I’m going to do this again this year- because it worked so well for me last year, and I had so much fun in the process. Here’s how it works: I will list one thing each day this month that I’m thankful for. They aren’t necessarily in any particular order. It’s just whatever I found myself thinking of that day; in fact there might be more than one thing I’m thankful for. And instead of writing a new post everyday about what I’m thankful for- I’ll just keep updating this one.

1. I’m thankful for Zach, aka My Cowboy, The Cowboy. He loves me even if I’m covered in horse hair; or when I cry because I lost another hen; or when I say something silly; or when I haven’t put mascara on in a week (which by the way has NEVER happened. I’m just sayin’). I’m glad he picked me as his soul-mate for life.

2. I’m thankful for such an awesome family. Not just my own family, but Zach’s family as well. Better people you will not find anywhere.

3. Today I shipped calves for the neighbors, and I have to say that I’m very thankful that I can get up in the morning, saddle a horse, ride across a pasture and spend my day doing exactly what I want to do. Every. Single. Day.

4. I am thankful for my health. And as such, I should enjoy every day that I am granted with good health, to the best of my ability.

5. I’m thankful that I’m not left to keep house all by myself. I know that this might go hand in hand with #1 above, but honestly, how fortunate am I that I can come in from being gone last night (to Lakota class no less) to find that Zach has the kitchen cleaned and laundry put away? Yes, I am grateful beyond words for this!

And more on this- I’m thankful that there are people in this world that want to preserve the heritage and culture of Native Americans. I am exceptionally grateful that I am able to attend classes to learn to speak the language and preserve this part of heritage that is the place where I now reside. We’ll talk more on this later!

6. I am thankful for all my friends. Friends that are there if you haven’t talked to them in ages; or friends that are there if you just talked to them 5 minutes ago.

7. Horses. I could go on forever about this one but suffice it to say, I’m thankful to the Creator for giving us this magnificent beast. I love their eccentricities, their honesty, their faithfulness and their willingness to please you. I hope to never take them for-granted.

8. Today I was thankful for the sunshine and almost 70 degree temperatures that have graced us most of fall. It’s not often that it’s this nice, this late into the year here in the frozen north, but this year has been kind to us so far, and I LOVE it!

9. Change. Today it wasn’t warm outside- in fact a norther blew in this afternoon and you could see the cold in the air, but you know what, the Creator knew that we bored easily, and so gave us change. Change is good when it comes to the weather and paint colors!

10. I am thankful that I’m at a place in my life where I can be the best me I am able to be. I’m at a place where my creativity is nurtured, and loved and admired and encouraged. I feel like my growth as an individual is really taking shape!

11. I’m thankful that I live where I do- In America.

12. I’m super-extra-duper grateful for our newest appliance- the DISHWASHER! Oh how it makes my time in the kitchen all that more wonderful!

13. Today, I’m thankful for all the mistakes I have made in my life. Without those I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I wouldn’t be as wise and those lessons that don’t kill you, only make you stronger.

14. Dogs. As I type this, I am surrounded by 4 dogs, that normally live outside. But tonight, they’re pretty sure they belong in the house. There’s nothing quite like dogs!

15. I am thankful to be asked to share about my life as it involves agriculture: check out the guest post I was asked to write!/

16. I love that my mother had me involved in so many things and encouraged me to take my interests and run with them. It makes my life more interesting and for that I am thankful!

17. Today I am thankful for Facebook. And before anyone laughs, there’s a story here. But I can’t tell it now.

18. I am thankful to be in a community of ranchers that will re-arrange their schedules and drop what they are doing to come help us when we’re short-handed. Good people are a blessing.

19. While I stood outside yesterday helping to preg check cattle, in what was less than a lovely day outside, I couldn’t help but think how lucky I am to have the ability to work outside, play with cattle and horses and otherwise work my tail off. Yes, I’m thankful that I am able to work hard, and enjoy what I do.

20. I’m thankful for central heat. Old Man Winter is gearing up, as evidenced by the colder temps. The high for Monday is a whopping 13 degrees!

21. My grandparents. They left a great legacy behind in their children- my aunts and uncles, and the family support system in place. More specifically I’m very thankful that my Grandma B had such a love for music. Thank you for instilling that love in your daughter, who instilled it in me.

22. This day I gave thanks for the fact that I don’t have to get up everyday and go to work. The weather conditions were, shall we say, less than desirable.

23. I am so thankful that Zach will wash clothes, clean the kitchen, and doesn’t complain about me making massive messes with jewelry and arts and crafts projects. And trust me, they’re everywhere. It looks like a few pheasants and a bead store threw up in our living room and kitchen. He just takes it all in stride and for that, I am eternally grateful!

24. I am thankful for Holidays!

25. I sat in bed this morning, as I was waking up, watching The Today Show. Which I never do- but I do love to wake up Thanksgiving Day and watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It’s one of my favorite things to do- even though I’m all grown up now! But while I sat there, hearing the Weather Man talk about how cold it was outside and looking at the snow outside the window, a story came on about St. Jude Children’s hospital. A little girl, who a year ago was given only weeks to live, was able to go to St. Jude and received a treatment that now has her cancer in remission. Call me emotional or call me sappy, but I sat there sobbing because the poor girl had already beat leukemia once in her life and she was so upset to get it again. So this morning I am thankful that there are Doctors and Scientists who dedicate their lives to finding a cure to cancer. Not only for the little girl on TV that I don’t know but for two of my friends that are fighting this disease right now. My friend Anne, who I have known since high school has been through chemo and radiation, and is undergoing stem cell treatments, but is on a break for the holidays, and my friend Hilary who I’ve known for even longer than I’ve known Anne. Thank you again to the Doctors who work to save people so that their families can be complete.

Enough sappiness from me- Let the festivities begin!

26. I am so thankful that I love to cook, and bake, because that makes Thanksgiving day that much better. Yesterday I had no choice but to be thankful for all the food that we had to eat- because honestly- there are those in the world who didn’t have food to eat and we had food to spare. How was your Thanksgiving Day feast?

27. I am thankful that I am a sane, rational person, who has a sane rational man with which to share her life.

28. I’m grateful for parents that raised me in a sane, rational way, who gave me responsibility as I earned it instead of being sporadic and inconsistent. And I’m glad to know they love me whether or not they agree with my decisions.

29. Family get-togethers!

30. As this is the last day of November, it ends my Thirty Days of Thanksgiving. I’ve enjoyed it very much, and am grateful for the chance to have done it, and that y’all joined me. I have also learned to say thank you in Lakota, and as such, I’ll share: philámaya ye.

Coming tomorrow, we’ll begin Reverb10. You may have noticed the button on the top right side of the blog- we’ll be looking back on 2010 and looking toward 2011. It will encompass the entire month of December. But don’t fear, there will still be regularly scheduled programming as well.

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