Thankful from A to Z

I'm stealing this idea from others on the interwebs. Here's my first (and probably only) Thanksgiving alphabet. I am thankful for:

• Airline tickets and adventures whenever and wherever I can get them.
• Mr. Booth, Jack's band teacher. He is the reason junior high is going to be okay.
• Living in a community that believes in community. I am continually amazed by what people do for one another and what we achieve together.
• Diet Coke with a twist of fresh lime.
• Existential angst that keeps me moving forward on a spiritual path with faith and hope. Okay, maybe using the term existential angst is a bit over the top. On most days at least.
• Friends and family. I know and love so many interesting and wonderful people!
• Good conversation with all of those interesting and wonderful people.
• Our home. I have a dysfunctional relationship with the house itself (clutter and dust are relentless!), but every night when we're all tucked in, I am so grateful we are comfortable and safe.
• Ice cream from the old fashioned counter at SOS Drugs, a special tradition with Jack.
• Jack, obviously. And not just because he's an excuse to get ice cream.
• Our goofy kitties, Fluffy and Doublestuff.
• Lake Geneva for summer fun, family, and renewal.
• My MacBook Pro (and everything it enables me to do).
• Natural curiosity, which drives me to think about, read about, and learn about all sorts of amazing things.
• My orthodontist, who straightened out the crooked overbite I was developing.
• My parents (and the fact that they're both okay after some medical scares this year).
• Quick-witted political satirists who help me laugh in the face of insanity. (We will get through the insanity, right?)
• Roger, obviously. And he also helps me laugh in the face of insanity, especially my own.
• My students at Utah Valley University. They are the reason I love my job there.
• Training for a 5k and my "triathalon" at the lake this summer. It felt very, very good.
• My work at the Utah County Jail, which has stretched me in good and unexpected ways.
• Our Dyson vacuum cleaner that we bought for a song from woot.com. It is superior.
• A wealth of opportunities. I am particularly blessed in this way, and I don't know why. I never want to lose sight of it.
• Extra pillows on my bed, which are extra nice for reading.
• A year of discovery and growth. Writing this blog has helped me see this in unique ways.
• The zoom lens on the camera Roger bought me for Christmas last year. It's come in handy many, many times.