12 Things I’m grateful for on the 12th

Category: 12 Things I’m grateful for on the 12th

Wrong Car. Right Guy

August 12, 2020August 11, 2020
by KathleenBDuncan

It’s been seven years since Andrew died. Seven years of grief and grace. Seven years of living without one of my kids, without seeing him finish school, follow his dreams, dance, or smile.

Today I am grateful for fun stories shared by his friends.

One of Andrew’s friends, Sarah, sent me this note just a month after The Accident. They were in Texas together for two summers. This note made me laugh and cry. I’ve remained friends with Sarah and asked her permission to share. I hope this gives you a glimpse into how great my son was.

Kathleen,

He touched so many lives, I was so glad to have known him. I’m praying for your family everyday. Just a little memory I was reminded of the other day.

The first time I met Andrew was day 2 of the crazy long rehearsals [for Texas 2012]. We were so tired and we had started basic stuff but hadn’t been given partners yet.

It was about 11pm and I was walking to my car in the [West Texas A&M] parking lot. I put the key in my door and sat down. I realized that all my stuff in my car was gone..steering wheel cover, water jug, name tags, all gone.

I started freaking out and called my grandmother to tell her my car had been broken in to.

Andrew comes up to me, and goes “Why are you in my car?”

We both had the exact same color 96/97 honda accord and for some reason, my car key fit into his door. I felt so stupid and embarrased, but we were all so tired.

The next day I was partnered up with him for the party scene. When he walked up to me after our names were called he goes, “Guess we don’t really have to get to know each other, I mean, I already know you’re crazy,” and winked at me.

I had completely forgotten about that story until Tim reminded me of it the other day, but it was so like Andrew. To take a person’s embarrassing or not so great thing about their self-esteem and make them laugh or feel good about it.

Your son was amazing, thank you for sharing him with the Texas family!

Sarah

If you’d like to see a video of Andrew and Sarah dancing together click here. It’s a sweet dance. They performed it for a cast talent show in August 2012. Sarah injured her knee, so the day before the show they had to redo much of choreography. I love seeing him dance! We played this video at the end of his memorial service. ❤️

Here are a few pictures of Andrew in Texas.

————–
The Accident happened on August 12, 2013. Because of the late time and remote location, they were declared dead 8/13/13. The first ten months I found myself depressed in the days leading up to the 12th. Then, in the eleventh month July of 2014, I decided to choose gratitude. I wrote my first list of “Twelve Things I’m Grateful for on the 12th” that week. I’ve continued to make Gratitude Lists, though I don’t always share them.

12 Things I'm grateful for on the 12th

Twelve Things I’m Grateful for on April 12, 2020

April 12, 2020April 15, 2020
by KathleenBDuncan

Corona Virus

Quarantine

Shelter In Place Order

Social Distancing

Businesses Closed

Hospitals Overflowing

People Dying

So many things to fear or complain about. Opportunities to grumble and whine.

But we who follow Christ are called to give thanks. We are called to gratitude.

Today is Easter. We are celebrating the Risen Christ from home. As Christians throughout the ages have done when facing persecution, captivity, or calamity.

I am grateful. I choose to give thanks.

Will you?

Here are passages that encourage us to give thanks. Passages I am grateful for today.

I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.
Psalm 7:17

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalm 28:6-7

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.
Isaiah 12:3-4

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.Psalm 30:5-7

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:28-29

12 Things I'm grateful for on the 12th

Twelve Things I’m Grateful for on the 12th of…

March 12, 2020March 11, 2020
by KathleenBDuncan

Looking back at my Twelve Things posts, I noticed my husband is often included. We’ve been married more than 36 years, so he plays a huge roll in my life. Yep, he’s here again. But he’s doesn’t top the list. 😁

Things I’m grateful for today include:

1. My new puppy! Molly. I’m grateful for her most of the time. I’m not so grateful for the little puppy poop she still leaves in the house. Or bites from those razor-sharp teeth! But who could get mad at that pug face??

2. A man who loves dogs. We lost our two pups Lyla and Lady summer before last. It was sad to lose two so close together. Since then, Ron has insisted that I could get a new dog “but I’m not going to like it!” Right.

3. Peace in the middle of hard things. We recently received a medical diagnosis that was hard to hear. (I say “we” because this kind of thing affects both partners.) This disease is manageable, but still hard. If managed properly, long life can be expected, but we will have to make some changes. This news might have been devastating, but we have peace even as we struggled to accept our newest normal.

