I love thanksgiving and what it stands for. I’m not talking about the origin, but what it means right now. Setting a day aside to be thankful for what you have and to spend time with the people who mean the most to you is beautiful. And while I try to be thankful all the time, it’s nice  to have a huge reminder of all the good that’s happened over the year.

I need that. This year has been very rocky, both culturally and personally, and that makes me want to write it off and be ungrateful. So having this day gives me time to rethink that.

Here’s what I’m thankful for this year:

• My family: We’ve had a few rocky things happen in our household this year, but we stick together and we pull through. There is so much love and caregiving between us. I don’t know how I could survive without them. They keep me grounded and are the key to my support system.
• Alaska: I was able to go to Alaska this year with my dad and it was life changing. It was easily one of the best trips I’ve ever been on. Seeing the northern lights (which was at the top of my bucket list), dog sledding, snow-mobling through the quiet mountains, and sitting in a hot spring in 14 degree weather are all memories I’ll cherish forever. I’m thankful I’ve been able to do trips like this.
• My Education: I graduated college this year! Which is a huge life achievement. Sometimes I take my education for granted. I know so many people who are in college or have been to college that it doesn’t seem special or exciting, it just feels normal. But I know that there are women who would kill to be able to sit in a classroom and learn the things I did. So, even though I’m thankful to be done with school forever, I’m even more thankful that I was able to do it at all.
• My Friends: This year I’ve had an amazing network of friends and I’m so thankful for that. There have been many years in my life were my social life has been in turmoil, or just generally rotten. The past year or two that hasn’t been the case at all. It’s such a blessing and I try to never let myself take a single one of them for granted.
• My Restored Faith: I feel like my relationship with God has seasons. It’s not supposed to and I’m working really hard to get rid of them, but I have some serious rough patches. This past year I’ve pulled myself out from yet another one and tried to keep that relationship healthy.
• New Additions: Writing that sounds like I’ve had a baby, but we all know I haven’t, and I’m actually talking about the two little fuzzballs that have come into my life. Denim and Linen are crazy and always getting into something they shouldn’t. But they are so good for me. I love those kittens. And of course, while writing about my pets, I have to say how thankful I am for my horse and my parents dog. The animals really make my life better.
• Family Friends: I’ve mentioned my personal friends, but between my mom’s friends helping out during rough patches and neighbors always lending a hand it would be ungrateful not to mention them in this list. It’s people like this that make life run smoother. They’re blessings.