34 reasons my life is better than good

1. Every day I wake up and I get to work at my dream job.
2. I am able to do this thanks to my husband who treats me like a queen.
3. God has answered my biggest prayer through the birth of my son.
4. God has also answered some pretty big prayers through foster children, an adopted daughter and many other children I have the absolute pleasure to care for.
5. I have the freedom to read my Bible, attend worship services, and discuss my faith.
6. I am able to keep chickens (and a rooster!), buy from local farmers and grown my own food.
7. I live in a house filled w/stuff beyond my needs.
8. We drive 2 vehicles, one of which is a minivan that can accommodate lots of kids!
9. My family is almost all relatively close - physically and emotionally.
10. My church family blesses us in so many ways.
11. I live by one of the Great Lakes, which is beyond great.
12. There are 4 seasons, where I live, 3 of which I love =)  Some more than others!
13. There are many things to do in this community and we live close other communities that have pretty cool activities too.
14. My closets and dresser drawers are filled w/clothes.  Some I like, some I never wear.
15. I am never hungry or bored.  (Well, I get hungry, but it's not b/c I don't have food.)
16. I am fairly well educated and can figure most things out.  But not why my son must wake up every day at 6am or earlier, regardless of his bedtime!
17. I turned out to be pretty confident in who I am.  
18. Despite some big hurts in my life, I am still able to love and be loved.
19. Despite some big mistakes I made and hurts I have caused to others, I am still forgiven.
20. I have been able to travel to some absolutely fantastic places!  Spain, many National Parks, Niagara Falls, Mexico...etc...
21. I have made people laugh through my antics on the drama team at church.  I miss that!
22. To my knowledge, I am healthy.  I suffer no illness or disability.
23. I really haven't had to work hard at much in my life.  Yes, things have been hard, but most everything has come pretty easy to me.  (I probably shouldn't say that 'out loud'...)
24. I have a place to hang wash outside.  (C'mon, it's one of my favorite activities - you didn't think I would leave it off the list, did you?!)
25. I have a husband who cooks, helps w/the kids, and likes to do things I do too - camp, travel, be outside, watch sports, play games and do crosswords!!
26. My whole family loves music - frequently I get free concerts.  My husband is an amazing piano player and my son is astounds me w/the skills he genetically inherited.  From my husband, not me!
27. I am always learning new things.  Since I am a willing student, my teachers can be anyone - from my kids, my parents or my friends, to complete strangers.  
28. I have had the opportunity to serve as a teacher in both school and church.
29. There is a friend (well, more than one, but she was the most persistent!) in my life who shared w/me the greatest gift of all - salvation.  This friend is beautiful, inside and out, and she put up w/a lot of junk from me.  We talk and laugh about stuff other people might find stinky and I don't think she understands how much it meant to me that she was my first off campus roommate.  We had more than one little room to clean and I never did!  She mentored to me in so many ways, it was like having a sister.  I love her.  I may never be able to repay her for all that she is in my life, but I pray I have been able to pay it forward, even in a small way.
30. I have survived 3+ decades!
31. I have a space like this to write.  
32. I live in a town w/multiple consignment shops and thrift stores, but also a Target, to feed my shopping addiction!
33. Thanks to my parents, scholarship and grant money, I have no school debt.  I even shudder a little as I write that!  So many of our friends still have that...the fact that we don't has freed us to do so much more over the years.  
34. Last but not least.  My life is better than great b/c of the people in it.  Chances are, if you are reading this on my birthday, you are one of those people =)  Thank you for being a part of who I am!