My 13 Counted Christmas Blessings for 2013

Considering what is going on nationally and worldwide right now as I watch the news, for this Christmas I'm happy and grateful for:

1. Having more wits and lucidity after this past night shift than I thought I would have had
2. The weather changing and taming down from something viciously Arctic, into something in which I can walk around outside without gloves, wearing just a bunnyhug* for outerwear 
3. Light, power, and heat: things that tens of thousands of people in Ontario, Quebec, and now the Maritimes are still struggling without
4. Clean fresh air; unlike some of the idiots out east who are killing themselves with carbon monoxide poisoning from using generators and barbeques inside their homes to warm themselves.
5. A clear travel corridor, something that a lot of people using the airlines in some cities in this nation didn't have during the storms
6. Dry feet: something that people in England and northern Europe don't have right now as they wade through their homes and streets due to all the flooding occurring there
7. A schedule which flowed such that I actually had the holidays off
8. Getting a bit fatter - it means that I've been eating well, even learning how to bake some dainties. It beats starving and missing out on the abundance.
9. Drinking and playing cards and backgammon with the 80 year old, baby Jesus (Happy Birthday Dad!)
10. Peace: something that ain't happening in places like South Sudan at this very moment
11. The diversity of people that I work for/with, and learn from
12. Being lucky enough to not be so desperate as to need to rely on others' charity and generosity, like from a food bank or crisis shelter.
13. Knowing that if it came to pass that I was forced not to travel due to inclement weather, and had a power outage, I'd still feel comfortable at home with my fireplace and candles, and be resourceful enough to make it a comfortable Christmas with even just warm thoughts of my friends and family.

Merry Christmas everyone . . . Take Care!

*- That's an unlined hooded jersey to you non-Saskatchewan people