What I Am Thankful for

Since Thanksgiving is today, I have been thinking about the little things in life that I am thankful for. God has blessed me with so many people and things in my life, and sometimes I get so caught up in the rush of life that I forget to slow down and remember how blessed I truly am. As follows is a list of some of the things that I am most thankful for…


-First and foremost, my family.
I’m not sure what I would do without my family. They are always there for me, no matter what. All of my family is in good health, and they live good, happy lives with homes of their own, and they have great jobs. I am also thankful for all of my extended family, not just my aunts, uncles, and cousins, I am thankful for those who I consider to be like family; all of my “second parents”, and anyone who is just as close to me (or even closer) as my actual family. I am thankful for those who have taken me under their wing, been there for guidance, or just taken the time to listen to me, when I needed it most. Finally, my Mimi. My Mimi is my grandma who is 92 ½ years young. She is in fantastic health for her age; she still lives at home, and is sharp as a tack. She is an amazing person who I admire in so many ways, and I am thankful that I have been blessed with a wonderful Mimi, and also that she has been blessed with good health.
-My friends
My friends rank right up there with my family. They are definitely among my greatest treasures in life. Shea and Tonisha are my two best friends in the whole wide world. We have been friends for about as long as I can remember, and it will definitely be hard next year when we will be separated by college. I am sure that we will stay in touch via Facebook and by seeing each other on weekends or breaks that we can, but still. I know that we all have to move on eventually, but it is my hope that we will remain best friends for the rest of our lives. I have many other friends from school, church, YAB, and many other random places, and each of them holds a special place in my heart. If it weren’t for all of my friends, I’m not sure how else I would have managed high school. I am certain that I could have possibly lost my mind; it would be easy to do there.

-My house
I am very, very blessed to have a nice home to live in. It keeps me cool during the heat of summer, warm in the winter cold, and dry when it rains or snows. There are many things in my house that I am also thankful for. I have a comfy bed to sleep on, lots of books to read, plenty of clothes to wear, a radio that I use to enjoy music, a TV to watch my programs or movies, a computer that connects me with the world, and plenty of delicious food that I can enjoy any time of day.

-“My” vehicle
I drive a nice ’98 Toyota Tacoma. It has been through an oil pumper, being used for carrying mail, and taking my dad back and forth to work. Now my parents let me use it to drive to school or anywhere else I might go. It is not technically mine, because I pay nothing on it (Another thing I am very thankful for). It’s not the most fashionable vehicle, and there are things that I wish I could change about it (the non-working CD player), but at the end of the day, it DOES get me where I need to go, when I need to go, and that is the most important thing, in my opinion.

-My health
I am thankful that I am in good health. Each morning that I am able to physically get out of bed in the morning, is blessing enough in my books. I am able to exercise at any chance I can, and I am able to run long distances. There are many people my age who don’t have that luxury, who spend their days in the hospital or enduring yet another of their endless treatments.

There are many other random things that I am thankful for that don’t necessarily have a category, for example: Indoor plumbing, central heat & air, music, electricity, my everyday freedom, the fact that I have the opportunity to get an education, my cell phone and really just telephones in general, the Internet, the many talents that God has blessed me with, books, modern advances in medicine, my guitars, church/my faith, and so much other “stuff”.

Later, my family will gather at Gina’s house for our Thanksgiving lunch. I am very excited, and I am sure that I will have plenty of stories to regale after the fact. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!