4. We are both active and eat (mostly) a healthy diet. The needed changes to our diets won’t be radical nor are we starting from scratch on an exercise routine. As you may have read in this blog, we are fairly active for a couple who qualifies for AARP membership.

5. Frequent flyer miles! I’m typing this while sitting in a hotel in Salt Lake City waiting for Ron to finish a business meeting. We came to Utah for the weekend to visit our youngest who lives here. Thanks to the miles I’ve racked up traveling we Ron for business, my plane ticket was FREE!

6. The sweet couple our daughter was house-sitting for this past week. The were kind enough to offer us a guest room which allowed us more hang time with our daughter. And we didn’t have to pay for three nights in a hotel! (We stayed the last night in a hotel near Ron’s business appointment.)

Tubing with our daughter (who doesn’t want to be in my blog 😊)

7. Fun with our kids. We spent Friday in Park City eating, wandering, and tubing with our youngest. This weekend we’ve eaten in fun local restaurants, watched two fun movies – Onward & Emma – went to church in downtown SLC, and met some of our daughter’s friends. It’s been a fun few days.

8. New jobs. Our youngest started a new job this week working for a nonprofit that helps abused women and children. They also work in schools to help prevent bullying and abuse. Please pray for her as new jobs are always a bit stressful.

9. Consignment shops. Her new job requires a more professional wardrobe. We found her some nice tops at a local consignment shop. One still has the original tags on! Friends gave her a few pieces they no longer need, so she’s all set. For the first week or two anyway.

10. Julie. Julie lived in the same house for 40 years with no flood issues. But when hurricane Harvey hit a few years ago, her home flooded. Last September it flooded again when a tropical storm hit. She decided it was time to leave. Two floods are two too many. She planned to move to our town to be near her kids (who happen to be our friends). Julie can’t live with them because they have foster kids. (Only those licensed can live with foster kids). Thus, Julie lives with us! We met her the day she moved in. She’s delightful! Plus, she loves my Miss Molly. I’m grateful she is there to take care of Molly while we visited our daughter. I’m just hoping Julie has gotten Molly trained to poop outside!

11. Julie’s artistic talent. This chair was stained a very dark brown. It had no seat and was in bad shape. It had been in my garage for about ten years. I loved the shape of the legs but didn’t know how to refinish it. Julie made it beautiful. Then she surprised me with as a thank you for letting her live here. I love it!!

12. Warm weather. We arrived home late last night. Today is a beautiful day! I spent they morning with four ladies studying Kinsman Redeemer, visited E, then worked in my flower beds. The sunshine and warm air felt so very good! I’m reminded that even in the cold of winter I can be sure spring is coming.

————–

The Accident happened on August 12, 2013. Because of the late time and remote location, they were declared dead 8/13/13. The first ten months I found myself depressed in the days leading up to the 12th. Then, in the eleventh month July of 2014, I decided to choose gratitude. I wrote my first list of Twelve Things I’m Grateful for on the 12th.

12 Things I'm grateful for on the 12th

Twelve Things I’m Grateful For On the 12th of…

February 12, 2020February 14, 2020
by KathleenBDuncan

It’s been a long time since I shared my gratitude list. Please know that I am very grateful! I just haven’t shared lists with you. I’ve been thinking lately that I should get back in the habit of posting these monthly lists.

During the past eighteen months as I’ve gone through trials, I made lots mental gratitude lists; being grateful helps me set my mind on things above rather than dwelling on hard, ugly things. I try to thank God not only for the good things in my life but also for the hard things which He is using to conform me to the image of His Son. There has been a lot of conforming going on the last eighteen months! Fortunately, the ugly stuff is over.

I also learned a few new skills the last year. And for me the process of learning involves lots of humility, frustration, and surrender before I arrive at “aha!” or “now I get it!” moments.

Today I am grateful for…

1. State and national guardianship organizations. Without their websites, conventions, and online courses learning what is involved in guardianship would have been much more difficult. I had to learn about the many laws, guidelines, and standards, many of which vary state by state. Becoming a guardian and conservator of a person with dementia has been like drinking from a water hose! The National Guardianship Association and Texas Guardianship Association have both been very helpful.

2. Seeing my loved one settle comfortably in her new home just three minutes from my home. I can run by and see her often! Like yesterday when I picked her up and took her to Chick-fil-A for a quick lunch! It’s cold and rainy out, so we went to the drive through. Dine in, carry out, or sitting in my car we both love chicken sandwiches with waffle fries!

