Eucharisteo.

thank·ful  (thngkfl) adj. 1. Aware and appreciative of a benefit; grateful. 2. Expressive of gratitude: a thankful smile. thankful·ness n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

There is always something to be thankful for, Right? I believe that to be true. I also believe that only God gets the credit for who we are to thank for everything. Ya, you can thank your friend for that delicious chocolate cake she made for you. And ya, you can thank your husband for always taking care of you. But all in all, we are to give thanks to our heavenly father. Every good and perfect gift comes from him, right. Ultimately it is him that allows for all the good in the world. But, what about the child who doesn't have a home or that child who is abandoned (for some reason I always think of children)? I think it's easy for us who have much, and who don't have to worry about where our next meal will come from or where our love will come from. But really, all are to give thanks. I think for those children, what a testimony when they do give thanks. I know when I was in Haiti, and I saw the kids praising God and they don't even get a meal to eat, it reminded me, THEY know love, THEY know thankfulness more than I'll ever know. 

I recently read a book,"One Thousand Gifts.", by Ann Voskamp. 

Here's a few quotes from the book...

"Eucharisteo—thanksgiving—always precedes the miracle."

 “...life change comes when we receive life with thanks and ask for nothing to change.”

 “How my eyes see, perspective, is my key to enter into His gates. I can only do so with thanksgiving. If my inner eye has God seeping up through all things, then can't I give thanks for anything? And if I can give thanks for the good things, the hard things, the absolute everything, I can enter the gates to glory. Living in His presence is fullness of joy- and seeing shows the way in.”

I recommend you read this book, for I do believe true thanksgiving comes from being thankful, for EVERYTHING. Not that I have attained that. In any way. 

So really, just to look back on the year(s) here are a list of what I'm thankful for:

1.) God's grace, in times when I was doing it all wrong. Or felt like I was.

2.) My husband, who loves me way more than I ask of. You have been with me through the last 7 years, and we have so many great memories, we've been through so many ups and downs, and you love me despite my flaws. Thank you for being the strong leader I need in this house.

3.) My children, the things they teach me about life & God. 

4.) My family, both by blood and the one I received through marriage. You guys have taught me so much about being a mom, a friend & a sister (something I never had until 10 year ago). I thank you all for your great examples.

5.) Our family of God, I've attended many churches in the past 10 years, and I'm thankful for each one that has encouraged me, prayed for me, been there for our family, just being such examples of what God's people should be.

This is ultimately why I love Thanksgiving, being able to look through the fog and see how God has brought us through it and into the light. Like I said the more we are grateful for things, big and small, good and bad, the more we will be thankful. 

But who also doesn't like a little turkey and pie, football, family, friends, and fun? I am so thankful I get to do all that, yes I truly am.