It's SNOWING in Boise Tonight

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It's snowing in Boise tonight and it is beautiful and perfect! Usually I would be the first person to chime in about how ridiculous it is that we've had almost NO fall this year and would be looking at this early white dump as a curse instead of a blessing, but this time I have to admit, I'm thrilled. I feel like a little kid as I keep running upstairs to go look at the beautiful flakes coming down on our trees. And I feel like I wasn't really "ripped off" of my fall this year since we just got to experience the fall weather in Yellowstone last weekend. So I'm giddy with excitement over the whole thing and just as happy as I could be.

And I'm feeling very thankful tonight. This week has been rough. We've really been feeling the effects of the stock market plunges and it has been quite discouraging. For the past few years we have diligently contributed to our retirement plans and have cut costs so that we could save and invest as much as possible. Watching the efforts of years of sacrifice being erased over night has been very...well discouraging this week for me. We know that we shouldn't be worried, that we have years until retirement, and that we should just keep away from our online statements during this time...but I can't help it. And this stress has just made me exhausted lately.

Earlier today the stress started to ease up a bit. I realized and remembered that riches really have nothing to do with money. I am the richest of anyone I know. I'm married to my best friend who I adore and am blessed to spend every day at work with. My career is so rewarding and challenging and the people I work with are awesome. I've got perfect health and have never broken a bone. My family is all in good health and I feel so close to them. My dog is alive, healthy, and ADORABLE. I've got a warm house, a full tummy (with a little too much caramel corn in it tonight). There is not a single possession that I don't have that I seriously want. I'm content and very very happy.

And the stock market and terrible economy are just fleeting worries. :) So tonight when it started snowing I smiled and remembered all of these incredible blessings in my life. There is truly NOTHING to worry about. The world's economy can be solved by someone else tonight, because it's snowing in Boise, it's beautiful, and we are extremely blessed!