3. Reconciliation with her brother and his wife (now my co-guardian) who have a key to my home and stayed here all last week while we were out of town. They were available to handle a minor health issue when I was 1200 miles away. (E is fine now.) I’m grateful for the Jesus in them and the love we all share for E. I’m also grateful for the laughter we often share in the evenings when they stay here. They are so very kind…and a bit ornery. So we get along nicely.

4. Crochet hooks. And yarn. And YouTube videos. One of my favorite YouTube channels for learning to crochet is Jayda in Stitches . She’s fun and great teacher! I had never crocheted before last May. Now I carry my hooks and yarn with me everywhere!

5. Half off and 40% off coupons to Michaels and Hobby Lobby. And a husband who reminded me it’s okay to throw away $1 worth of sale yarn when I was almost in tears because I was just learning and couldn’t figure it out and completely and totally messed up the stupid-half-triple-quadruple-into-the-back-of-something stitches and his kindness helped me be not so upset and I did throw it away instead of pulling the whole ugly stringy thing out, rolling the yarn back up in a ball, and reusing it after I got it all tangled up and in a worse mess than this run-on sentence.

6. The thrill of completing a dozen granny squares all (close to) the same size. The squares were sent to my new friend Amanda who added them to squares made by others to create Legacy Blankets. Legacy Blankets are given to children at risk for trafficking, many are in foster care. Check out her site to learn more.

7. Finishing my first real blanket and praying over the child who would receive it. And later boxing up 100 squares and seven blankets to mail to Amanda to give away. Here is my first blanket.

8. Traveling with Ron on business trips. And learning to snorkel. We had to be in Puerto Rico for meetings in November. We took a few days on either end of the trip to visit Culebra and Vieques. Snorkeling was great fun! We swam with sea turtles and sting rays. At times I was anxious about currents, waves, and creatures that could eat me. But seeing underwater creation was awe inspiring!

9. Making blankets for my daughter and her kids for Christmas.

Blanket I made for three-year-old Lucy.

My daughter and har kids with their new blankets.

10. Scuba Lessons. It was the one Christmas gift my husband and I gave each other. I’m also grateful for his encouragement and patience when I was almost in tears the second night in the pool. (Fin broke, mask leaked, BCD didn’t fit, I was freezing after three hours in the pool, and our instructor was a sarcastic jerk. Not a good night.) But I didn’t quit! I finished the Scuba course despite the difficulties. As of last Saturday I am now a PADI certified Open Water Diver.

11. Business trips to Florida. Ron had to be in Orlando, Florida, for his company’s national sales meeting and the AHR Expo last week. As I do every year, I helped with the meeting by greeting attendees and doing whatever needs to be done (set up, clean up, etc) I enjoyed seeing my man in his element! Plus I got to walk the AHR show floor with Ron one day. I enjoy learning about new products and understanding more about the industry my husband has been involved in for thirty-five years.

12. Vacation days tacked on to business trips. Ron had to be in Miami Wednesday after the Expo. Since we were in south Florida anyway, he took a couple of vacation days and we spent Thursday through Sunday in the Keys. We had completed the classroom and pool part of the Scuba course in Dallas; we finished the Open Water part with an instructor at Quiescence Dive Shop in Key Largo. (I highly recommend this dive shop!) Adam was amazing! And he found me a sea horse on my very first dive in the ocean!

I have many things to be grateful for every day of the month. What are you grateful or today?

————— The Accident happened on August 12, 2013. Because of the late time and remote location, they were declared dead 8/13/13. The first ten months I found myself depressed in the days leading up to the 12th. Then, in the eleventh month July of 2014, I decided to choose gratitude. I wrote my first list of Twelve Things I’m Grateful for on the 12th.

12 Things I'm grateful for on the 12th

Thankful

November 12, 2018November 12, 2018
by KathleenBDuncan

The Accident happened on August 12, 2013. My son was dead.

For months I grieved. I wept. I sobbed. I cried out to God. My life had changed forever in one moment.

For ten months I got depressed beginning around the tenth. I dreaded the twelfth. Then, in July 2014, I decided to do things differently. I decided to do the next right thing: I chose gratitude. I began writing a list of Twelve Things I’m Grateful for on the 12th. That first month it was hard to come up with twelve things. But I did it. And I did it again the next month and the next and the next. For four years I wrote a list each month. Choosing gratitude helped me find healing.

