Counting blessings

I am so extremely thankful to live in a small town, the kind of town that welcomes us home after evacuations -

- and so thankful for community, even as we mourn the loss of four of our own.

Life is full of beauty and ugliness, up and down. I am thankful to have my husband and my children and my family and friends and pets. If I lost everything else, I would still be blessed and thankful. But losing it all is hard, and I can’t even imagine the pain of the families in mourning over their lost loved ones right now.

Why do we constantly need reality checks to remind us how short life is? Why do we need to lose people to remember to cherish those around us? Why does tragedy have to strike before we reach out to our neighbors for the first time?

Today, open your eyes, look around, take note of the blessings in your life, the joy that surrounds you, and even be aware of how you can help others, what you can do to reach out.

I am thankful for God’s promise.

I am thankful for my children, my family, and all the moments we get to be together.

I am thankful for love and laughter that reaches out over the miles.

I am thankful for great big skies.

I am thankful for my business partner, who didn’t hesitate when we decided to do this.

I am thankful for firefighters, law enforcement, and all those who put their own lives in danger to save ours.

I am thankful for clients for my business, and for my job.

I am thankful for so many amazing people in my life who opened their homes to us, in case we had nowhere to go.

In the midst of sadness and stress and despair, I am thankful.