This year, instead of posting once a day for 30 days on my Facebook account, I have decided to post all of the small things for which I am thankful for and I am doing it all in one post. I've always been told that you can't appreciate the big things in life if you don't stop to be thankful for all of the little things first. So this year, it's all about the little things.
1) I am thankful for my children no longer feeling the need to issue a "brace yourself" warning to each other when we approach the car launch ramp, I mean exit, to our subdivision during rush hour. My children have learned to make sure they have secured their belongings, tightened their seatbelts, and have a firm grip on one of the vehicle's grab bars.
2) I am thankful our dog now recognizes the need to brace herself upon seeing us make our final approach to the car launch ramp. After nearly 2 years of unsuccessfully using her claws to try to stay upright while looking out the car window as our vehicle moves quickly into an open space in the rush hour traffic, she now jumps down and lays on the floorboard of the car. My children have decided she would rather not see what's happening and is bracing for impact.
3) I am thankful for well-timed green lights. There is nothing more beautiful than driving down a stretch of highway and have the signal lights all change to green as you approach.
4) Milk Chocolate. No further explanation necessary.
5) Puffs Plus. What is more gratifying than to be able to catch your child's sneeze and not have the tissue disintegrate in your hand upon impact.
6) The scroll wheel on the mouse. It is quite satisfying to be able to scroll up or down a computer screen faster than the speed of light. I do think it would be neat if computer gurus could install a sonic boom noise which would automatically sound when you surpass a certain scrolling speed.
7) Refrigerator magnets. Those magnets hold special pieces of artwork, doctor's appointment reminders, and important school information, and they always take a backseat to everyone being thankful for toilet paper.
8) Dark chocolate. It's the healthy chocolate and therefore equates to eating a vegetable.
9) Television and its accompanying electronic components. "Barney's Super-Singing Circus" VHS tape played every 2-4 hours in my house for my son's first 4 years of life as he underwent nebulizer treatments for asthma. That tape, while it caused the loss of a great many of my brain cells, was the only thing my son would sit still to watch while allowing a mask to be placed over his nose and mouth to receive the medication. "Boom, boom, ain't it great to be crazy?!......"
10) Window blinds and coverings. I'm sure my neighbors appreciate our judicious use of our blinds and I know I appreciate theirs.
11) Sunglasses. While I'm out on sunny or bright days I get to feel like Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly.
12) Semi-sweet chocolate. 3 words: Toll House Cookies......
13) Shopping carts. Because having to lug a pack mule to the grocery store to carry my items would be even more difficult to load into my SUV than remembering to bring my reusable tote bags.
14) String. It can hold a Christmas tree onto the roof of a car, or prevent a car's bumper from dragging the ground. It can also be in the form of yarn which can be knitted into a cap, socks, or that ugly Christmas sweater Aunt Marge knits for you every.single.year..
15) Dish scrubbers. Whether it be a brush, scrubbing sponge, or SOS pad, they just make life easier and, because they are disposable, usually get forgotten on these kinds of lists.
16) Special dark chocolate. In case you did not know, it goes well with wine. You're welcome.
17) The words "please" and "thank you", as well as "yes/no ma'am" and "yes/no sir". Whether from an adult or a child, nothing is quite as pleasant as giving and receiving respect through our choice of words in both big and small acts of kindness.
18) Ranch dressing. Without this one small food product added to my children's vegetables when they were younger, they would have been carnivores.
19) A lawn blower/vac. This one crucial piece of lawn equipment has saved me from sweeping up the sidewalk for months on end, not to mention the reduction in the need to rake leaves in the fall since it vacuums them up directly into a bag.
20) White chocolate. It decorates strawberries beautifully when interwoven with milk chocolate.
21) Potty-trained children and pets. After having to change a diaper or clean up a pet accident on a rug, no further explanation is necessary.
22) Staples, paper clips, and binder clips. Without these essentials, we would all look like hoarders.
23) Label makers. Now when I cram things in storage containers, I actually know what is in there. It has been a budget saver as well since I don't buy 15 of the exact same thing only to lose it somewhere in my house.
24) Bittersweet chocolate. Think chocolate raspberry cake with a dark truffle icing. Every chocolate has a place among mankind.
25) Toenail clippers with the under-the-nail gunk scraper. Really, whoever came up with the idea of this essential grooming tool was a genius.
26) Vehicle turn signals...... especially when drivers actually use them.
27) Erasers and correction tape. I wish life mistakes could be removed as easily.
28) Cocoa. A cold winter's night, a fire in the fireplace, and a cup of hot cocoa. Cocoa, another life necessity.
29) Pooper scoopers. The several feet of clean air space the long-handled scooper affords makes life much sweeter......... smelling.
30) All of my family, friends, and readers who encourage and support me....... probably against their better judgement.
Enjoy the crazy relatives and the guess-what-food-that-is-casserole at your family get-togethers. Wishing you all a safe, joyous, and very happy Thanksgiving!
Written by Christie Bielss
