Thankful Thursday!

The Mommy Files is where you'll find this great Thursday link-up. Join us in being thankful! Today's letter is "S"... I'm actually doing a make up day because I missed the "S" one... and I wanted to do it! :)

I'm thankful for:

• Sleep - face it, as the mother of an infant, you're never guaranteed anything -- especially 6-8 hours of sleep daily so when you DO get more than 4 hours at a time, you ARE thankful!
• Strawberries - my ultimate favorite summer fruit. I love making strawberry banana smoothies. I but gobs of them, clean them and freeze them myself.
• Sunshine - While I don't love the SWEAT that goes along with it or the SUNBURNS, I do love the sunshine. It makes you want to open the blinds and take in another beautiful day.
• Sons - I'm lucky enough to have not one, not two, but THREE of them. I'm beyond blessed.
• Savior - We would be nothing if it weren't for Him. How could you NOT be thankful?
• String cheese - It's such a fun, portable, protein.
• Sugar - What can I say, I have a sweet tooth! :)
• Soft blankets - I have an infant so it's always a search to find the softest plush animal for him or the soft blanket. He has three right now... a silky, soft one. Mmmm
• Stretchy pants - And, since I have said infant, I'm in great need of stretchy pants since I haven't dropped the baby weight while I've been nursing. Ugh.
• Soldiers - My heart goes out to their families. My prayers go out to them. Our country needs to take better care of them... they're our only line of defense.
• Slow cookers -I'm the crock pot queen! Give me 6-8 hours and I'll give you a delicious meal that didn't make the whole kitchen heat up with the oven. Love those slow cookers.
• Snow - I think I should have been a polar bear for as much as I love the snow. I'm very thankful for it when we do actually get it here in Texas.
• Sweet tea - Yeah, see the post about the sweet tooth? This is one of those key things that helps me keep it under control. I'm a Southerner, man. We love our sweet tea!
• Singing - Music helps me deal with anything... it can make you drive fast, it can calm you down. I'm thankful for the gift of singing and that I actually can do it well.
• Sign language - Everyone needs a "voice" to be heard and so I'm thankful for the development of ASL so that even the non hearing community has a voice. I do wish I still knew it better than I do now.
• Smiley faces - Because you can't see a big yellow smiley face and not have your spirit lifted... even just a little bit.
• Sarcasm - I would be unable to speak without it.
• Sharon - This is my mother in law. I'm beyond thankful for her.
• Sapphires - They're like diamonds... in navy blue! :) Ha!
• Steak - There's not much better than a big, juicy steak cooked on the grill. That first bite leaves you quite thankful for a delicious meal.
• Seafood (shrimp, scallops) - I think I hear Red Lobster calling my name right now. I am thankful for all fishermen have to go through just TO put seafood on our table! Have you SEEN Deadliest Catch? That's crazy man!
• Sesame Street - Who (my age) can't be thankful for the Saturday entertainment provided on Sesame Street?
• School - I'm thankful for the opportunity for my children to have some of the best schools in the state to attend. I'm thankful our children are given the opportunity to learn.
• Shel Silverstein - This was one of my first poets as a child that I was introduced to. I was instantly hooked. I loved sharing his works with my boys.
• Spaghetti - I'm thankful for this delicious, versatile meal that my whole family enjoys.
• Sour cream - ...because a baked potato is incomplete without it!
• Self-control - I'm thankful every day for those who have learned how to control theirs and the fact that I'm (generally) able to keep mine under wraps as well.
• Sadie - Our little rescue dog. She makes me smile
• Scrapbooking - I was introduced to this hobby and am hopelessly addicted. I wish, however, I was able to get in there and scrapbook MORE but as it stands right now, not so much. I'm thankful for the gift of being able TO scrap.
• Smooth legs - They just feel so darn good!
• Stuffed mushrooms - I'm noticing a common denominator here - food. Perhaps I should go eat a smackerel or two.
• Santa Claus - I'm thankful for this tradition to fill our children with the magic of Christmas. I'm not one of those parents that doesn't let her children believe because it takes the "Christ" out of Christmas, because we DEFINITELY know why we celebrate but since it lasts just a little while, it's fun while it does last.
