Wait! Not so fast ...

It usually takes me weeks to remember to write a new year in my checkbook, in correspondence, etc. I groan to think of all the times I will scratch out "2009" in days to come. What's a busy gal to do? When a new year starts, I get swept away in the force of starting new things, putting the last year in the category of things like "the size I used to be, the casserole wave of the 80's, and orange shag carpet."

So before we rush ahead to the new year, hold on long enough to do something my sweet hubby does each year. He takes time to make a list of things he was thankful for that year. A bulleted list works for him, but you can tweak the format to work for you ... just like a variation on 80's chicken divan casserole (endless but so satisfying!). To get myself started, let me share some of my thankful things from 2009 ...

1. 19th year of marriage sweeter than the first
2. friendship that has blossomed ... so fragrant in my life
3. love my daughter has developed for cooking and herbs
4. enjoying a sense of humor & understanding with my tween son
5. my family was blessed by 2 times away as a gift from people we didn't know
6. I saw more of God's amazing creation this year, including my first wild moose
7. the chance to be my husband's partner in ministry opportunities
8. a broader age group of other women in my life ... so rich
9. God has prompted people to pray for me and share it when I needed it most
10. new opportunities to use and enjoy my love of writing
11. rich truths I learned from God's Word and the chance to teach it
12. wonderful moments at bedtime to listen and talk to my tween and teen
13. the gift of "friend time" for our family with another
14. a chance to walk through salvation with a searching soul
    
15. dark nights around a campfire as a family that will be treasured by all
16. sweet time with believers in other countries w/common ground over God's Word
17. discovery and treatment of an early developed skin cancer
18. giving & the joy of watching women's hearts being ignited to give
    
19. healing/freedom from an emotional injury to my heart and spirit
20. more time with ones I love
21. a surprise anniversary night planned by my sweetheart
22. visit from distant friends sprinkled throughout the year
23. water in our basement that made a mess that made me feel helpless that glorified God
24. a Bible study at the high school that so encouraged my daughter
25. words of kindness from God's people
    

I could go on and on. The longer I reflect, the more I realize I have to do a thank you dance for! Could you go on and on? Could you make 100? What are you thankful for in 2009? I know God was good to you as He was to me. Aren't you just so excited to see what the new year holds, to see what we will write when we reflect on 2010 months from now?