Last summer I faced a new challenge, one I cannot yet say much about. I can say that someone I love very much was harmed and I was thrust in the middle of a very difficult situation. I’ve spent many days next to a hospital bed and many hours alone in hotel rooms. I’ve driven a dozen times to and from a state ten hours away. I’ve dealt with lawyers and investigators and a magistrate. I’ve spoken with caregivers and doctors and therapists. I’ve missed events with my family in Texas. I had to stop my Monday night study group.

And I stopped writing.

I stopped writing on my blog. I stopped writing out my Bible Studies. I stopped writing my gratitude lists.

A few weeks ago, in a support group for Christians who are caregivers, one gal wrote of her mother’s death. She’d been writing about her sweet mom for months as they faced her death. This woman’s faith amazed me! In the midst of very hard things she kept her focus on eternal things. After her mom’s passing, she wrote of all the things she was grateful for in her mom’s last days.

Her list reminded me that making lists of things I’m grateful for helped me through grief. Perhaps it would help me through this trial.

And so, today I am choosing to be grateful.

In the middle of some very hard things, I am grateful.

This list is not easy to write. My heart is breaking for a young woman who did not choose life. I’m hurting for a young man whose wife chose to leave and go back to her old life. I’m hurting for a family in conflict. I’m hurting for a family whose son is in jail. I’m hurting over the things I’ve been accused of by others who do not know me. I’m hurting for one I love who was treated poorly.

I’m hurting.

But I choose gratitude.

I am grateful for my husband who supports me as I walk through this trial.
I am grateful for a safe vehicle in which I drive through mountain passes.
I am grateful for forgiveness for all who repent. Forgiveness for even horrible things. I am grateful for the forgiveness I have received and forgiveness I must offer others.
I am grateful for understanding and kind lawyers who are very good at their job.
I am grateful for caregivers – nurses, CNAs, therapists, and so many more.
I am grateful for reconciliation and having a wonderful relationship with some very special young men and women.
I am grateful for AirB&B hosts who are kind and welcoming.
I am grateful for a church body who welcomed me on Wednesday evenings this summer without expecting anything in return for their kindnesses.
I am grateful for friends who know what’s going on and who pray.
I am grateful for my adult kids who call and text regularly.
I am grateful for plane tickets to see my youngest next weekend in SLC.
I am grateful for the love of Christ and the healing available to me even as I grieve and hurt and walk through hard things.

What are you grateful for today?

12 Things I'm grateful for on the 12th

Twelve Things I’m Grateful For On the 12th, May…

May 12, 2018August 12, 2018
by KathleenBDuncan

Wow! 2018!

I don’t write out the date must anymore. Most of us don’t. We rarely write checks or handwrite letters. Computers automatically enter the date where appropriate.

So when I typed in “May 2018” above, it struck me: I have known Ron for Thirty-Five years! Wow! We must be old!

I was twenty when we met. A junior at the University of Oklahoma. Ron was twenty-three and an engineering major.

Thirty-five years ago this week, I was visiting a friend, Greg. I lived with my parents about 45 minutes away. I’d not done well living on my own. I’d done all the stupid things sorority girls tend to do. Then I came to know Christ, really know Him and understand what it meant to begin to live a life in Christ. So I’d moved home to live differently. That morning I had driven down to Norman to hang out with friends including Greg and brought a few changes of clothes since I wasn’t sure what we’d be doing. Greg’s roommate hadn’t moved in yet, so my clothes were on the bed in that room.

A group of us spent the morning swimming in the apartment pool. Greg stayed down by the pool while I went to shower and change to go to lunch. (Guys can just dry off and throw on a shirt. I needed to rinse my hair or it would turn green from the chlorine.)

Just as I got out of the shower, Greg’s new roommate arrived and began unloading his car. Ron opened the apartment door with his key as I walked out of the bathroom wearing only a towel.

“WHO ARE YOU?” I asked in shock.

“I LIVE HERE! Who are you?” this very attractive man holding a piece of furniture asked.

I quickly got dressed while the roommates discussed the blond up in the apartment and the pile of clothes on the bed.

“She’s really great. A lot of fun. You’ll like her. You should ask her out!” Greg said.

“A lot of Fun, huh?” Ron commented.

The three of us spent lots of time together the next few weeks until Ron was finally convinced Greg and I were not an item.

Ron and I married that September.

Today is my husband’s birthday. Here are twelve things I love about him.

