Giving Thanks

This Thanksgiving I have a lot to be thankful for. Even in my darkest hours, which I have been buried in a lot lately, I remember what I am most grateful for.

This cliche list may not interest you, but it is what I think the most about:

- Family, and Extended Family. Because without them, I would not be here. I would not have the support system that I need in life, and visa-versa. These are the greatest people, for they show my unconditional love and support no matter what. Through thick and thin, good and bad. Blood will always be thicker than water in my family! And let's face it, if you know my family, we are one hell of a breed of fighters and survivors!

- Health. Let's be honest. Is this not one of the most important things? We would literally not be here without this on our side.

 - Home. This beautiful roof over our heads, that we were blessed to find, is one of the greatest things to come into our lives! There is nothing like waking up to sun shining through the trees, or watching the snow fall and cover the property that now belongs to us! Buying a home is one thing. But we were fortunate enough to score a beautiful piece of property with ours! And while we may have to drive an extra 10 minutes to get places, it is so incredibly worth it - to us!

- Friends. Well, at least the small handful of friends that actually know ME. Not the 'me' that I pretend to be. Because to be honest, not very many "friends" know who I am. Without those few people, I would not be sane! These few people are somewhat of an extension of me. So the ones who take the honest time to find out, and continue to do so, I thank you for that!

- Life. By this, I not only mean the literal sense {breathing, walking, talking, etc...}. I am talking about the experience and lessons I have learned in my struggles, and triumphs. For the strangers that have passed through my life, and touched my heart and soul in one way or another. For the beliefs and morality that I have hung onto...Without these things, and people, I would not be WHO I am. I would not have the empathy that I do. 

- Memories. Without my memories, the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, I do not think I would have the ability to expand my heart and open it up as much as I do. These memories literally remind me of everything!

For everything that I have {material and not}, I am thankful for. For every single person that I know {and have known in the past}, I am thankful for you, and your presence in my life. And last but not least, I am thankful that I AM HERE to be thankful!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND YOURS!