Happy Thanksgiving weekend my friends!

I had a fantastic turkey day, then a great day of shopping, and now I’ve started the weekend with a 5k. I’m optimistic that the rest of this weekend will be just as awesome as the last few days have been. All this greatness has reminded me to stop and express my gratitude for all the blessings in my life.

Thankful for my family and friends. Thanksgiving was great spent with some family, some friends, some new faces, and some fun little kids. I’m so glad that I’ve been able to put down roots here and actually build a life where I can appreciate the people around me without moving in and out of the picture. I loved traveling in my early twenties but I’m really happy and thankful to be in one place surrounded by my family and friends. It’s a simple kind of happiness that I missed and am now so thankful for.

Thankful for my faith. I have to say my faith has gotten me through a lot of things in life that have been hard. There have been struggles but I’ve grown spiritually and appreciate God and what He has done in my life more than ever. I’m kinda a crappy person at times so it’s wonderful to know I’m forgiven and still loved and given grace for my shortcomings.

Thankful for my body. I’ve spent a lot of time hating my body, loving it, trying to change it, working on it, etc. But in the end I’m just really thankful for the body I have. It’s comfy. It’s strong. It’s able to carry me 3.1 miles like it did this morning in a 5k. I’m thankful that I’m still healthy and the only complaints I’ve ever had have been minor (like kidney stones, which suck but won’t kill me).

Thankful for my inner desire to grow and better myself. There is something deep inside me that makes me want to keep bettering myself. I want to read and grow and constantly get better. It might seem weird to be thankful for this but it’s a quality I really like about myself. Lately I’ve seen that not everyone has this trait so it’s something I’m thankful for having.

Thankful for my new living situation. I think moving when my lease ended was a great idea. I previously lived in a rather run down apartment in a great part of town that was a bit high in rent and rather lonely as it was not conducive to roommates. I wanted something better for myself and my dog so when our lease was up we decided to make a change…. Now I’ve got two roommates, a different but still great location, a great backyard for JuJu, a massive closet (3 actually), a natural gas hot water system, a newer non-drafty house, a convenient location to the greenline for biking, and so many more benefits. Moving here was a great idea and I’m really excited to stay here while JuJu and I figure life out and decide what is next.

Thankful for my readers and blog friends. Y’all have followed my story for years now and have given me so much encouragement. I never would have lost 50 lbs or started running 5ks or taken as many risks without all your support. It has meant so much to me over the last few years that many of you have stuck with me through the ups and downs. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I’m so thankful for you all and send virtual hugs and kisses.