I am Thankful...

For my family - not just here, but afar.  Not just immediate, but extended.  My wonderful group of girlfriends, whom I have only known for a couple of months, but that make not having family around just that much better.  For the wonderful group of friends that I have known forever, may not have spoken to in just as long, but still become a lifeline for me when needed.  Health - mine (which is not always guaranteed), my girls and B's, and that of my family.  Ditto on their well being, their happiness and for them being a part of my life.  For slobbery wet kisses.  Being 5' 11" in a country that is full of short people because I can reach, well, everything, and see over everyone. No, really, this is a blessing.  Being able to hug my girls and getting the "Mom,, that's a too much hug" in return - it makes me know I squeezed just right.  Chilean wine.  I am thankful for my Spanish teacher, Jessica - she  makes me laugh, she makes me forget that I really don't have a tight grasp on the language, but overall she just makes it a lot easier to be almost middle aged and trying to learn a new language.  My dog for being the best Dulce ever!  I am blessed with a Nani that loves my kids as much as I do, finds it necessary to feed my kids (and the adults) well balanced meals and takes over the chores that I just find tedious.  For wine (not just Chilean).  I am thankful for Skype and UMI and Vonage, I almost feel like I am there with all of this technology.  Being a blonde in a country full of brunettes - it keeps me from having to say "Lo siento, pero mi español es mas ò menos...", (I'm sorry, but my Spanish is so-so) they already know just by looking at me.  Stinkerbell and her infectious personality and the fact that she will always be my baby, my love.  My home - this has been a hard one in the past couple of weeks since we have been told we have to leave.  But I am thankful that we have had the opportunity to call this home while we are in search of a place to spend the next phase of our lives.  MadHatter - my first, my teacher, my student.  She and I learned what it was like to be Mother and Child together and that is HUGE.  I am thankful for her forgiving nature and her laid back attitude about, well, everything - you are my first love and nothing will ever change that.  And to my love - B - I am just thankful and grateful.  Enough said.  I am thankful for finding a random Snicker bar at the grocery store the other day. To Facebook, for keeping me in touch when Skype, UMI and Vonage just don't cut it.  For hair coloring, nail polish and makeup because they keep this almost middle aged woman looking slightly less than middle aged.  For my parents, who have never failed me and whom I have failed on more than one occasion and yet, I have never heard word one on that. For chocolate.  For my love of words, they are a passion and have rarely failed me.  For being able to capture just the right moment on film (digital).  I am grateful for the ability to escape in a T.V. program for an hour when needed (and for Cuevana.tv for making it possible to keep up here in Chile).  My brothers and my nephews - if only we knew then that we would not live near one another - perhaps we could have teased each other more.  For People magazine and the IPad I read it on today.  My treadmill.  For summer skies and no smog here in late November.  The Andes Mountains.  Did I mention Wine???  For the fact that I don't drive like a Chilean...and hope I never do. My list is nowhere near complete, but it scratches the surface. Really I am thankful for life, for love,  for everything that makes me who I am...and I am truly blessed.

On this Thanksgiving Day, I hope you all take a moment to reflect on what makes you thankful in this life.  Happy Thanksgiving or Feliz Dia de Acción de Gracias.