How I know life is good

There are many reasons, but here are just a few that spring to mind:

1. Peppermint Mocha at Starbuck's year round.
2. Stinkerbelle using good manners without prompting.
3. Soccer and baseball season are starting back.
4. My husband's compliments. I've gotten two unsolicited in the past couple of days.
5. Building a snowman with my little girl.
6. Getting my taxes done and a $2109 refund coming.
7. Taking a cruise with one of my girlfriends in a few weeks with a portion of said tax refund.
8. Having friends and family step up to help with the kids while I'm gone.
9. Being healthy and watching the kids get over their upper respiratory ailments.
10. Having the day off and breakfast with my husband.
11. Getting to see my father-in-law for the first time in about two years and getting a visit from my grandmother-in-law, too. The kids are stoked and that is a blessing.

Just a few things to be thankful for. I have one friend struggling with a mysterious ailment attacking her husband; another acquaintance who lost one daughter two years ago and another one is dying with cancer; and my mom called today to tell my uncle has an alcoholism-induced form of alzheimer's, but because he is in good health, he could live like this indefinitely. It is just really sad. He had, essentially, disowned my cousin for poor choices she has made in life, but now that he needs someone (he has pretty much ran off anyone who cared about him), he has accepted her back into his life. It is pretty sad all the way around. These things just remind me of my blessings and they are many.