Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving, being thankful. Things that we should be doing every day of our lives, right? Why do we always whine and complain 364 days of the year and give thanks one day of the year? OK, OK, so that might be a little overexaggerating, but so many times that's what it seems like. I want to live my life in much more of a thankful mode than I have been lately. I've never really thought of myself as a negative person or someone who looks at things half empty, but there is always room for improvement! :) So here is my 2009 list (although I'm sure it won't be complete) of things I am thankful for.

I am thankful for a mom and dad that love me no matter what, that have loved me for 30 years, that have always believed in me, that have always supported me, encouraged me, that have punished me and told me no when need be, that have sacrificed probably even more than I can imagine to give me opportunities that they never had, that still let me climb into their bed at night even though we don't really all fit anymore, that laugh at my stupid jokes, that come pick me up and take me back to the airport at odd hours so I can get cheap flights, that cook my favorite foods for me, that spent hours watching softball games, that have never once made me doubt their love for me. Thank you mom and dad for everything you have done and everything you still do for me.

I am thankful for four beautiful niece and nephews that are healthy, that make me laugh, that make me cry sometimes because I miss the everyday things in their lives, that make me smile pretty much on a daily basis. I love that they know who I am even though I have never lived in the same state as them since any of them have been born. I love that they call me Tia Kammie and try to speak "Spanish" to me. I love each and every one of them in such a special way and am so thankful for all of them, even when they wake me up early in the morning! haha

I am thankful for my two sisters, who have put up with their baby sister for 30 years, who have shown me lessons that I can learn from whether they were intentional or not, who have welcomed me in their homes when I come back to Missouri, who have cried with me, who have laughed with me through the good and bad parts of our lives.

I am thankful for the beautiful white sand beaches that God made. I think he had me in mind when He put these things together all over the world! Beaches are by far my favorite vacation destination. I've always said I wanted to have a destination wedding on a beach somewhere. I love the sound of waves crashing on the shoreline. I love the beautiful blue skies that are so often found at the beach. I love the smell of salt water and being able to forget about everything else and just relax in a chair and soak up some sun! Thank you for beaches!

I am thankful for airplanes. Airplanes are how I have gotten home to see my family for the last 12 years. Airplanes have taken me to some incredible destinations in the world. Airplanes have carried me to see friends and relatives that I have not seen in a long time. Airplanes have become a fairly significant part of my life these days. I am definitely thankful for the ease of travel in today's world and being able to fly to far off destinations without much stress!

My friends.....I am so thankful for my friends. It is amazing to me every time I think about the amount of people that have meant so much to me, even if just for a stage, of my life. Some of my friends have come and gone and some will be stuck with me for the rest of my life. I am so thankful for friends who have stuck with me through thick and thin, who have shared tears of joy and tears of sorrow together. Friends who have shared in deaths of loved ones, friends who have shared in new jobs, in births of young ones, my "aunt club" of friends. I have met some incredible, incredible people on my life's journey. I am thankful for those that have joined me for a short stint of that journey and those that have come later on the path and are still here. Living far away from home, my friends have literally become like family to me. I am so thankful for them!!!!

Not that I could by any means do justice and talk about all of my friends here, but here is just a quick sampling: Alexa-I don't think I could have survived two years in Korea without her. She is my soulmate friend if there ever was one. We are about as alike as night and day in some respects, but yet we mesh together like mashed potatoes and gravy. I am so thankful for Alexa and for the fun yet sometimes undesireable memories we made together. I am thankful for her amazing heart and her good spirit and optimistic attitude about life. Alexa is a huge part of my life and it's been one of the hardest adjustments about moving to Guatemala, no Alexa time.

Nancy, my fancy Nancy! I only got to spend one year in Korea with Nancy but we sure made the best of that year. I am so thankful for that year that we had together and for her heart for the little kindergarteners at our school. I love you Nancy and am thankful that we have crossed paths and may our paths continue to cross many more times!

Mike and Gretchen Miller, what great friends. Gretchen was my soul sister from the very beginning. We spent two years in Korea together and she and Mike really were my family there. I have adopted her kids as my niece and nephew and shared in good and bad times with them. So thankful for their fun spirits and loving hearts.

Wendy Fryatt, a lifelong sister/friend! She is like another big sister to me and more recently has become a friend to me! I am so thankful for friends that I enjoy traveling with and can travel well with. Wendy is definitely that for me!

Natalie B, my kindergarten buddy! I am so thankful for friendships that can cross paths time and time again and pick up like they just left off. Natalie and I have stayed on very close paths, chosen far away paths and have come back together on the same path! It's so fun to have a friend that you were in the same kindergarten class with! I am so thankful that Natalie has remained a part of my life, that our mom's have funny stories to tell about us together when we were 5. What a great lifelong friend I have to be thankful for!!!

Rebekah has been such a solid rock friend for me. Rebekah came into my life in the 6th grade when her family moved to our church at the time. We always went to different schools, always lived far away from each other, yet had a special bond that kept us very close together. Rebekah is such a dear friend that I can't imagine not having in my life. I am so thankful for my childhood churches and the lifelong friendships that were created there!

My Rona! I lived in Connecticut for four and a half years after graduation, went through several jobs there, and finally settled down with a homeschool teaching job for three years. In those three years, I also settled down into a church family, a small group Bible study during the week, and made some great friends there. I have wonderful memories that were created with several of those girls, but Rona is so dear to my heart. I am so thankful for her. This was a period when I was really searching myself out in a lot of ways. Rona was a friend that helped me to have fun, yet keep my feet on solid ground.

Just writing these descriptions of my friends makes so many more come to mind. Allison, who helped me out of so many pickles when I had first moved up to the northeast. I was such a mess in so many ways when I thought I had it all together. ha. She helped me find my way around Westchester County when I was lost, she helped me find jobs, she gave me a bed/pullout sofa to sleep on when I needed a place to stay, she fed me, she helped me to stick it out when I really didn't think I could.

Mary and Michael, my roommate(s) in Korea. haha. Not really Michael, but what great solid friends they are to me. So many many many laughs that were shared in Shin Dong A apartments. Not enough hok doks eaten together and too many pizzas ordered from our apartment!

So thankful to my Ouachita girls, Wendy, Emily, Susan, who have been there through so many things with me. Wendy showing me around Africa, Susan getting tearful phone calls when I didn't want to call and shed them to my mom, Emily being there to listen and talk through the loss of my nephew.

I mean the list could just go on and on. I really have so many people and THINGS to be thankful for as well.

I am thankful for my job, that I have a great work environment, a great boss to work for, that I get a paycheck every month.

I am thankful for a beautiful apartment, although a little scary during tremors, but having a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in at night.

I am thankful that I have food to eat at every meal. I probably have enough food in my house to last me another six months without going to the grocery store.

I am thankful for so many things and I hope that I can continue to see those things day in and day out for this upcoming years and many more. Thank YOU for reading this! :)