Thankfulness should continue...

As we end the Thanksgiving weekend, I've been reminded over and over again how many people and things have blessed my life, and my families lives. This year Michael and I hosted both of our families at our house. My mom, step mom, sister, his mom, dad, and brother all joined us. It was such a wonderful day. I am so blessed to have families that can get together and enjoy one another. I was visiting with some other people Saturday night, who say that their families cannot get together peacefully and enjoy each other. We had so much fun gathered closely around our kitchen table. We shared stories, and lots of laughter. It was beautiful. Coming from a divorced family that did not get along at all, where everything was a fight and working against each other, it is so amazing and such a blessing to be able to share a holiday meal together!

I am so thankful to continue to receive things from my step mom that were from my dad, or were my dads. My dad has been gone for almost five years now, and it has been a real struggle this year without him. My dad missed out on one of the biggest days of my life this year as I married my best friend. I was so sad that he wasn't physically there with us. I know Michael would get along with my dad so well. On Thursday, my step mom gave me a gift when she got to our house. When I opened it, it contained our "Turkey Family" that my dad, brother, and I had before he re-married. My dad's hand writing is on the bottom of all of the turkey's. I am so thankful to still have things that have his distinctive handwriting on them.

I am so thankful for the new family members I gained this year. We had a big scare just before the wedding when my father-in-law fainted and fell off of his bike. He was in the ICU for about five days, his memory wasn't good, and he busted the tip of his elbow off, which required surgery with plates and screws. Thankfully, his elbow is gaining strength well, and his memory continues to get better and better everyday. But most of all I am thankful for his life! I'm so thankful he wears a helmet! That saved his life!

I am so thankful for my mom! She helps me with so much, but this year she helped so much with getting things ready for the wedding. She has supported us so much. I had the most amazing wedding ever and couldn't have without my mom! I had so much fun braving the crazy black Friday shopping with her! We had great success with the angel tree kids and other family members! :)

I am thankful for the love of my step mom, brother, his girlfriend, and my sister! I love them dearly and am thankful for the time I get to spend with them!

I am thankful for my brother and sister-in-law! I am thankful for the tiny baby that is growing in my sister-in-laws belly! I cannot wait for Michael and I to be an aunt and uncle in June!

Today at church the sermon was about time...when is our end here? We don't know. I've experienced that a lot in my life: my grandparents died when I was growing up starting when I was six until I was seventeen, a friend of mine died when I was 20 in a snowmobile crash, my dad died when I was 21, my friends son died when he was seven, and we had a big scare with my father in-law this year. I love everything I have been seeing on facebook with people posting things they are thankful for every day during November. However, I've really been thinking how life is short, and we don't know when it's going to end. We, myself included, need to slow down, not rush things, and be thankful and give praise and thanks to God for everything he has blessed us with! Our thankfulness shouldn't just last in November, our thankfulness should continue everyday, all year long!

I hope you were blessed Thanksgiving!

Peace and love!
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