Thankful Thursday

Wow, 2009 is literally almost over! It's 11:17 pm on Dec. 31. I have found myself alone for a change. Larry is working and Cameron ended up staying the night at my parents. I can't believe that 2009 is over. I keep trying to think of where the year went and even more, where the decade went! I was listening to the radio today and they were talking about the 20 things that became obsolete this last decade. And even though, it's obvious what we no longer use, it's still shocking to think that these once depend-upon-everyday items are gone, finished, obsolete. That future generations may never even know what those items were. They may never in their lives see one working. Things like Walkmans and VHS. Now I know that as all technology things come and go and there are things that in my life I never saw working. But I don't think to the degree that my generation has seen. Over the last decade, as a society, we have become two contradictory things at the same time. We have become a disposable nation and a "green" nation. Everyone is so concerned with being "green" but we live in a technological society which makes this "green" living impossible. Our computers are out of date before they are plugged in. A new camera is being released that is smaller but more powerful then the model before it. We used to have to use things like floppy disks to store extra computer information and now we have external hard drives that look like books, so they can be placed on a shelf and go unnoticed. At the same time actual books themselves, are being replaced by devices like the Kindle and the Sony digital reader. Our phones can now do everything that a decade ago wasn't even possible on a computer. And at the same time we have given way to text messaging and a new language developed just for that type of conversation. Social sites have made it possible for people to get reconnected or stay connected. And even though I think this is great and love that I can remain in contact with people I would have otherwise lost contact with, I wonder how many people use that as a sole method of communication?

So as 2009 wraps up and I contemplate the upcoming year and all the changes that will be coming my way, I'm thankful for many things.

First, I'm thankful for my family. I have been truly blessed in this department.

I'm thankful for Larry. He is my best friend and I don't use that term. He is the person I turn to to laugh, cry and complain. I'm thankful that during all of the hullabaloo of keeping up with this or that he has remained my constant companion in the drive to stay low-key.

I'm thankful for Cameron. As I look to this next month and finally get the surgery my body needs I know for a fact that it will FOREVER close the discussion of children. Even though that discussion has been had there will be no more what if's. Cameron will be my only child. And there are days that that makes me sad. He will never know what it's like to have a sibling. But at the same time, I'm so blessed that I at least have him! He is my little man. The person I spend the most time with. My greatest irritant and my greatest joy maker all at the same time! I am truly blessed to be his mama!

I'm thankful for my friends. God has blessed me with some truly amazing friends. They don't blame me for my craziness or my busyness. I'm thankful that they understand me and love me for who I am.

I am thankful for my simple ways. I'm thankful that I don't have a selfish heart. I'm thankful that I'm frugal and would rather "make it myself" than "buy it from someone else". I'm thankful that God has blessed me with enough talent and patience to learn knew things.

I am looking toward 2010 for so many reasons. But I'm thankful for the time I've had! The good and the bad, I wouldn't be who I am today without the experiences from my past. I do not look back at this last year or any other year previous and wish things had been different. I'm thankful for every laugh line. I'm thankful for every frown. I'm thankful for the good and the bad.

So Happy New year! I hope you have a blessed and prosperous year! I hope you are healthy and happy and most of all thankful!