Today I'm thankful for...

... so many things that I don't know where to start.

I'm thankful that I was born in Canada, and have never felt the fear or threat of war. I've never worried about police or soldiers breaking through my door and grabbing family members. I've never had to censor my speech or actions for fear that I will "disappear" and endure torture and unlawful imprisonment.

I'm thankful for my home.  It may not be as fancy or large as other people's but is more than adequate for our family's needs.  It keeps us warm and dry in winter and cool in summer.  I can flip a switch and have lights come on immediately, and I can turn a tap and have unlimited clean drinking water.

I'm thankful for my husband's unionized job that provides our family with a regular paycheck, health & dental benefits and job security.  I'm thankful that he works for a company and manager that treat him like a human being.  I'm thankful that he likes the work and the company he works for, which makes going to work a joy for him, rather than a burden, and makes all our lives happier and easier.

I'm thankful for a husband who is hard-working and conscientious in all that he does, which is why he excels at his job.  I'm thankful that he does work around the house, whether I've asked him or not, and keeps our home and vehicles in good repair.

I'm thankful for the free universal healthcare that our family can access because we live in Canada.  It's not perfect, but I've never had to debate in my mind if I could afford to take my child to emergency or the doctor because of cost.  I've not had to waste time filling out forms to be compensated for health costs, or argued on the phone with an insurance company about whether they would cover a specialist or treatment for my children.  I'm thankful that my children's future education and employment will not be determined by the need to get healthcare coverage through an employer.

I'm thankful for my church, which is friendly and welcoming in a way that many churches aren't.  I'm thankful that my family has found a place that we are comfortable and cared for, where we have all made friends that will last a lifetime and beyond.

I'm thankful for my daughter's school, and that she can get a free, high-quality education.

I'm thankful for my friends, who are supportive, non-judgemental and fun to be around!

I'm thankful for my family, extended and immediate, and the ties that bind us together.  I'm so glad that we moved back to Medicine Hat and are able to see so many of them more often than we did before.

And finally, last but definitely not least, I'm thankful for my children.  They try my patience, keep me up at night and cause me endless hours of worry, but they also fill my heart with love, make me laugh and give me purpose and a reason for going on when life seems bleak.  I'm so thankful that I've been able to stay home with them while they are little, and experience all the small sorrows and joys that make up their days.