An Attitude of Gratitude!

Its minus 2 Celsius outside, and a cosy 20 degrees inside as I write this. Three years ago we installed central heating - the first time in my adult life that I have lived with central heating, and I still feel blessed every morning when I wake up to a warm house.
It has snowed again overnight, a fresh powder over the existing layer. The early morning light is grey and sounds are muffled. My small aging car is sitting under a white blanket which I will have to brush off before I use it later to go to the riding school. I've had a bit of trouble with my Renault Twingo this week, as it does not handle the icy car park, or the unpaved 500 meters of track along the dike to the stables. I still find it amazing that I have a car, after so many years of using public transport; but I am even more grateful for the fact that if I decide my little car cannot make the journey today; I can borrow John's Land Rover, with 4 wheel drive, and go in that!





Yesterday the temperature never went above minus 4 Celsius all day, and at the stables the water pipes were frozen. I am so grateful for everyone there, who cared for our pony enough to bring her water, so she had plenty to drink before we got there, and for knowing that she is warm and dry in her stall, with people watching over her.
I'm behind with my preparations for Christmas, but on Friday we finally brought home the Christmas tree; I wanted to wait so that Jolanda could decorate it with me, but as we came home, lots of her friends were snowballing in the street, so she went off to join in; I am so grateful she has good friends in the neighbourhood.
Creating a festive feel in the living room is sometimes difficult when big boxes of computer components arrive, and take up so much space, but I'm grateful John's business is doing well, and I am also grateful he works from home, we see so much more of each other that way.
I could go on like this all day, I'm grateful for the pretty shops in our village that provided much of my Christmas present shopping within a couple of hours yesterday; I'm also grateful for the internet, which will helped me finish off buying gifts for England today. I'm grateful for my family who have been much more organised than I have, and sent presents in good time for Christmas morning.
It does not take much to generate an attitude of gratitude, but I do believe in counting blessings, we have so much to be grateful for; Happy Christmas!