Giving Thanks

I know Thanksgiving has already come and gone, but I think it's still nice to look at everything you are happy for. Even though Thanksgiving comes once a year and we're told it's meant to be a holiday to reflect on what you are the most thankful for, I really try to do it more than once a year even when it's seemingly hard to find anything to be grateful for. So, without further ado I'd like to share a few of the things I am thankful for this year.

I am thankful for...

• being a living, breathing, functioning person.
• a roof over my head and and the opportunity to further my education.
• a puppy that loves to snuggle and is always happy to see me when I get home no matter what.
• bedtime phone calls no matter how tired the person on the other end is.
• Ball State friends that I now consider real friends.
• finding that cooking and baking can be stress releasing.
• holiday cheer.
• Olive being born healthy and happy and perfect.
• Baby Poole still cooking in his mommy's stomach and being a healthy boy.
• friends who I can go days or even weeks without seeing but nothing changes.
• life lessons that may not be too pleasant now, but will pay off in the end.
• a car that works and gets me where I need to be.
• not having a car accident this year or getting a speeding ticket, both of which I've had the two years in a row previously. (Knock on wood!)
• professors that are encouraging and want you to succeed.
• people that hold doors open for you and smile when you say thank you and vice versa.
• friends that don't try to be anything else other than who they truly are.
• long, warm, summer days and rainy, cold, fall nights.
• an encouraging and supportive family.
• talks about life and the future.
• the distance between Indiana and Idaho no longer being relevant, and 3 weeks being shorter than 3 months.
• the want to be creative and crafty which will hopefully lead to the next step of actually being creative and crafty.
• learning how to live on very little money.
• 2 year old kiddies who are excited to see you every morning without fail.
• distance making the heart grow fonder, even if that distance is only an hour and a half.
• bedtime puppy cuddles.
• knowing that the future is going to be wonderful.
• ongoing curiosity.
• help when help has been needed but hasn't been wanted to be asked for.
• long walks on campus that help me think.
• love and encouragement from the places least expected.
• coffee and Diet Coke.
• a momma who still loves it every time I come home.
• a warm bed with the most comfy mattress I've ever slept on.
• having Joseph by my side for all of the ups and downs and never leaving and vice versa.
• the lone Nutella snack pack I've ever had in my life.
• spending so much time with my family over Thanksgiving.
• so so so much more!

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and continue to have a great next few weeks of holiday fun!