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1. With the state of today's economy, I thank God that I really have not personally felt a problem yet. I know many who are -- and we may too - soon -- but so far I am very blessed to be doing well! Thus far Dennis is still working at least 5 days a week - and that is MUCH to be thankful for!

2. Despite Knee, the kitchen is coming along. I HONESTLY believe that it will be finished by the end of this week! (that's next Saturday! whooo hooo!)

3. Gas has dropped in price to $2.59/gal. PRAISE God! And keep it coming! (cuz milk was almost $6 a gallon!) Glad my car doesn't drink it!!! Dennis thinks that gas will drop back as low as $2.00/gal again.... I sure hope he's right!

4. Okay! I concede! I AM thankful for the new cooler weather! It DOES feel good to walk outside and not sweat -- and it does smell ~crisp~ in the air! (But it's still SUNNY and warm in my kitchen!)

5. I'm thankful that we are less than 2 weeks to our nation's election and that soon the madness will STOP! The winners will rejoice; the losers will seek to lay blame; and then life will get back to normal! I can't wait!

6. I made some absolutely STELLAR chili last night -- two pots! One for the church chili cook-off today -- and one for US! Dinner was sooooooo yummy! I didn't use a recipe - just threw stuff in -- this time I used real "beef" -- I usually use ground turkey - but for the chili cook-off -- you know... I also added some sliced up beer brats! That was a huge good thing to do! I put in some chopped red bell pepper -- that was a good thing too! Lots of chopped onion. Kidney beans AND black beans... oh! and grape tomatoes! I put in a b'zillion whole grape tomatoes ... and made it all just a little bit spicier than normal... I usually use mild seasonings - but this time I used some hot seasoning as well. And I thank God for all those good ideas! I think my chili may do well today!

7. I am EVER so thankful - that even though I didn't ASK for it, God knew how badly I wanted a NEW refrigerator... and He let the OLD one DIE yesteray!!! Dennis would NOT see this as a God thing -- but Oh, I DO!!! I really DO!!! (Dennis does not see ANYthing as a God thing because he doesn't believe in God) I probably should not have TOLD him it was a God thing... now he blames God for killing the refrigerator! (How can you blame someone you don't believe in???) But, at the beach I had told Amanda that I had put off decorating the kitchen for sooooooo many years because I wanted *new* appliances to go with all the hard work! So I said "I've finally decided to just DO it, and maybe once the kitchen is painted, the appliances will come!" (if you build it, they will come...) Well... what can I say? I told Dennis that I understand the timing stinks and the economy is bad - but that the fridge was 22 years old and I would NOT be stopped from being HAPPY to get a new one!!! LOL! AND I will PRAISE my GOD for letting me have it!!! THANK YOU PAPA GOD for something as UNimportant as a *new* refrigerator!!! (don't even TRY to tell me it's not a God thing... it sO is!)