The things I'm thankful for...

I am sitting here with the kids (who should be sleeping) drinking a pop (A Mt. Dew to be exact) and thanking God I got one before they were gone. Your probably wondering what the heck I am talking about so let me explain. I love pop but drink it in moderation (especially Mt. Dew because the brominated vegetable oil in it is like pouring poison over your brain!) and at times I crave the taste and the caffeine as anyone else would. But that anyone else would just open the fridge and get one, drive to the nearest gas station, or go to their favorite restaurant and drink one with dinner. I can not. So when I am in the mood for this "drink o death" I wait until the kids are down for a nap bundle up and trek up to the Native Store where generally there is a good stock of pop but not lately. Lately there hasn't been a thing in that store. There is the $7 bag of chips, the $13 frozen pizza, and the cans of odd flavored meat that have been on the shelf for months or even years but there hasn't been any pop. This has been going on for well over a week (I think closer to 2 weeks) and everyday I make the journey only to be disappointed in the end. But not today! Today there was Mt. Dew and Sunkist (also with brominated vegetable oil) and only a few boxes. So I grabbed one as quick as I could get my gloves off (thanks for the gloves pops!) and felt as if I had won the lottery! YES! So as I drink my pop I think about how wonderful it is that I got one before they were gone (they will be by the end of the day!) and how thankful I am for the things we generally take for granted. If fact I think I will list some:
-POP
-running water (most people here don't have it... the post master was talking to the chief today about there only being 3 washing machines in the washeteria)
-a mostly heated home
-frozen dinners... man I miss those!
-my hands and arms...(even though one is better than the other) I can not imagine trying to knead dough for bread (I make it when we are out of the sliced stuff) with only one arm or one hand
-my feet (even though one is by far better than the other)... how would I get around here? I wouldn't be able to get that ol' wheel chair through this stuff
-my health... although I have had my scares I am pretty healthy and good thing because sometimes (most times) there is no one in the clinic
-my family... I miss EVERYONE terribly! My family has taught me a lot and I am especially grateful to all the crafty ones who taught me what I should do when stuck in doors and I am thankful to the others that taught me how to smile through the rough times... we need those laughs and smiles now more than ever. THANK YOU!
-board games and wii
-The United States Postal Service! I do not know what I would do without that walk to the post office each weekday. It is such a wonderful thing to get mail from family and friends too. (one of the highlights of my day!... that's sad) :)
-my husband... just for being who he is and for doing all the things he does for this family. I can't imagine the burdens he carries at times being the head of this household.
-God and his son Jesus. Those were obvious ones. They = heaven! I would be lost without him. And he is the one who got us here where we are today and the only reason I am writing this.
-sunlight! When that big round sun comes back I am throwing a party!
-crayons... those little things can entertain cranky kids for HOURS! I can't even do that! ;)

I am sure there is more but I have a ton to do still today. I have just found out that I am for sure taking the school pictures.... TOMORROW! So nice of them to let me know in advance. Oh well it should be fun and besides it is a paying job and those are always nice especially during the holidays!
AND I have to finish up a few wash clothes I knitted and sold on etsy! (If you are reading this THANK YOU!)
We miss everyone terribly and wish we were coming home for the holidays but it just won't happen this year. So sad. But as I sad before I was taught that there is good in all things that seem bad I just have to look for it... I am really looking forward to more of these Jigs... the last one was pretty amazing. And there is a Christmas show at the school tomorrow which will be exciting. And who can forget the kids?! Being able to teach our children the most important thing they will ever learn (the story of Jesus Christ) will never cease to make me proud... and hey opening presents on Christmas morning isn't all that bad either!
;)
Merry Christmas everyone!

The pictures are of Joe and the kids being goofy and the last one is a picture I took of my house of the way back from the post office... I didn't adjust the dark color because I wanted you to see how bright it gets. It was a cloudy day so it does get a bit brighter but not much.