The Thankful List

**I will be adding to this throughout the day, so check back in with me. Please feel free to leave your own gratitudes in the the com box**

5:30 AM
I’m thankful for:

The stillness of the house in the wee hours of the morning. All I can hear is the hum of the refrigerator and the clacking of the keyboard. I love the calm of everyone else being tucked in bed and sleeping.
Electricity – Let’s be honest, we’re never grateful enough for that modern miracle. A hundred years or so ago, my being up this early would have been a lot of work –lighting candles and handwriting this by their meager light. I’m thankful that I can flip a switch and have quiet time to myself instead of lying there in the dark
My sleeping husband who pulled the waking baby into the warmth of his chest, where she settled down and fell back to sleep, so that I could get up and write.
The friends and neighbors who are coming over to share our giant turkey. They are saving us from having left-overs for the next month.
Brownie Mix – my crazy kids don’t really care for pie –so I’m making brownies this morning — from a box — and they’ll be thrilled. Hooray for box mixes!
That we could buy the turkey already dead, plucked, and ready to go. I’ve helped kill and clean chickens before … I can’t imagine that turkeys are any better.

6:15 AM

Pre-made pie crust. Yes, my mother taught me how to make them. No, I don’t want to.
Measuring cups. I don’t even want to think about trying to cook all this food if I had to eyeball the measurements.
Green-bean casserole. It’s what Thanksgiving dinner is all about to me. Forget your turkey and mashed potatoes, pass me some savory goodness. I know that there are a lot of people who don’t like it. Those people are wrong.

6:45 AM

For dishwashers which make it so easy to take a break at the end of the first round of cooking and get everything back to clean before the next round begins.
Little boy hugs and not-quite-awake-yet voices

6:53 AM

Early morning cartoons to keep the early-rising children occupied and quiet.
Facebook and Instant Messaging so that all the up-early-and-cooking moms can chat and keep each other company

7:30 AM

My sweet neighbor who said “Let’s go for a walk in the morning before we get to some serious cooking.”
That she’s bringing mimosas for after the walk. I think Thanksgiving cooking has to be more fun with alcohol.

7:45 AM

8:00 AM

A moment to stop and pray
The baby who still wants to nurse and forces me to stop for a moment and be still. A perfect time for talking to God, and for kissing little baby fingers
Fat little baby hands
The 8 year old who begged to be able to watch the Macy’s parade this morning and is sitting enthralled in front of the TV
Satellites that can bring the New York City Thanksgiving parade to our house outside of Dallas, Texas.

9:20 AM

Clean bathrooms and a husband who gets them that way
Our “Thankful Tablecloth” and the memories it holds
The smell of a clean house and a food that’s been cooking
Enough food to cook that it will take a day and a half to prepare it all. There are hungry people in the world. We are blessed indeed!

9:45 AM

The big kids helping the little ones get dressed
The older boys asking “What do you need me to do, Mom?”
A day that dawned comfortably warm and lovely, so that we can go outside to play

10:20 AM

For neighbors who have extra meat thermometers and don’t mind letting me borrow one when mine goes missing
For roasting pans large enough to hold a 22 lb turkey
Those little crunchy onion thingys that go on green bean casserole (Have I mentioned how I adore the green bean casserole?)

11:10 AM

For prep work done and food in the oven
Big sister hugs when the baby gets hurt
Enthusiastic 11 year old helpers
The 5 year old singing “Today is Thanksgiving! Today is Thanksgiving! Today id Thanksgiving!”
Real butter on the table…mmmm…butter

11:15 AM