If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. ~Meister Eckhart

If I were to sit back and consider all the things I am thankful for, I originally thought it would it would be a very long list. I was quite surprised when, thinking about the things that truly matter, my list was fairly short and consise. I mean, sure, I could go on and on about the chocolate and coffee at Rogues's Garden, and I am thankful that we have such a wonderful escape in our frozen little town, but I wanted my list to go a little deeper.

That deeper list was my life. My deeper list was my family, my friends, my health and my home. Isn't that what life boils down to, really? What would I fight for? What would I defend to the end? What would I never give up on? Those four things.

Rudy lost his first tooth. He's been waiting a while to get tooth fairy loot.

Rudy's tooth fairy pillow :)

"I can't do magic or grant wishes, but if you unfold me, I can do the dishes."

Samantha's napkin turkey.

I am thankful for a million other things, too. I thank my mom everyday for teaching me to sew, and for her humor. I am thankful for my wonderful step-father, who raised me as his own, although I may have given him quite a bit of hell from time to time. I am thankful for my wonderful job, which I often wonder how I got so lucky to obtain. I love my job.

This has been a hard winter so far. Truly, it has barely started, but with hurricane force winds, single digit temps, wrecked vehicles (that was for my brother) and frost-bitten cheeks, we are easily put into a dark state of mind.We question why we would chose to live in such a forsaken place. Then we go back to the list. It really doesn't matter where we live. As long as we have our family, friends, home and health.

The few feet of wonderful, fluffy snow we are getting as a type this helps, too.