Hi All. Time for the annual What I’m Grateful For On My Birthday Post. If you’ve been hanging out here for a while, you’ll know I do this every year. I think some other writers started doing it too, which is cool. Now that I have a book out, anyone can look at the card catalogue at the library and see my year of birth, so it’s no secret that I’m 43 today! I don’t mind getting older, because really, the alternative is not very appealing. Plus, I’m getting wiser, right? I’m certainly getting more grateful, that’s for sure.
Before we get to the list, I want to say that the wonderful Deb Marshall is hosting me over on her site today. I’ve done an interview, and better yet, she’s giving away a copy of Restoring Harmony! Pop on over there to enter. And I’ll send the winner a signed bookplate too. And because it’s my birthday, I’m giving away a signed Restoring Harmony tote bag. Leave a comment telling me what you’re grateful for in your life and be entered to win. Leave a comment on both sites, and get two entries for the totebag!
Without further ado…Forty-three things I’m grateful for, in a very random order. I could fill this list with just people, because I’m that blessed, so if you’re my friend and you’re not on the list, know you are on the one in my heart. Awww…so sappy. But it’s my birthday, so I will be sappy if I want to!
1. My husband (you knew I’d start with that, right?)
2 My family – Mum, Dad, Erik, Ashly & all of you!
3. My health (getting the basics out of the way)
4. My treadmill desk 
5. Sophie and Marley – two fantastic kitties who help me read by sitting in my lap
6. My bike
7. Avocados – yum!
8. Twitter – totally addictive, but so many great people, it’s worth it
9. My agent, Michael Bourret (you should query him, he’s the best!)
10. My editor at Putnam, Stacey Barney
11. Birds singing when I wake up (how Disney of me)
12. The Brouhahas – Kim & Alexa
13. My web guy, who is husband to wonderful writer Eileen Cook, one of my BFF
14. Chocolate
15. Books
16. The big, blue reading chair
17. My walk to the post office through the Enchanted Forest
18. The number eighteen – my lucky number
19. My new cover for The Right & the Real
20. Book bloggers – they do so much for writers
21. The ability to chop wood (yes, really)
22. Having a husband who is a photographer so I get cool author pics
23. My mum reading aloud to me as a kid
24. The Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace
25. Tea (especially David’s Tea…this is not a commercial, they just have the most awesome teas!)
26. The Commons
28. Sunday Soup
29. The Shark‘s blog
30. Daffodils
31. Baths 
32. All my online buddies
33. Email – it’s a love-hate relationship sometimes, but in the end, it’s useful and I’m grateful
34. Kelly & Nicole & Sarah – early readers and great friends
35. My kitchen and stocked pantry
36. Living on an island, and being here in Canada
37. Hardwood floors and slippers – it’s really fun to run down the hall and then sliiiiiiiddddeee! Just ask the cats (and the husband)
38. Those poor, sad Cubbies – Go Cubs! Maybe this is the year?
39. Independent bookstores – all of you, but especially Powell‘s, Pages, and the Island Book Shoppe
40. Chapters Indigo – it’s a big chain bookstore, but it has Restoring Harmony on so many of its shelves…in the store. That’s something to be grateful for indeed!
41. My computer
42. All the laughter my husband brings into my life – both intentional and unintentional
43. Another birthday!
To celebrate my birthday, I’m going to have a tea party! Yep. I know how to get down and party. The ability to really let loose comes with age. Don’t forget to comment about what you’re grateful for to be entered to win the totebag and to drop on over to Deb’s site! Have a great day.
Oh, yeah. the rules and stuff. Contest is open to the U.S. & Canada, and I will accept entries until midnight, Sunday April 24th.
Happy Birthday!! I am always grateful to be able to wake up every morning to a brand new day! Life is not guaranteed so I am grateful to live it every day!
I am grateful for an amazing job that lets me work with children during a crucial developmental stage. As an elementary school counselor of 9-13 year olds… I have the abililty use literature to help them stretch their growing insight. One of my favorite experiences in the last few years have been book studies with ‘the uglies’ and ‘hunger games’… The Right and the Real looks to fit right in.
Happy Birthday!!! This such a great idea! First and foremost I am grateful for my 3 year old son Jaxson. I am also grateful for my husband, my entire family/many wonderful friends, BOOKS!, my iPhone/DVR/PS3 (basically any technology, not sure what I’d do without it!), and I’m with you when I say CHOCOLATE!! In fact I’m eating some right now, oh how I love Easter candy! Again, have a wonderful Birthday!!
Oh, I meant to say Happy Birthday as well!!
I am grateful for my daughters, they make me happy.
I’m very thankful to be on your list!
Happy Birthday my dear. Will it be a Mad hatter’s Tea Party 😉
I’m grateful for The Brouhaha’s too 🙂 Also my husband, my son, my family & friends, antibiotics (!), lovely friends who send surprise gifts, sunshine and getting to sleep in 🙂
Happy Birthday, Joelle!
I’m thankful for “moments”….you know, the ones…..they’re not expected but mean so much and stay with you forever.
Happy Birthday Joelle! I hope this finds you well.
I am thankful that I do what I love for a living and that it takes me all over the place. The combo of theater and travel suit me well. It can get lonely, but doing what you love trumps that and most ills every time.
I hiked to the top of a mountain this morning here in AZ with my friends and colleagues on our day off, and as I was brining up the rear I couldn’t believe how lucky we are to be on this great adventure called life.
Hope you have an amazing birthday!!! I am thankful for my family and the great times we have. We may not travel around the globe but are able to travel just an hour north of us to a family camp built by my great grandfather. This camp sits facing Mt. Katahdin which is truly a work of Mother Nature to be thankful for!
Happy Birthday! I’m grateful to SCBWI, without which I would not have met you and oh so many cool, talented people, not to mention all the great information I’ve gained from belonging to this group. Hugs to you, the kitties, and the other peas in your pod!
Happy Happy Once-A-Year Day to you.
I’m grateful for my amazing husband and kids that keep me laughing and on my toes all the time, my extended family, my wonderful friends, my faith, my fun job, the talents that God gave me, my comfy bed and the roof over my head. Oh and coffee! 😉
Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, Joelle! I am grateful for my family.
I’m grateful for my family, Mother Nature (including daffodils), and French roast coffee. And that I can still chop wood too!
Happy birthday, Joelle! I’m grateful for the Brouhahas, too! 🙂 I’m also so grateful for my children, my husband, my faith, my family, my friends, and chocolate.
Hugs to you on this special day!
I love love this idea! Happy Birthday and here are to many more gratefilled lists: )
I am _truly_ grateful for the children and teen writing community who make my job pure joy. I see and talk to the kids you write your stories and books for and it’s a _privilege_ to be one of the links between the books and kids.