He’s still as attractive as the first moment I laid eyes on him. A bit older with a few wrinkles but still as wonderful.
He still likes to see me fresh out of the shower – even with all the stretch marks, gray hair, wrinkles, scars, and forty extra pounds.
Ron’s hands. I’ve always loved his hands. He can fix just about anything with his hands, and, with a touch, help lessen my anxiety or fear.
He loves me well, in good times and bad.
Ron encourages those around him to better. Whether on our bikes, in the conference room at work, or in a Bible study, he encourages others to do better, be better, try harder, all the while letting them know he cares.
He is humble.
He is kind.
He has admitted his need for help in overcoming issues in his life and readily accepts help from those who’ve walked the same path while reaching back to help others.
His tenor voice still makes me want to sit on the floor and just listen with my eyes closed (or on a comfy couch these days) as I did when we first married.
. He is quick to laugh. A belly laugh! He enjoys good humor and a good story.
. Though not perfect, he is a good father. We both made many mistakes and we are both working to improve. Many men give up on parenting when their kids reach college age. Ron is continually working to be a good influence in the lives of our adult offspring.
. He is willing to walk all the way around a sanctuary, if necessary, to be reconciled. (Read about the time he did just that.)

I am glad we met thirty-five years ago. I’m looking forward to spending another third-five years with this wonderful man.

Happy Birthday, my love!

12 Things I'm grateful for on the 12th

Twelve Things I’m Grateful For On the 12th –…

April 12, 2018May 16, 2018
by KathleenBDuncan

Springtime! I love seeing all the new growth and new life on our property. Flowers blooming. Trees budding. Animals enjoying sunshine and warmer days. I’m especially loving the birds I see at our feeder and around our pond this spring.

Blue birds. I love seeing blue birds. Except blue jays. They are mean. Ron’s grandmother told her boys they were never to use their B.B. guns to shoot bird for fun. Except blue jays. She hated them. They picked on the song birds she loved so much. Her grandsons were allowed to aim at blue jays. (I think she also knew they are smart birds and would be hard to hit, unlike some of the song birds.)
Morning doves. I love hearing them coo in the stillness of the mornings. They like to strut around looking for bugs. Our doves are all chubby. I’m glad the are eating the grubs and bugs.
Roadrunners. I haven’t seen them yet this year, but I know they’ll be running around soon looking for bugs and lizards. These birds make smile all over. Running here and there. Stopping to lift their heads and look around before running off in a different direction. They just look happy.
Mallard ducks. We always have them land on our pond for a few days, but they have not stayed in the past. This year Ron is building me a floating duck house in hopes they will build a nest. He built the platform with the grandsons last weekend. An old pallet with empty plastic bottles filled with foam were attached underneath underneath to make it float. The boys tests it out by floating on the pond. We now know that if the duck house weighs less than a nine year old boy the whole thing will float just fine.
Fuzzy baby ducklings. If the duck house works as planned, I should have baby ducks on my pond this summer! I’m hoping the floating platform will help protect the ducklings from bobcats and coyotes.
Red-tailed Hawks. We have a pair who live in our big cottonwood tree. I’ve seen them flying around already this year. We always love hearing the baby hawks screeching for dinner.
Mockingbirds. I hear them singing in the morning and evening. Our daughter Lyz had a fun conversation with one the other day while we planted flowers. She whistled, it whistled back the same tune. Well, almost the same tune. She’s a bit off. The bird I mean.
Cardinals showing off in the snow. We did not get much snow this year, but I did have lots of cardinals at my feeder.
Woodpeckers. We hear them pecking on trees around the property looking for bugs. They beautiful birds. And very large. Unfortunately on flew into my clean window last week and died. I was sad to find it lying on my porch. I’m reminded again why I shouldn’t clean my windows in the springtime.
Turkeys. Usually when they land they are in a flock, but a lone Tom landed Sunday morning. He wandered around the pond for a while. He looked lonely. Very fat but lonely. I suggested I should go down there and give him a hug so he wouldn’t feel so lonely. Maggie told me that was not the brightest idea I’ve ever had. My grandson thought it was funny. By he’s six.
Song birds like starlings and finches. I love hearing them sing as I sit on the porch talking with Ron as the sun goes down.
Heron Cranes. We have a huge crane that loves to hunt near our pond. I’ve watch her stand completely still for long periods of time then suddenly take off after some prey. I’m hoping she’s eating all the baby rattlesnakes. She is so graceful as she flies. I wonder where her nest is. Or is she actually a he hunting for food to take back to his mate? Last night we were on the porch quietly talking about our weekend and our son’s wedding. There, just over the tree tops, flew our graceful crane with her wings spread wide as the sun set in glowing pinks and oranges. What a beautiful sight!

