The things I am thankful for…

This time of year brings about a litany of comments from people about the things they are thankful for… and I’m about to add mine to the lists you see but I think it’s important to stop every once in a while and take stock…So here goes:
I’m thankful for…
♥ My family. For putting up with this craziness. For being patient when I’m scattered. For dealing with my not so great cooking. For being a little more forgiving when I’m on the computer longer than I should be. For loving me just the way I am.
♥Deep belly giggles and high pitch screams and accusations of “you love him/her more’ from my children. I know I much rather prefer one over the others but it doesn’t matter because I GET to hear them. I GET to be frustrated and full of love and overwhelmed by my three kids when I know so many others can’t/will never get the chance/no longer get the chance to. 
♥Getting lost in a book. Crawling inside the pages, losing myself in a world created by words, and forgetting that time is passing.
♥My readers. Man… you guys know how to make a girl feel special.
♥For words. Words are so powerful. I’m so thankful that I get the chance to use them on a daily basis. I’m thankful that I’m able to express myself with them. I’m thankful that my words touch people in different ways. Help them to relax. Help them to heal. Help them to remember. 
♥That I still blush when I have to read aloud any passage I write that contains the word “p*ssy” … Yes. Silly. But so very true. 
♥For chocolate. Because… well, chocolate.
♥For other authors. For this huge support network we’ve created amongst ourselves in this constantly changing publishing world.
♥For consistency. The world is so full of chaos that I thrive when things are consistent. (I have three kids under the age of 9….so consistency is a rarity but one I appreciate more and more with each passing day).
♥For Diet Coke… because coffee is nasty. (Don’t throw tomatoes at me for this one… because I don’t like tomatoes either. (and yes, my Italian mother doesn’t know how that happened either)).
♥For friends. For the ones I’m lucky enough to call that term. Trust isn’t something I give away easily. When I do, I value those who take it, hold it tight, and don’t ever try to damage it.
♥For hard work. For my parents teaching me that you only get out of life what you put into it. They led by example. They taught me that hard work pays off. To not complain about it because you’ll be the recipient of the blood, sweat, and tears in the end. It’s a lesson I hope to pass onto my kids. 
♥For Colton and Rylee. It’s amazing how those two fictional people have changed my world.
♥For compassion. I think we often forget how a little compassion can go a loooooonnnggg way in making someone else feel better. Pay it forward. 
♥For the warm California sun. I know some days I complain it’s hot but right now it’s warm when so many other places are cold.
♥For music. For lyrics. For making them the soundtracks to our lives.
♥For time. Isn’t that all we ever want more of when it runs out? So I’m especially thankful for time. 
I could keep going… I’m thankful for so many things…but I’m sure I’ll bore you so I’ll leave my list at that…I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving with your family and/or friends or characters of a book.
What one thing are you most thankful for?