If you read my post yesterday you know that I’m having a full-on week of gratitude here at Liz in Ink. 

Y’know how the retail establishments stretch-out Christmas over about 8 weeks? Well, I’m taking Thanksgiving into my own hands and stretching it out over seven days. Not the food part (we had split pea soup and toast for dinner last night) but the “This is what I’m thankful for…” part.

As an aside, today just happens to be my OneYear Blogiversary. 
I penned my first words on November 20, 2006 and, 165 posts later, here I am.

It seems appropriate, then, that today’s gratitudes be writing related. So without further ado, here goes:

I’m thankful that I’ve found the work I love to do.

I’m thankful that I’ve got a husband who loves the work I do and loves me and doesn’t seem to mind or even notice that I’m not getting us rich.

I’m thankful that I’ve published my first book and I’m thankful that it’s being read — at bedtime and naptime and storytime — to open, eager, curious, inspired children. 

I’m thankful that I’ve sold my next two books and that they will be read — at bedtime and naptime and storytime — to open, eager, curious, inspired children. 

I’m thankful for the chance to revise my work, even when the process feels like blood-letting, so that it can be the best that it can be.

I’m thankful for the amazing collaborative process I’m experiencing with my editor and illustrator. I’m thankful that I don’t feel alone at my desk.

I’m thankful that my daughters inspire rather than hamper or compete with my work.

I’m thankful that my students inspire rather than hamper or compete with my work.

I’m thankful for the writers’ communities I’m a part of — the children’s writers and the poets and the bloggers. I’m thankful for the people who read my evolving work and who share their evolving work with me. I’m thankful for the high bar you all set. I’m thankful for the professional contacts and advice and sanity checks and good wishes. I’m thankful for the laughs, the heart tugs, the great ideas.

I’m thankful for my Goodness group, which started out as an art-and-business support group but has become a life support group and without which I’d be less productive, less inspired, less gutsy and less happy.

I’m thankful for intuition.
I’m thankful for craft.

I’m thankful for libraries.
I’m thankful for books and journals and magazines and blogs.
I’m thankful I was read to pretty much every night as a little girl.

I’m thankful for words.

(To Be Continued…)