As the countdown to the Packers-Lions game at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday on Fox reduces to five days, it occurs to me that there is much for which I am thankful.

Here, in no particular order, are some that come to mind:

*My kids want to eat dinner on Thursday at my house. The thought of dinner somewhere else causes them to sputter and look as though I suggested waking before noon.

Every time I consider an alternate plan for Thursday's dinner, it occurs to me that perhaps there will be a year when both are not able to come for Thanksgiving - or worse, don't want to.

*The homestead has a furnace that works and a roof that keeps out the wind. Apparently, we'll be especially thankful for those this week.

*There is an oven to roast the turkey and a refrigerator to keep the cranberry juice cold. Sure, new appliances or an Extreme Home Makeover where the bulldozer comes in on Day One would be terrific, but that's not going to happen before this - or any - Thursday.

*There are at least three places in Casper where those who choose to dine with others may do so for free on Thursday - the Casper Community Church, The Salvation Army and La Cocina Restaurant. When they say they'll feed anybody, that's what they do - and they can always use more volunteers.

*As I'm baking the pies and peeling the potatoes, I may get just a tad grumpy. But I need to remember that there are moms all over whose kids are not able to come home and who have fewer to cook for this year than in years past.

*Every magazine I've read this month has clever suggestions for giving thanks before the meal. Without question, if I tried to implement any one of those, I'd be laughed out of the house and met with absolute refusal. Because we're Catholic, we pray the same grace before meals at every meal. There's no extra souped-up version for Thanksgiving. However, I really like some of the ideas, even though they won't work at my house.

*As long as I am able to remember, I'll be thankful for Thanksgivings with Peggy Jane the Mom and Fritz the Dad. In one of those four boxes of photos in the basement, there is a picture of Fritz in his grey sweatshirt carving the turkey. And on his head is the brightly-colored construction paper hat that Mouse fashioned for all of the dinner guests.

How many "football" men would have looked at the hat, perhaps thanked the 6-year-old granddaughter who made it and then set it aside? Not Fritz the Dad. He wore it.

That was the same visit that he came to find us in the Packers Pro Shop, filled with Saturday tourists and fans, to collect Mouse so that she wouldn't be subjected to a multi-hour tour of the Hall of Fame.

When we finally arrived home, there they were, Fritz the Dad and Mouse, stretched out on their bellies on the family room floor, coloring.

Here's hoping you have a blessed and stress-free Thanksgiving.

Community News editor Sally Ann Shurmur can be reached at (307) 266-0520, sally.shurmur@trib.com or see her profile and blog at my.trib.com/Sal/blog.