As we move into autumn and closer to Thanksgiving celebrations, I like to pause and take time to count my many blessings. I don't mean counting as in ticking numbers off on my fingers; it's more like allowing myself to slow down and appreciate just how fortunate I am in my life.

It's easy to pick out the big moments, getting married, having children, and then later, grandchildren but too easy to allow the little things to slip by without realizing without them life would not be what it is.

What do I mean by the little things? Well, things like my husband getting up in the morning to make us tea or coffee. Not a big deal until I realize he didn't get to bed until after midnight and had only gotten 4 hours of sleep the night before. He is a locomotive engineer and is away every other day running trains through the Rocky Mountains; but when he is home, he is home and works hard to make up for the time he is away.

I'm thankful for our three grown daughters and the wonderful women they have grown up to be. I'm thankful for the special times I have with each of them (including hunting for ice cream shops with our eldest).

I'm thankful for our two beautiful grandsons and the time we get to spend with them (not to mention the wonderful hugs). Having the trust of my daughter and son-in-law to homeschool these little wonders is a blessing to me (even on cranky days).

I'm thankful that in this busy world we have our little place in the country where our closest neighbours are the birds in the trees and the family of deer who hide out in them. I am thankful that our daughters and now our grandsons can grow up appreciating the bounty of nature.

I have a cousin who takes amazing pictures of wildlife. He has the patience of Job in waiting and watching to catch just the right shot. I am thankful that he shares his photos with all of us so we can appreciate nature as he sees it through the lens of his camera.

I'm thankful for social media (surprised are you) because it helps me stay connected to friends and family living around the world. We may not have long conversations, but it is wonderful to share those special (and simple) moments with pictures and little comments when they happen rather than waiting like we used to for the family Christmas letter!

As you can see, I have a lot to be thankful for in my life and I hope that each of us takes the time to appreciate both the big and the little things as we gather around the table with family and friends for Thanksgiving dinner this year.

Kimberley Linkletter is a freelance writer and social media enthusiast. Her background is in government, where she worked as an assistant to elected officials before retiring to travel and homeschool her grandson. She is a member of the Homeschool Review Crew and shares her reviews and stories of homeschooling while traveling on her blog, Vintage Blue Suitcase.