I haven't noticed the month flying by. It's gone now.

Tomorrow is Mike's last day at chemo. He will have his pump until Friday and then he is done. We will squeeze in some scans by the end of the month to see that there is no sign of disease left.

I cleaned today, trying to get ready to decorate for Christmas. But I am so easily distracted that nothing got done. I haven't had time to think about Christmas cards or parties. I've been in retail hell. And of course the holiday sadness is setting in. I am thankful for Celexa, but it can only do so much.

I have been very thankful lately. But unfortunately I do my best thinking in the car and by the time I make it to my computer, my thoughts have turned away from my blog and toward dishes. Or Hulu. Today I am thankful for my home. It is warm, it is full of laughter. It is always a mess, but it usually smells good. It is our first home. We own every inch of it. We own the leaf covered lawn, the box-filled garage, the toy-covered carpet. We have filled it with our love, our laughter, our lives. I am thankful for our home because it is something we built as a family.

Today I am thankful that I live in a country that tries to include it's citizens in its government. I voted today. I know that people whine that voting doesn't make a difference and that politics are full of empty promises. But how is sitting on your couch going to fix that? Our world isn't perfect. And maybe we cannot make enough of a ripple to fix the big things. But one little step in the right direction in a start.

Last year on Facebook, every day in November, many people would post something they were thankful for. I am going to do it again this year, and I want to try to post here, as well.

Today I am thankful that we received our tax rebate for the house. We can now pay off our appliances and breathe a little bit easier. It's been a rough year. The money doesn't fix it, but it means one less monthly payment, which is big in our world.