Today is a day to be grateful. I need a day like today. In a fast, busy world I often forget to slow down and "count my blessings." Well, not today. Today is Thanksgiving. I am making time. Here is what I am thankful for.
1. My God. I am so blessed to have a God that despite all of my shortcomings, mistakes and just downright stupidity - He loves me. He forgives me. He's guides me. This will never change. Everything else in life pales in comparison. How people make it through life without Him is beyond me. I could never do this life alone. It's my foundation.
2. My soulmate. I have been blessed with the most perfect child and by perfect, I don't mean flawless. As a teenager there are days it can be hard - so hard in fact, I want to strangle her. But what mother doesn't go through this? This is life. I was the same, only worse. But from the minute she was born and I looked into her eyes, I fell in love in a way that I didn't know existed. I am so proud of her. She possesses the core attributes that I so truly admire... integrity, kindness, love, intelligence, sincerity, strength... I could write a book alone, just on her. She is my soul mate. The love of my life. God gave me exactly what I wanted - better yet, exactly what I needed.
3. My ex husband. Regardless of our inability to make it in the long run, he is an excellent father, a good man and an outstanding role model for my daughter. We were happy together for a long time. I have zero regrets, no ill will. I will always love him. She is lucky and frankly, so am I.
4. My parents. They have always - I mean always - supported me. They believed in me and let me fly like a bird. They have always encouraged me to be independent, strong and never once stifled me. They let me be me. They knew I couldn't sit still so they gave me my wings. I've been flying ever since.
Sidebar: My dad was diagnosed with cancer this year. The long term outcome is not good but he is fighting sooo hard. My mom is fighting too. I love them so much. I am so blessed to have this Thanksgiving with them. My hope is that they know how much I love them. I truly do.
5. My friends. No matter the physical distance I have with many of them, I know that they are one text, one phone call away from being there for me. Do you know how good that feels? Thank God Tamara is close. She is my lifeline, my "shiny beacon", I call her. She sees and endures the harshest parts of me yet never complains, belittles me or makes me feel anything less than amazing. She is the amazing one. My "Bud" is the best.
6. My health. I know I am no spring chicken and it's hard to watch parts of my body fail me. From weight gain, to wrinkles and everything else in between, getting older can just stink. But... I have two working legs that allow me to do one of my favorite things in the world - dance. As long as I can dance, I am thankful. Seems silly, but it's true.
7. My necessities. I can't cook worth a damn but I am so grateful that I can walk into a Kroger or a McDonald's or any other retail store for that matter, and purchase what I need for myself and my daughter. I am lucky to have a nice house, with a thermostat I can turn up and down when the mood strikes me and a car that will take me on all of my KyTasteBuds adventures. So many people do not. I am blessed I do.
8. My job. The fact that I can wake up and do what I love to do everyday is one the greatest aspects of my life. It did not come easy, it still doesn't. I work myself to the bone and sometimes for little fruit, but there is not a thing I would change. Not one. Pursue your dreams people.
9. My boyfriend. I have met someone who is so kind, so loving, so patient, so accepting, so amazing... so attune to all of my needs that it's sometimes hard to believe it's happening. I didn't know such things existed. I am still trying to accept this could be real. Just don't pinch me. If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up.
10. My country. There is no place I'd rather live than in the good 'ole USA... and if I am going to take it down a level that includes Kentucky. It's why Tam and I started a blog - to embrace it's offerings, inviting ourselves to explore its land, its people, its beauty.
Thank you so very much to the people and families who have sacrificed themselves for me. I will never underestimate or take for granted my freedom and the price that was paid for it. We live in the greatest nation on earth. What more can I say but...
I am so thankful... so very, very thankful.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
I love you guys,
Leigh