• Science - The innovations just in the last 40-50 years are quite remarkable. I'm thankful for those in this field that do things to make our lives better and to keep researching to heal the sick.
• Swimming - Drew just learned how to this summer... and so it's now something to be QUITE thankful for.
• Sun-dried tomatoes - They're delicious in just about anything!
• Simplicity - I think that many times people make things overly complicated... be it recipes, relationships, tasks in general. I am very thankful for things when they've been pruned down and I can just appreciate the simplicity of it all.
• Sports - While I don't play them, I am thankful for them so that my boys may engage in them and grow healthy strong bodies while learning to work as a team.
• Smart people - I'm thankful for the Edison's, Franklin's and Einsteins of the world. I can't imagine I'd even know what to do with myself if I was that smart.
• Strength - I am thankful for those who exhibit strength... not only in body but more importantly in mind and spirit.
• Scooby Doo - This was actually the first movie Josh and I went to see together so I'm thankful for that special memory. Drew loves Scooby Doo now, too, so I'm thankful how the cartoon has transcended generations to give us all something silly to laugh at and enjoy.
• Seals and Sea lions - I am thankful for these beautiful sea creatures. I love them both... they're so huggable looking (I'm sure they could easily bite your face off, but they look simply adorable!)
• Saturdays - A day when we can all be together as a family...
• Skiing - I haven't been in years but so thankful when I do get to go back... especially since it's in my favorite place (Colorado). Yes, I understand that it's available elsewhere but why bother?
• Six pack abs - Not that I have them, just thankful to see them. LOL
• Strollers - Because carrying children a long time is hard on the back, arms, shoulders and patience.
• Swiffer - ...it makes cleaning dust a snap.
• Seniors - I love old people. I am thankful for their service to humanity... their families... I wish they were appreciated more.
• Shade - I live in Texas. It's HOT in the summer. Shade is DEFINITELY something to be thankful for!
• Sunflowers - They're beautiful. How can you not be thankful for a beautiful creation?
• Selflessness - It's a quality like this that makes you truly appreciate people.
• Storage - I have stuff. I need a place to put it.
• Souper Salad - This is one of my family's favorite places to eat. I huuuuuge salad bar!
• Sincerity - I don't believe people possess this quality much anymore. How sad.
• Salad - One of my absolute most favorite meals on the planet!
• Swaggar wagon - If you don't know what this is, go to You Tube and laugh. :) Nuff said.
• Shiner Bock - Simply the best beer in Texas. Very thankful when I can drink one again.
• Sunglasses - With all the sunshine, you are quite thankful for sunglasses to shield your peepers.
• Sorbet - Sometimes a frozen treat is quite a gift. Make mine strawberry, please.
• Steve Martin - One of the best regulars on Saturday Night Live and simply a divine actor.
• Shrek - I love the first one. I'm thankful for the gift the creators brought to the silver screen. It makes me (and more importantly, my kids) laugh.
• Silver - I'm thankful for shiny silver. I'm not much of a gold person, but silver. It's a beautiful thing.
• Salsa - Salsa is a fantastic accompaniment to any get together and on almost any meal. I'm thankful for the gift of being in a Tex-Mex kinda state where it's a staple just about anywhere you go!
• Scouts! - After having worked first hand with youth for a long time, I can see the benefits of Scouting to their moral development and that is DEFINITELY something to be thankful for.
• Stars - God blessed us with this abundance of night light. Thank you for the night skies.
• Snoopy -I'm even thankful to just remember the fact that I had a Snoopy doll when I was a youth. I would buy him outfits and the like. I'm thankful for the memory of a silly little old dog.
• Senses - I'm so very fortunate and thankful that all my senses are still intact and functioning well.
• Salt and seasonings - I'm thankful for the many flavorings we are able to use with our cooking to enhance their flavors.
• Sonic - They make the best diet peach tea around! Oh, and their burgers and tots are pretty good too!
• Stereo - Thankful for great stations to sing along to.
• Sleeping bags - Because sleeping on the ground would suck.
• Subway - eat fresh. Thankful for healthy options.