I am Thankful for

Dear Friends, Family and Fans! Well, it's that time again... crazy crowds in Market Basket when I try to get all those special ingredients for the secret family recipes for stuffing and pie and that bean casserole... "Hey! Could you leave at least a little room to get by with my cart, PLEASE?!!" - And then there's the time with the extended family at the dinner table. OK. We better not bring up the election or you know who is gonna blow their top and Ms. Somebody may break down in tears. And, well, better not talk too much about church, 'cause then they'll say I was preaching... and then there's the health problems and the dietary issues and the drama because he hates what she did a dacade ago and never apologized for... WHY DO WE BOTHER???? Because God. What? Because God called us to be thankful. To give thanks in all circumstances. With prayer and thanksgiving to present our requests before God. (Phillippians 2:4-8) Actually, it's not really too hard for me to be thankful, because I am incredibly blessed- and I'll bet you are, too if you take a minute to think about it. So here is a list of some of the things and people I am thankful for this year. I challenge you to make your own list!

My family in general
My husband Ralph
My son Caleb
My daughter Hannah
My mother Polly
My Step father Charlie
My Dad Paul
Paul and Diane picking blueberries
My step mother Diane
My brother Chris
His wife Susan
My nephew Matthew
My nephew Mark
My brother Gary
His wife Lisa
My mother in law Gisela
My sister in law Ingrid
Her husband Keith
My sister in law Renate
My first cousins: Alan & Soledad
Ken
Laura & Dave
Phil & Linda
Tina
Jenny & Greg
Priscilla & Dave
Wendy & Robert
Doug & Lisa
Laura & Les
Aunt Judy
Uncle Dave
Aunt Jane
Aunt Betty
All my cousins' kids (which could have made this list much longer!)
And all the incredible times I've had with my family immediate and extended over the years!
My work in general!
Music
That I get to teach music for most of my living!
That I get to perform and play shows of all kinds!
That I get to record CD's with my husband and my brothers!!
Grace CD Cover

The Force CD Cover
That I get to express myself by writing songs!
That I get to praise God in church with my voice and guitar! I love our praise team, too!
That my kids love to sing with me!
That I get to be a mentor to my students!
That My students are improving and encouraged!
That I can move hearts with my music and bring hope and comfort!
Happy and Clappy

Drug Abuse Prevention forum
That my husband is a musician, too!
That he has engineering skills!
That he works at Berklee so I can take classes there for free!
That I graduated from Berklee with awards
That I get to SCAT sing!
That I have a great little a cappella group that has many gigs this Christmas!
The Harmony Jewels
That I get to encourage the elderly at numerous nursing homes
That my kids are in a good school system
That My daughter is a talented artist!
That my son got the lead in Lion King at School!
That My daughter is so compassionate and cheers other's up often!
That my daughter has a terrific big sister in the church , Brittany!
That my son wants to know Jesus better and study the Bible!
That my son is a junior black belt in Kung fu and protect his sister!
That both of my kids are bright lights wherever they go!
That my husband is faithful always and loves me deeply!
That we often have so much fun as a family!
That I have great friends!
Erin from Childrhood
Sharon and Margaret from Oberlin! Rebekah and Julie at Newsboys concert
Diana, Rebekah, Suzanne, Lori and soooooo many more from church!
That Jean, Lauri T, Suzanne, Elena & Karen studied the Bible with me years ago!
That Bob Tranchell Baptized me on Jan 6th 1091!
That Sal Difusco married Ralph and I at Hammond Castle August 19th, 1995!
That Hannah and Caleb were born On April 1st 2004!
That we own a house
That we live in America where we still have more freedoms than anywhere else in the world!
That I have not experienced extreme poverty of hunger in my lifetime
That my kids can get great healthcare in the Boston area (Including braces!)
That I can get antibiotics when I need them!
That I get to fund-raise and volunteer for the fantastic charity Hope Worldwide
That HOPEww is doing so much for the poor and needy around the world with disaster relief, boots on the ground giving medical care to those in dire situations and remote areas!
That I have a fantastic church!
Mike and Kristen Lamb who lead our local region of the church!
That We have an inspired teen ministry!
Diana and Dakota Botello who lead our teen ministry!
The Bible and the truth and comfort and guidance it gives me!
Our international church and the souls it is saving!
The big church conferences I get to go to and be inspired by like Reach last summer in St Louis!
My Zumba classes at the gym
My friends from the gym like Susanne, Angie, Mary and more
Angie, Mary and Julie (Zumba Buddies) at Power Of Flowers Luncheon
My Pets: Mit Mit, Lizzy, Archy and Bun Bun
Our Mit Mit "Queen of the Cats
My Sleep Number bed!
Getting a big cart full of food and bringing home the harvest
Carrot cake (and lots of other favorite foods!)
Mountains
The ocean!
The seasons!
Another Hannah painting
The woods!
The wild animals!
The clouds/ sky/ sunsets!
The wind!
My health!
Jesus
God

OK- you get the picture! That will have to do for now, 'cause I have to get back to my homework for my graduate class in Sibelius music notation software! (I am grateful for that class, too and how attentive my professor is and how understanding of me being behind in my work!) Oh- I am also grateful that when the hood of my car fell on my head when I was trying to jump-start my ride on lawn mower with my van (unsuccessfully!) that even though I was rushed to the hospital with a big gash in my head and needed stitches- that I didn't even get a concussion! It could have been so much worse!- And that it is healing well! Many blessings to you and yours this Thanksgiving and always! Love, Julie PS- I forgot FLOWERS! I am grateful for flowers!