Thankful...

In this season of thankfulness and giving, I think it's nice to challenge myself to express what I love in my life, and who helped make it so...  Since I'm all about lists, here we go:

1. This year number one is easy...a healthy Liam.  If you haven't been following my friend Dawn's story, check it out here.  This time last year Dawn and her husband received the awful news that their little one, Liam, had cancer.  I couldn't be there to help, but I could cry over the phone and tell her I was thinking about all three of them all the time.  This year they are lucky, and thankful enough, to be celebrating with family portraits. 
2.  My family - from the Swanson's and the Whalen's to the Killian's, Kolb's and the Krebs'...and beyond.  :)  And I'm thankful that we're all willing to sell a body part of which we have multiples to see each other at least once or twice a year.
3. Health - We're blessed, I'll just say that.  Aside from minor calamities that Drew is prone to having, we're all good. And we know where both Urgent Care and the local hospital are in Arvada - so we're prepared for the next round.
4. Loui - who new a fuzzball could be so darn loveable?  I think I'm in trouble - kids aren't that fuzzy.
5. Colorado.  I'm pretty sure Drew and I were born to be Colorado-ans.  Colorado-ites?  Perhaps if I was born to be here I should learn how to say it...  ;)
6. Employment - In a year in which I left one job, crafted another from a distance, became unemployed and then re-employed, I'm thankful to have landed something I really do enjoy.  Not everyone is so lucky.
7. Friends from afar.  Pretty much everyone is from "afar" right now, but I am thankful to have kept some semblance of a relationship (however horrid I am at calling) with NicWo, Kenny, Annie, Dawn and the like.  I'll try harder next year, too.  I promise.
8. Goals - big ones.  I'm a planner.  I'm thankful that I have the luxury of dreaming big, and actually making things happen.  Most of my daydream plans revolve around vacation (don't roll your eyes) because hey, anything's possible.  Checking out New Zealand books at the library?  Nothing wrong with that.  It's actually made it onto the real time calendar for us Swanson's!!!  And that far-fetched one about climbing Half Dome?  Check.  Done.
9. Marrying my best friend.  Cheeseball, I know.  We do incredible dorky things together, and no one seems to mind - particularly us. (Anyone remember the "No Power Wednesday's" story? That's what I'm talking about).
10. Pretzel bagels at Einstein's.  They're my new obsession.  What?  Something had to replace the green olive cream cheese I used to obsess over at Breugger's.  I'm perfectly normal.

So, what are you thankful for?