here on Clay Pit Creek...

I'm thankful for coffee. I'm thankful for friends. I'm thankful for baby goats.

I'm thankful for extravagant compliments that make me smile for hours afterward. I'm thankful for little girl hugs. I'm thankful for a sleepy dog who curls up on my lap.

I'm thankful for rainy mornings. I'm thankful for author lunches in NYC. I'm thankful for a good nights sleep. I'm thankful for my friend Deanna.

I'm thankful my husband was sweet and supportive today when I was mopey. I'm thankful for a day spent decluttering. I'm thankful for Madeline's Attitude of Gratitude rap. I'm thankful a little black dog who snores! I'm thankful that Madfie beat me at tic tac to twice, and we tied the rest. I'm thankful that we had a fun time playing hangman. I'm thankful for bedtime stories. I'm thankful for my spot on the couch! I'm thankful foran early bedtime tonight. For me, because I'm tired.

I'm thankful Thanksgiving is over! I'm thankful that I have a sense of humor! I'm thankful for red wine! I'm thankful my little girl pulled out of her morning funk and was a good girl for the rest of the day. I'm thankful I was able to shake off the holiday blues yesterday, with a visit to my own family. I'm thankful for a great night at the town tree lighting, and for bagpipers and Christmas music. I'm thankful for the moment when Maddie yelled out " I see Santa!"  across the crowd at the tree lighting. I'm thankful for Elf.

I am thankful for my little sister. I love her! I cannot wait to meet her baby in March! She's a good listener, and supports me as I feel like I'm careening fron disaster to disaster. I'm thankful for my mom...she's strong and energetic and so creative. I'm thankful for cough syrup, which gave me my first good night of sleep in a while. I'm thankful for music.  Maddie had choir rehearsal last night...it makes my so happy. I need to find a way to get more music in my life .

I've been a bit gratitude challenged lately, which I know is bad when I have been so lucky and have so much to be grateful for...I thought maybe if I took the time to write things down I could turn my attitude around. I'm grateful for my family, especially Madeline and Alan.  Alan is a good soul, and he gives a lot, and he's very kind.  He's funny, and he makes the world a better place.  He helps people, and he works hard. Madeline is full of energy!  She loves to entertain us, she loves to give me hugs, she loves to snuggle at night and tell secrets.  She loves her friends and dancing and I love hearing her laugh and watching her sing and dance. I'm grateful that Hurricane Sandy didn't damaage my home or the boat!  Thank you, God, for that.  They say that God doesn't deal out more than people can take, and I wonder if He knew that I've been on the edge lately and couldn't handle that kind of disaster again? I'm grateful for good good f