Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Post-Thanks

The week of Thanksgiving people come out of the woodwork giving thanks for this, giving thanks for that.  It was a little cheesy, but in a good way.  It is now, after Thanksgiving that I have given the ever so popular, "What are you thankful for? " question quite a bit of thought.

 Here are just a few things that I have to be so very thankful for:

A God that loves me unconditionally and forgives my mistakes big and small.

Inheriting the strong personality of my grandmother and mother.  Admiration doesn't even scratch the surface. 

Being a daddy's girl. I hate to admit it, but I can't fight it. 

Having a step-father who stepped in the father role and loves my mother like she deserves to be loved.

Two older siblings who may not be my best friends, but were still willing to undergo risky life changing surgery to save mine.

A  younger sibling who wishes he was able to do the same as the above ones. I pray that time never comes. 

Nieces and nephews who I cannot imagine my life without. My world would be so boring. They have no idea the joy they bring me.

Cousins that actually contact me outside of holidays, weddings and funerals.

Aunts and Uncles that always seem to make me feel like their favorite.

In-laws who treat me as if I were born into the family.

An array of friends who are so vastly different yet all mean so much to me. Some of the best laughs have come from moments with these people.

And last, but not least, a boyfriend who loves me and all my imperfections without hesitation. Even in my darkest days, when I fight it more than anything else in the world, he can make me smile. 



Sense of Urgency

I need my mother's recipes. The simple, the complex, the ones she knows by heart and cannot be found in a book. 

 I crave her homemade chicken soup with dumplings. And her stew. And her gravy. Oh my! Have you had my mother's gravy? You must. I insist.


Thursday, November 4, 2010

These decisions we make.  They reflect off of everyone around us. They push us, like dominoes. Falling into one another. Waking up, only when it's too late and we've hit the ground.

I keep tellin' myself, I'm unaffected.

Impossible.