Birds. They come in all shapes and sizes. Their songs so different from one another. I love seeing God’s creative beauty in the animals we have living on our property. One small piece of land in north Texas yet filled with so much life.

I can’t comprehend the brilliance of Him who created such variety in nature. He is worthy of praise and honor.

View of my pond from our front porch.

—————

12 Things I'm grateful for on the 12th

Twelve Things I’m Grateful For On the 12th –…

March 12, 2018May 16, 2018
by KathleenBDuncan

Today I am grateful for

Flour
Sugar
Brown sugar
Salt
Vanilla
Baking soda
Fresh eggs
Chocolate chips
Chopped walnuts
Electric mixer
Large mixing bowl
Baking stone

Yes, I made cookies. A double batch of toll house cookies. I bake only about six at time. The rest of the dough goes in the fridge for baking later. This way we can have freshly baked cookies every night!

12 Things I'm grateful for on the 12th

Twelve Things I’m Grateful For On the 12th (Feb…

February 12, 2018May 16, 2018
by KathleenBDuncan

You may have noticed I’m posting scripture memes each day. It’s Valentines Month. The scriptures I’m using all speak of love – the Father’s love for us or how we are to love one another.

Love doesn’t always look as I would want; sometimes God’s love includes discipline and correction. He loves me enough to change me, to conform me to the image of His Son. The love I receive from family and friends may also include honest correction. I need not only encouragement and affirmation from those who love me, I too often need gentle restoration and correction.

I am grateful that

God loved me when I was dead in my transgressions and sin.
He forgave me and cleansed me from all unrighteousness.
He gave us His Word so we can understand who He is, what He does, what He promises, and how we can live it out.
He is conforming me to the image of Jesus.
I am surrounded by people who love me.
My close friends are willing to call me on things when I’m wrong.
My friends who are spiritual are willing to gently restore me when I veering off into sin.
Their love for God overflows onto me and others around them.
My husband loves me even when I’m not lovely or lovable, like when I was sick last week.
My adult offspring love me and have forgiven me for my failings as their mom.
They acknowledge that we all need second and third chances.
I am loved with and everlasting love.

12 Things I'm grateful for on the 12th

30 Day Minimalist Challenge: Day 12 (and grateful post)

January 12, 2018January 11, 2018
by KathleenBDuncan

Today I finished cleaning out my closet and went through my drawers. I threw out old undergarments and socks. I also found a stash of new socks I bought on sale years ago and a pajama set I’ve never worn; they are going to the charity thrift store along with some shirts and pants I no longer wear.

Today as I cleaned out my dresser, I continue to be grateful. And as I do every month, I made a list of twelve things I am grateful for.

For the past thirty months I have written the monthly feature “Twelve Things I’m Grateful for on the 12th.” Here is why: The Accident happened late on August 12th, 2013. Because of the remote location, they weren’t pronounced dead until 12:30 am August 13, 2013. The first ten months after The Accident I got very depressed starting around the tenth. Then, in July of 2014, I decided to choose gratitude. Instead of being depressed and bitter about my loss, I chose to be grateful for what I have. I wrote my first Twelve Things I’m Grateful for on the 12th. I’ve made a list of things I’m grateful for each month since then.

In the past couple of weeks I’ve cleaned out our attic, my desk, office shelves and filing cabinet, pots and pans, and Christmas decorations. As I clean out various areas of our home, I am grateful for what we have: a beautiful, warm and safe home. I am grateful for the dozens of memories we made with our children in this home.

I remember fondly the many parties, family dinners, game nights, and quiet times reading in front of the fireplace.

I loved homeschooling around the dining room table. And watching my children spread out throughout the house and property to do homework.

Five of our seven children completed high school while living here. They went off to college or careers and still come home for vacations and holidays.

Four of our seven learned to parallel park in this driveway.

I’ve lost count of the many evenings around a bonfire out back with friends making s’mores and sharing stories.

We’ve celebrated thirteen Christmases and many birthdays in this home.

Our children gathered here with us to mourn their brother’s death. We also mourned the loss of both grandfathers and one of their grandmothers since moving here.

We’ve had hard times here and some wonderful, joyous times as well. I am grateful for the many memories we’ve made here. These memories are what makes this house our home.

Ron and I are now empty-nesters who continue to welcome friends and family into our home. And you are ever in Wichita Falls, let us know. We’ll be glad to have you drop by for a meal and a chat.