I’m thankful for all my friends and being able to stay in contact with all of you online too.
9. I’m thankful for the computer.
10. I’m thankful for chocolate!:)
11. I’m thankful for Christmas music and the Christmas tree, etc.:)<
12. I'm thankful to be in a church that believes in doing as well as teaching.
13. I'm thankful for snow, but I really wish we could get some right now.:)
14. I'm thankful to have a car.
15. I'm so very thankful to have a house and a roof over our heads. I'm sad that our house burnt down, but I can see how God was working through all of that.
16. I'm thankful that I get to talk to Nancy and other friends every day; I'm so glad to have you all in my life.
17. I'm thankful that my kids are healthy and happy kids.
18. I'm thankful that Jacob is loving Tae Kwon Do.
19. I'm thankful for Christmas movies.:)
20. I'm thankful for something even as simple as a dvr, so we can watch favorite shows later when we have time.:)
21. I'm thankful for White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake from Olive Garden, the best dessert in the world!:)
22. I'm thankful for being able to get to know people in NYC and so thankful for that city and all the people in it.
23. I'm thankful for being able to homeschool Jacob.
24. I'm thankful for holidays so Dan can stay home and not have to rush off to work.
25. I'm thankful for nursing and all my nursing friends; I miss you all.
26. I'm thankful for books!
27. I'm thankful for music, for without it, life would be pretty bland.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Hope you have a great day!

As I write this post, I am contemplating the true meaning of thankfulness and gratitude. We are so, so blessed in this nation, but we have no idea how truly blessed we are. Most of us have beds to sleep in, food on our tables, good health, and a roof over our heads, not to mention the families and friends we love and are loved by. Even with the country and the economy in the shape that they are in, we are still truly blessed. My hope is that this post will reiterate to you how truly blessed you are and will help you to begin to readjust the way you think. Some parts of this post may be hard to hear, and some parts of the video clips may be hard to watch, but please don’t turn your heads. The people in these clips are real human beings, created by God, just like you and me. You see, God created us in His image, and no matter where we are at, as human beings, and especially as children of God, we have a responsibility for each other that is so vital. So, please don’t turn your heads. Yes, these things are so hard to think about, and it may cut you to the core, but we cannot and should not stop thinking and doing all we can just because it hurts. After all, Christ did not come down off of that cross, even though He had the power to do so; He stayed there and endured the pain and affliction because He loved us. Now, it’s time for us to show Him how truly grateful we are. What will you do?

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” -Albert Schweitzer

“For each new morning with its light,For rest and shelter of the night,For health and food, for love and friends,For everything Thy goodness sends.”-Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone.” -G.B. Stern

“No one is as capable of gratitude as one who has emerged from the kingdom of night.” -Elie Wiesel

These first two videos remind me of how truly blessed I am to be born where I was and to have the parents that I had. It also makes me want to hug my children. As a nurse, the AIDS crisis is so real to me, and anything we can do to ease the suffering is sorely needed. Children are also being forced every day into the life of a rebel soldier. Where is our gratitude to God when we sit back and turn our heads, only to look away?

This next video, well, it just makes the tears flow, but to any of our troops out there, THANK YOU for everything you sacrifice and give for our freedom! And thank you to the families of the troops for all of the sacrifices you have made. When I think of a soldier over there fighting, as a wife and mother, I also think of their family back home. What are they feeling right now and going through? So, thank you. I am sorry for all of the times I have taken this freedom for granted. You are true heroes!

As for this last video, I had actually seen it on Oprah a couple weeks ago, and it truly touched my heart. Grab the tissues, if you haven’t already because you will need them, but please don’t let the sadness let stop you from watching this video. Be grateful for your kids and the many blessings they have brought into your life. Give them hugs, and tell them you love them.

So, now it’s your turn. Are you truly grateful, or are you just skating through life, taking everything you have been given for granted? What will you do?

It’s Tuesday, and there are only 2 more days until Thanksgiving!:) I thought in the spirit of the holiday, I would start a 3 part Thanksgiving Day special edition of HeartPrints. Today, I found something that should give you a good laugh. We can all use a good laugh now and then. So, click on the links below, sit back, and let the laughing begin. Oh, and have a wonderful Tuesday!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Orv_ic3acRw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnohHTLMs3Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=501sNcmrwGQ