Counting my Blessings

With Thanksgiving looming on us quickly, I thought this was the perfect opportunity list my blessings, and there are alot so bare with me!
I am thankful for four beautiful children who entertain me, frustrate me, laugh with me, make me cry (mostly in the good way) have wonderful and different personalities. I couldn't be any luckier unless there was more (which is pretty unlikely, BTW)
I am thankful for my husband, who's my best friend, my lover, the guy who makes me maddest and gladdest (is gladdest a word?) all in one.
I am thankful for my parents. They are my number one biggest fans, they totally support anything I do, no matter how crazy they have thought some of the things were. They always encourage me and remind me often that even on those days I wonder if anyone does, SOMEONE loves me!
My baby brother, I can remember wondering what mom and dad were thinking, they had a perfect kid and then went and had another, ugh!!! But now you're my best bud, we can talk or not talk and we totally know what the other one needs and we try to be each other's solution, not their problem.
I am thankful to be 37 years old and have a grandmother who is my best friend, who I talk to 3 or 4 times a day, everyday. We talk about cooking, sewing, parenting, and just stuff. My grandma is the coolest lady I know!
I am thankful for my aunts, they are my 'second' moms and I love them for all that they do for me, whether its a shoulder to cry on or just someone to gossip with, I am very blessed as I have FIVE of them!! O,E,K,L, and P~hugs to you!!
My uncles, OMG, where do I start, from the one who was my big brother growing up, to the one who delights in scares my kids with his false teeth (just like he did us as kids!), to my Anchor Fest co-worker, to 'Ugly' (yes you're hair is on straight) and my almost birthday buddy and my actual birthday buddy, man have I got some cool ones. Of course I was thankful to have a really super cool one, who's watching my boys play sports from a play way up high and I know he'd just love to see them.
I can't go through and name everything about all of my cousins, 'cause I'd never get through it. 15 first cousins, plus steps, plus more....... but you all have such a special place in my life. From fishing with the Angle cousins and always having those great times at Wilson park, to cruising with E.D. being thrilled when that girl (then that second one) cousin arrived, I love you all very much, and I am glad that you are part of my life.
Friends, how do you start counting friends, you'd never catch them all, but here's a few, you know who you are, the ones I scrapbook with, the ones I grew up with, the ones that I email, the ones that I talk to on the phone ten times a day, the ones that I sit with at school/sports functions, the ones I go to church with and so many more.
I know that so far I have only mentioned people, well there are alot of things that I am thankful for as well, some of them being,
health
a home
security
to live in a free country where even if we don't like how things go, we have the right to choose
I can attend the church of my choice, worship how I choose whenever I wish to
I can feed my family healthy nutricious food, or junk, again my choice!
And there are so many more things, but I just don't think that I can list them all.
I am glad that I have this forun to share these thoughts, and I am very thankfully counting my blessing here tonight,
From Tulip~
KH