Many Happy Returns!

It has been a month or so since my last dispatch, and because today is a special day, I just thought that I would offer up a list of 39 things for which I am eternally grateful:

1. To be alive, reasonably healthy and generally sane.
2. That I have a crazy husband whom I would not trade for anything, not even the Powerball.
3. When my mother has a good day, because one good day can make up for several bad days.
4. Caring and attentive neighbors and friends.
5. My parents' 40th Wedding Anniversary Celebration (and that it exceeded our expectations).
6. My brother's engagement (finally).
7. That my Baby Niece is really a lot like me, so watch out world!
8. Dancing out of my comfort zone.
9. Good friends who accept me for me.
10. Found treasures that once belonged to my grandmother.
11. New relationships and opportunities.
12. The ability to start all over again, and resolve to do much better this time.
13. Old friends and the blessing of reconnection through Facebook.
14. Grace.
15. The necessity of letting go of the hurts from the past.
16. Blessings that are being bestowed on others.
17. True sisterhood and the work that sustains it.
18. Online shopping.
19. Yoga (yes, it has been bringing me peace).
20. That this old house is not yet falling apart, despite our negligence and DIY disasters.
21. That we can bless others with the little bit we have and no longer need.
22. This blog and the growth I am claiming for it in 2013 and beyond.
23. That *free* makeover I underwent a few weeks ago.
24. That scripted television has made a comeback.
25. Humor.
26. Wisdom, growth and maturity.
27. A new church family at Shiloh, and extended church families at St. Theresa of Avila, Tabernacle and Canaan Christian Fellowship.
28. Butterflies, ladybugs and dragonflies.
29. The 90s.
30. That I went to Europe this year unexpectedly.
31. Sometimes obsessiveness is a good thing.
32. That I am the proud Big Sister/Auntie/Titi to several wonderful young people.
33. These gray hairs on my head that insist on asserting themselves no matter what.
34. That God saw fit to surround me with great men.
35. Health insurance.
36. The 2012 election. In America, we can agree to disagree without bloodshed and chaos.
37. Christmas as seen through the eyes of children.
38. Inspiration and dreams.
39. Animal print accessories.