I am grateful for Cheerios. They make me cheerio.

I am grateful for the ability to and gift of sleep. It’s a hobby.

I am grateful for funny words that make me smile. Munch is the word of the day.

I am grateful for car keys in my pocket. There were times in my life when I did not have this blessing.

I am grateful for a winter coat to wear. Thank you, Sam.

I am grateful for dogs in Christmas outfits.

I am grateful for Mom and Dad’s old Reader’s Digest Christmas albums that always went perfectly with the Nativity Scene on the mantel, the Rudolph “Hi and Bye” at the front door, the baby food jar tree that sat on the hope chest, the Christmas tea towels that hung on the oven door, and the pretty glow of the Christmas tree covered in icicles.

I always thought that tree on the cover was the prettiest tree in the world.

I am grateful for chocolate covered peanuts and boxes of oranges and grapefruit from fundraisers at school and chocolate rolls from CBA and Aunt Alta’s Christmas wreath cookies and ribbon candy and paper sacks of treats after the Christmas program at church.

I am grateful for memories of throwing a fit in the aisle at Kmart because I so wanted a parakeet for Christmas and Mom wouldn’t let me have one and then getting a parakeet for Christmas a week or so later. Not grateful that I threw a fit but grateful that Mom and Dad loved me more than my selfishness.

I am grateful for the Pegues coins Dad would always get for my sister and me at Christmas.

I am grateful for funny laughs.

I am grateful for memories of sledding fun.

I am grateful for memories of the excitement of watching Rudolph on TV – it meant the Christmas season had begun.

And I am grateful for the song, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” It is the one Christmas song that makes me cry and wish I could spend Christmas with my girls and my Mom.

The Christmas Song – Natalie and Nat King Cole