Thankful for a lot, deserving of little...

Thanksgiving is right around the corner-- by the time I finish writing this with a 3 year old sitting in my lap, having to clean, cook and do laundry (ha--just kidding about the latter 3) it may be Christmas. I have so much to be thankful for, and feel like the list is so long, and I am undeserving of any most of it. First, and foremost, I am thankful that I was given another day here on earth. I am thankful that my God still reigns, and lives in me. I am thankful for the parents I had, and the home I was raised in, and the lessons I learned growing up (even the hard ones). I am thankful that my parents instilled values in me, that are so important today. That they taught me how to love, and what it felt like to be loved. I am thankful, that they showed me that they loved each other. My mom and dad are both hard workers, and growing up, I probably didn't appreciate all of their hard work, but I fully get it now, and for that I am thankful. I am thankful that my mom is still here, and fought and won her battle with breast cancer, and is a fabulous example of the word- strong. I am thankful for the relationship that my sister and I had growing up, it has made us stronger now. I appreciate her, and love her more, because of that. I am not thankful that she moved away and left me :( But I am thankful for being able to Skype her! She married a great guy, and I am thankful for him, that they found each other, and he fits in perfectly. I am thankful for my extended family. I am lucky to have grown up with the most amazing grandparents a girl could ask for, they wrote the definition for "selfless". I miss my grandfather O'neal Emory, so much sometimes that it hurts, but am so thankful for the 23 years, I was blessed to have with him. My aunt is amazing in herself, and I am blessed to have formed close relationships with my cousins, that are still strong today. My family, from top to bottom, I am thankful for. From each of them, I have learned something. I am thankful for my in-laws, for raising the guy that I am lucky enough to do life with. For instilling in him, everything I was looking for and more. That they love me, as their own, and I can feel it, every time I am with them. I am thankful that Chad, chose me. That he works so hard each and everyday to provide for us, and to make Owen's future easier. I am thankful that I got to meet Horace Turner, Chad's grandfather. He taught me how to shoot skeet (even though it was a difficult task at first), and had the biggest, most giving heart. There are times I can still hear his laugh, and see that smile. I am thankful that God chose me to be a mommy. That he gave me Owen, who blesses me daily, and makes me thankful for life itself. The sweet and funny personality that he has, and his ability to make me laugh, nonstop. I am thankful for the grandparent's that Owen has, I don't know what I would do without them, and never want to find out. I am thankful for my job, and getting to spend each day, with the most precious kids, who are sponges, and soak it all up. My coworkers, who are caring, dependable, and prayer warriors. I am thankful for my friends. Old and new, who I know I can depend on in a skinny minute, if needed. They make me laugh, put me in place, and I couldn't make it some days without them. Even my oldest, true blue friend who lives almost 2 hours away, that I haven't seen in ages-- I am thankful that true friendships never die. Lastly, I am thankful for all of the setbacks that I encountered throughout the years. I am thankful for the hard times, that I didn't understand. For the "why me's?" and the "not again's". From those I learned the most, and feel that they made me a stronger woman. I am thankful that I don't already know everything (don't tell Chad--I've still got him fooled), it gives me the opportunity to continuously learn new things.

I am thankful for (in no particular order)

• my passion for things I believe in
• sense of humor
• reasoning skills
• my laugh
• health
• my home
• my faith
• my mistakes (even though I never make any) :)
• my strength
• food
• hot showers
• sight
• hearing
• clothes (I know you are thankful I have them too!)
• love
• that I know when to quit
• being free and an American
• the seasons
• hooded sweatshirts
• the little things
• being sensitive
• bonfires
• being me (I am imperfect...but I know it, and like me anyway!)

You are bored, I get it...but I can still go on (probably for days). This isn't all of them....so don't send me a message, saying "what about..." :)  I began this blog by thinking of all I have, or have enjoyed, and am amazed at the amount of blessings I have, and am so undeserving of most of them. I am so thankful for life itself, and everything that it has brought me. I often get so caught up in "life" that I fail to stop to think about it all, or tell those I love that I am truly thankful for them. I am ashamed of that. I knew I couldn't do the "thankful for" face book posts, because I am busy, and absent minded, you would have had days 1-15 on one post, by the time I realized I had forgotten...again. So I thought I would just do it all here. I hope you each have a Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you find the time to stop and ponder all you are thankful for, and how blessed each of you are. If you are reading this, I am thankful for you!