gratitude
Current mood:
grateful
Well I know I am a little late for a Thanksgiving blog, but I’m about 6 days behind with everything 
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. It is just about good food and good fellowship. Being with family and friends, bringing others to the table that need a good meal or the company, just spending time together and taking the time to finally say thank you to God and to others.
The last 5 years or so my family has added the tradition of running the St. Pete Times Turkey Trot. I’m not totally sure why, maybe because the starting line is only a mile from my parents house? I can’t explain why it is so fun to get up at 6:30 on Thanksgiving morning and go run 3.1 miles with your family and about 30,000 other people, but it is, it is really great! I always liked running, I ran cross country in college. This race is even more fun as you run through neighborhoods and people set up bands in driveways and play music for you, and people sit in their driveways and sip coffee, or in some cases, bloody marys, and they cheer you on. At the end of the race, you feel great …and a little less guilty for pigging out later in the day
I’ve had some pretty cool thanksgiving celebrations, one that I remember fondly is how my friends and I had backpacked through the Grand Canyon for a few days and we came back and enjoyed a Thanksgiving dinner with my friend Karen’s family in Colorado…
Thanksgiving is also special because Nate proposed to me on Thanksgiving Day 2001 and on Thanksgiving Day 2005 we announced we were pregnant with our first child.
This year has been difficult one for many reasons. Disappointment, loss, and hard times. But through it all there are many things to be grateful for. Here are some of them:
I am grateful:
To God for his goodness, love and grace.
For my husband who works hard and is a wonderful daddy to our daughter.
For my priceless daughter Bella Grace who is the light of my life.
For Bella Grace’s ever expanding vocabulary….my current favorites “unnaholdjew” (I want to hold you) and “bless you” after someone sneezes. love it!
For God’s provision, he is providing for us always.
For people in our lives who God has used to provide for us.
For deep and wonderful friendships- I am SO grateful for good friends who understand me and support me.
For those dear ones who passed away this year that I had the privilege of knowing while they walked the earth- my professor and counselor Sheryl Dewitt, my student Stacy Gloe, and of course my dear grandfather Pa Barn
For the miraculous healing of my father-in-law Tim and what the whole experience has taught me about prayer.
For all that the journey of motherhood has taught me and what a gift it is.
For my life group- who truly bring “life” to my life.
For my mom’s group- a lifesaver!
For coffee and my vitamins- couldn’t make it a day without them.
For good health for myself and my husband and daughter.
For an awesome house that my husband has practically built with his own hands and a great bathroom
For my life experiences thus far and all of those to come.
For my family, who despite some minor disfunction, is pretty dang awesome!!
I am grateful!
