Thirty first week-Counting my blessings

This week in honor of Thanksgiving and to give myself a break, I decided to start listing what I'm thankful for...I did that a little last week, but this week I'll expand it.

1) Enough food to feed me and my family. With all the drought and recent crop failures, this is no longer a "given" for many. Praise God for his provision and the bounty he provided for us.

2)Adequate shelter....With everything going up in price...this too is no longer a "given" as many are being left homeless due to rising taxes and limited resources. Yes, this is a prayer for all of us that are now struggling to keep a roof over their heads.

3)Internet access....Having the ability to work at home is definitely a blessing. Too many have to rely on library access and run the risk of exposing their personal information to the world...not that it doesn't happen when you're working from home, but it's more likely when you're working on a public computer.

4)Family and friends....Yes, I have drawn support from them, as they have from me. Many struggle without that support and fall through the cracks of society. Praise God for everyone of them! They keep me sane and encouraged to keep pressing on.

5) Support groups-both on-line and in person....I have utilized both in my ongoing search for that elusive employer. Their advice has kept me focused even when I felt ready to give up.

6) Opportunities to serve....I've kept my eyes open for these opportunities but haven't found any. Yet every day I gain knowledge to do what I can when those opportunities open up. I am thankful that there are opportunities out there even now, and that I may find one soon.

7) Libraries and other resources....The library has become my refuge and my resource for all sorts of information. I'm learning a lot, and admittedly will miss the time I spent there when I'm happily employed again.

8) Health....Yes I can be thankful that I'm relatively healthy. Unfortunately with this new healthcare law, it's going to make it extremely difficult to get the care I may need without going broke and/or compromising my personal identity.

9) Access to transportation....I am thankful for public transportation, but am annoyed by certain temporary agencies that discriminate in regards to taking employees because that's how they get to work. They are not environmentally geared, and neither are any companies that do the same thing. Enough said.

10) Revenue streams....I am thankful for unemployment compensation and for other revenue streams that help support me and my family as I press on to find stable employment.

Finally, and most important of all....I am thankful for life and I thank God for all his blessings. For without him, I am nothing.