Thankful

November is a month for gratitude, and lately all the social media sites have been buzzing with everyone's daily declaration of thanks.  Personally, I'm a little too grateful for my free time to blog about what I'm thankful for on a daily basis, but I would like to spend some time on those things for which I am the most thankful.

For starters, there's nothing that makes me feel more thankful than this man.

From the moment I met him I knew there was something so different about him.  My dad would always call him my soulmate.  At the time I don't think I could fully grasp what that meant, and I certainly don't even fully understand that now, but everyday I learn a little bit more about what exactly he meant.  I don't think there's anyone else on this earth who could have loved me, supported me, challenged me, and comforted me in the ways that he has.  I can be in a horrible mood (one of those that women get in sometimes for no apparent reason) and he can actually talk me out of my bad mood.  I mean, who knew that was even possible??  I couldn't imagine any better person to experience this wonderful journey called life with.

Okay, enough of the love fest.  There are so many other things I am thankful for as well. I'm thankful for family.  Not just the kind you're related to by blood b/c Lord knows I'm running short on those.  But the kind that you get to pick. Growing up an only child, I have always considered my girlfriends my sisters, and words cannot express how thankful I am for each and every one of them.  I am thankful to have the friend who's there to counsel me (quite literally sometimes) through the ups and downs of life, the friend who I can talk to for hours about nothing and everything all at the same time, the friend who encourages me to be a stronger woman, the friend who prays for me without me even having to ask, and the friends who I'm just now getting to know at work.  It's those friendships that make me feel loved and supported.  I am thankful that Bryan and I have so many couple friends who we treasure spending time with.  I am thankful for having in-laws who I actually want to come visit us, and who I enjoy spending time with.  I'm thankful for a sister-in-law who's way more sister and way less in-law.  I'm thankful for my new job and the additional free time I have.  I'm thankful for our home, and our 'hood.  The best part of our 'hood is our amazing neighbors for which I am incredibly thankful, and incredibly indebted to! I'm thankful for this stage of life I'm in and all the exciting things that are still in store for all the stages to come.  I'm thankful for the time I had with my parents.  There are people who live their whole life without the kind of relationship that I had with my parents.  For that I am incredibly thankful. I am thankful for a God who gave me the ability to be optimistic, and the grace and strength to withstand life's storms.

This picture actually captures almost all of our closest friends (we missed you Swartwoods)! 

And last but most certainly not least - I am thankful for the best dog in the whole wide world.  

The list goes on and on.  There isn't much in life I'm not grateful for.  Because without the hard times we wouldn't appreciate the good times.  I hope everyone has a blessed weekend.  I have a fun girl's night tomorrow night with Bonney (aka my counselor), and then we're spending our weekend with those in-laws that I may have mentioned earlier.  Stay warm!