My Dearest Readers,
So about two weeks ago, someone told me that if you can come up with 25 things you are thankful for then you’re pretty happy with your life. And if you can’t…well, I guess your life sucks. There’s a happy thought, eh? Seeing that I’m pretty gosh darn happy with my life I decided to put this thing to the test. And guess what? I was able to come up with 25 things! Whew…glad to know that my life doesn’t suck, LOL. That said, I thought I’d list what I came up with. Mind you, this list is not just the biggie things in life, but the simple things. I hope you’ll post some of the things you’re thankful for. And if you got it in you to post 25 things (and I know you do) I double, triple dare you to post them here. You’d be surprised how much you can find out about a person by their list aside from the whole being happy thing.

So here goes mine (and mind you, this isn’t in order of impotance, so please don’t judge me on that!):
1.)My husband – he’s amazing.
2.)My children – who teach me so many things (including patience…) and allow me to experience the joys and excitement in life through their eyes.
3.)My mother and father in law – for being the sort of parents I wished I had.
4.)My writing – which keeps me sane when everyone else thinks I’m insane…
5.)My agent – who is looking out for my career when I forget to.
6.)My editor – who allow me to write with a freedom I have always dreamed of.
7.)Books – OMGosh, can you imagine life without them?!
8.)Movies – the same OMGosh applies.
9.)Starbucks – oh yeah.
10.) My computer – because I used to have a typewriter back in high school when I first started writing and let me tell you, a typo was HELL.
11.)Chocolate – I want to french kiss whoever came across the cocoa bean.
12.)Cunliary School – because before culinary school it was like I was coloring with a pack of 8 crayons. After culinary school, it was like I was coloring with a pack of 64 crayons. The greatest thing I learned in culinary school? Everything tastes better with Heavy Whipping Cream in it. Seriously. Desserts, sauces, gravies, soups, you name it.
13.)My iphone – dude. Seriously. The BEST THING EVER. I am more organized and have access to my e-mail even when I’m not near a computer.
14.)The fact that I am only 2 sizes larger than before I had my kids. Though how much longer that’ll last…
15.)Smash burgers. There’s a little joint in Portland that serves these things. And let me tell you…there’s nothing like it. It’s a burger with fries smashed into it on a bun. Amazing.
16.)My own health and my family’s – without it, there isn’t much to be thankful for.
17.)That my husband still has his job. With the times being tough, I can’t be more thankful.
18.)The Internet – can you imagine life before blogs, e-mails, and access to the ENTIRE WORLD?
19.)My Honda Odyssey – I never thought I’d be a mini van kinda girl until my butt sat down on the heated seats and my kids could no longer kick the back of my seats because they were WAY back there.
20.)The Mariposa. In Spanish it means butterfly. But I’m not talking about butterflies. I’m talking about the name of my family’s getaway vacation home. You can see 6 mountains from the house, because it’s way up on the edge of a rigde, and there is no noise or light pollution. I feel like Jane Austen up there. Only in Oregon.
21.)That I am published. It took me 11 years to get published and let me tell you, I am so, so, so, thankful to be where I’m at.
22.)RWA and my local Rose City Romance Writers Chapter. Because no one understands writers better than writers.
23.)Makeup. I don’t wear a lot of it to begin with but life without it? Pfff.
24.)Being able to speak another language. Polish is actually my first language and English is my second. It’s really opened up my eyes to the world being able to travel amongst a different culture you really can understand and relate to.
25.)My readers – can I say holy cow? More love, enthusiasm and excitement I couldn’t even begin to give my characters.

And so there it is. THE LIST. Mind you I found I actually could have go on and on, so I’ll take that to me I’m REALLY happy with my life. I look forward to reading your list and with cheers and much love with you a happy day after Thanksgiving!