What’s that? It’s a blog party with the theme of gratitude. My friend Jo-Ann Carson came up with the idea of many bloggers posting about gratitude. On Monday, January 30, Jo-Ann will post the list of participating blogs on her blog. Sometimes all it takes is someone reminding us of how many things we should be grateful for to pull us out of the doldrums. So here are my three things—or more. LOL I’m very blessed.
#1 My husband. Robert (Bob) West
.
I take him for granted way too much. Pretty much everything I’ve accomplished in my life is because of his support and belief in me. He loves me unconditionally, whether I’m fat or thin, whether I’m cranky or smiling, whether I’m ordering or listening. He works long hours to give our family what we’ve gotten used to because of his hard work. He’s a very good lawyer. He’s smart, ethical, and caring. And did I mention the beautiful daughters we created together? He’s a good father, even now when they’re grown with kids of their own. 
The stairs of our old house.
#2 My parents. 
They brought me up in a home of faith and made sure I got a good education. A good education prepares you to do anything—be anything. My mom especially was such a good role model. (Oh yes, she was a perfectionist as I am LOL which is not a particularly good thing to be.) But that drive kept her young way longer than others her age. She believed we can always be better if we work hard enough. Not a natural positive thinker because of her upbringing, she read all kinds of spiritual self-help type books and tapes. One of her favorites was:Psychology of Winning By Dennis Waits. (I need to do some posts on this.) She believed in the power of your mind and was ahead of her time with vitamins and eating healthy. She took care of her skin even when she was in an assisted living situation with broken bones. I picture her in her wheelchair at night rubbing the moisturizer up her face to counteract the force of gravity. I thought, wow, I hope I can take that much care when I’m old. Apologies for thinking the “old” word in conjunction with you, Mom. You were never “old,” even in your last weeks.
#3 I’m grateful to live on a beautiful lake.
We were blessed to spend 10 years in a house that overlooked a small man-made lake. I think that must’ve been when we were bitten by that need for a water view. It’s the kind of thing that until you don’t have it anymore, you don’t realize how much it meant to you. With most of our vacations we sought places to stay with a water view. Two years ago, next May, our daughter Kathryn sent us an email with the words: “Water View?” in the subject. Within two weeks we bought this property. We moved in full time, the end of last May. Every morning we get up and say, “Thank you, God, for this amazing lake.”
#4. (You know I couldn’t just limit it to 3 things. LOL) I’m grateful I get to write.
The Windows 10, which at first I didn’t want to install, has a great spell and grammar check. I’m amazed at how quickly the program picks up issues. I’m having such fun writing Book 3 in the Second Chances Series. The words just flow out of my fingertips. A friend suggested perhaps it was the influence of living on the lake. Maybe so, the words have never flowed so easily, and this is a book I struggled with when I began. I’m about one third through. Will keep you updated on the progress.
I’ve cut several things I’m grateful for, so I’ll have to do this post again. 🙂
I hope you will share several things you’ve grateful for and that on Monday, you’ll go to the other blogs to read more gratitude posts.
Love to hear from you.
Please contact me at marsha@marsharwest.com , sign up for my newsletter http://eepurl.com/bBcimz , and follow me on any of my social media sites.
http://www.marsharwest.com
https://authormarsharwest.wordpress.com/ for my Blog
https://www.facebook.com/#!/marsha.r.west @marsha.r.west
http://www.twitter.com/Marsharwest @Marsharwest
https://www.pinterest.com/marsharwest/
https://sisterhoodofsuspense.com/blog/
Marsha R. West, Author 
Lovely post, Marsha. What great photos!
I would have close to the same list. I am thankful for my wonderful and loyal husband and best friend, kind and loving sons, and my precious grandson. My loving, self-less parents who gave me and my siblings what’s important in life. My extended family.
I am indeed a blessed person. I need/hope to never take anything or anyone for granted.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hey, Susan. I think the beauty of this kind of post is to make us realize how very blessed we are. I could’ve gone on and on. I mean I didn’t even get to express thanks for being able to walk again. That’s a enormous blessing. I hope you’ll check out the other posts when we get those links. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing this lovely post. So true how we take our loved ones for granted. So many times when the family comes over, folks will say, “Don’t worry about the meal or cleaning the house” when actually we should offer our best to family members. Ditto on everything you said. I would add that I am thankful for my health, another thing we take for granted when we are well.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hey, JQ. Loved your comment about not cleaning for family. We do for “other” guests, but I’ll frequently sluff off if it’s just the kids. I’ll have to re think my behavior on that one. Thanks for posting and sharing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely post, Marsha, and such a great idea to have a round robin of “gratitude” posts. This time of year, when Christmas is past and we’re still in the throes of winter, people can start to feel down. It’s good to remember all the things we have to feel thankful for.
Great news about your writing. The lake is sending you good vibes!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hey, Helena. Yes the winter blahs set in for most of us. Some parts of the US have been beaten down with the amounts of cold and snow. We’ve actually had a mild winter and I worry the green things will start coming up on these warm 80 degrees day (on Monday) and now we’re back to mid 50s and freezing temps at night. When we walk Charley and whisper to them to stay asleep. 🙂 I’m eager to get to the story today. I don’t have to go anyplace until the gym at 2 today. I hope to find the words are still flowing. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Helena,
Feel free to join our Gratitude Gathering. All you have to do is write a post about what you are grateful for and put the url in the Inlinkz by clicking the frog button on Marsha’s post.
all the best,
Jo-Ann
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Jo-Ann. I won’t have time to post before Monday – I have an author on my blog this weekend. I’d love to take part next time. I’ll look out for the other posts on Monday. Have a great weekend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Marsha,
I love when you talk about your family. My heart fills with warmth. It’s a great picture of you and Bob. We just had our 36th anniversary. I figure you guys must be up there too. How lucky we all are.
Your lake home looks amazing and I’m so happy your writing is going well. My writing is flowing at the moment too. I thought it was the new series I’m writing, but I guess it could be just the amount of time I’ve been at this. Whatever it is, I’m thankful.
And I’m very thankful to have met you on-line and in person. You are a treasured friend to me and many others.
hugs,
Jo-Ann
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey, Jo-Ann. So happy to be a part of this and grateful for your friendship. Bob and I will have our 45th or maybe 46th anniversary in June. There are a lot of us out there who’ve stuck it out. Definitely lucky and grateful. Glad your writing is going well. I’m really enjoying the ghost series. I’m in the middle of the Viking one. Love the heroine and he’s not bad either. LOL Thanks for your kinds words, support, and for stopping by. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post. You and Bob look like a lovely couple. It is good to acknowledge all the good things in our lives.
Think I’ll get back to blogging with a gratitude post too. Monday.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hey, Kate. So nice to hear from you. Please do the gratitude post. It just makes us all feel better. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would be sooo awesome!
LikeLiked by 1 person