Thanksgiving

I just read an interesting blog post by Phil Plait - the Bad Astronomer.  I like a lot of what Phil has to say, even if I am not even a very bad astronomer. I can even understand his point - he is thankful to people around him for their love, help, support, and encouragement; but he is glad that circumstances worked out so that he met and married his wife.  Phil doesn't find evidence for a higher power, so doesn't feel that the correct word is "Thankful" to describe his delight in his wife and daughter. He has no one to be thankful to.
The God I serve is not the same God whom a number of my friends describe; nor do I believe He works as people around me believe.  Having said that, I am still thankful today.
I'm thankful for four wonderful children and a delightful daughter-in-law.  I'm thankful for the colleagues with whom I teach.  I'm thankful for the students I teach, and for the light in their eyes when they learn a new concept. I'm thankful for a warm home and a daughter to share it with me. I'm thankful for the cats who share our home and our hearts. I'm thankful for my parents and siblings as well as the nieces and nephews who add such variety and inspiration to my life. I'm thankful for loyal friends. I'm thankful for the years I was married and the man I shared those years with.
 I'm thankful for the ability to learn, for the pleasure I find in a good book, for the chance to run each morning, for warm showers, hot coffee, and cold Dr. Pepper.
I know who I am thankful to - I thank God when I think of each of you.