Graciasgiving

Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action. 

Thanksgiving (or, a word one of my adorable students from last year coined: Graciasgiving) was yesterday, but seeing as how I was busy giving thanks, enjoying a deep fried turkey, speaking in Spanish, cutting up carrots, laughing a lot, playing Yahtzee, and discovering one of my new favorite road trip games... I didn't post! To make up for that (and my lack of posts since Sunday), I figured I would make a giant list of things/people/events I am thankful for this Thanksgiving. Here goes...

Blessing #65: Giving Thanks
I am so blessed... to have so many blessings to be thankful for!

I am thankful for... 
...my faith.
...my dad: he's an amazing guy and absolutely the reason I have such high standards for the men in my life. I am so blessed to have been raised by him.
...my mom: how cool is it to also count my mother as one of my closest friends?! I am so blessed to have been raised by her as well.
...my brother: seriously. I am pretty sure I got the best family ever. On top of two incredible, loving, supportive parents, I also was given an amazing brother! He's talented, kind, and growing into a good man as well. I am really proud of him.
...my extended family: my grandparents for raising two awesome people who then raised me, and all the aunts, uncles, and cousins who make my life infinitely more joyful. Also, it's great to have such a big family that pretty much no matter where I go in the U.S., I probably have someone to see/stay with.
...my "people:"
...Big Sis: we laugh, we cry, we share joy, sorrow, and advice. What a blessing!
...Az: photographer and friend-extraordinaire! Lights up my life with laughter, insight and support. So thankful for our friendship.
...the amazing firewoman, E: the yin-yang of our friendship grounds me in many areas of life. A shoulder to cry on until I need to be shaken out of it, a voice of oft-needed realism, a friend who has known me for years: another blessing.
...Marty-kins: few people can make me laugh like this one. Feels like we've been friends for longer than we have, since we know each other so well!
...Bee: reminds me to intentionally invest time, support and love into those relationships I cherish. An example of a good friend who listens, supports, encourages but also just shares JOY.
...Lovah: my other half... we probably will still end up growing old together, but somehow we'll have to end up in the same city!
...Ms. Missy: a friend I was blessed enough to find during my first quarter of college, and we're still going strong almost 6 years later! Through this friendship I find laughter, support and a great teacher to swap stories with. Such a blessing!
...Three's Company: what a joy to be one-thirds of this dynamic trio! Laughter and kindness are the cornerstones of our friendship. Can't wait to grow old as friends with these two!
...my roommie: I didn't think I could possibly luck out again in the roommate department, but I did! We are learning lots about ourselves this year, and it is a pleasure to share the teaching journey with such a great friend!
...LDH: my soul-friend who knows and appreciates so many of my quirks. It is truly a blessing to have a friend who is so insightful about who you really are, and cherishes you all the more for your uniqueness. I am so happy for the future that is unfolding in front of this amazing person!
...my phenomenal TFA friends: what would I do without them?! Supportive, fun, encouraging... they make this often rocky journey so wonderful!
...my school and the staff: can't imagine a better place to work.
...the 26 treasures who are students in my classroom this year.
...TFA.
...Ari: the last year and a half would not have seen some of the successes it has without the support, resources and encouragement Ari provided.
...Spring Breaks in Tulsa, OK.
...summer trips to San Fran.
...weddings in Reno.
...trivia games at Rose & Crown.
...good times at Rula Bula.
...Slices.
...nights out in SLO with a dear friend.
...I Love You, Man and subsequent nicknames/quotes.
...Cheesecake Factory for my birthday.
...inside jokes.
...Spring Training games in Peoria.
...Pita Pit late at night in Flagstaff.
...Phoenix visits from good college friends.
...meeting new friends.
...meeting amazing, boisterous, sweet families.
...ice cream sundaes.
...Tiglet.
...random refrigerator magnets.
...Apples to Apples.
...Glee.
...how much better New Moon is than Twilight.
...Zumba.
...memorable g-chats.
...learning to stand up for myself in different ways.
...setting expectations and watching people rise to meet them.
...I'm On A Boat.
...Skyping with family and friends.
...the newest family member: Rocky.
...hiking.
...finding the haircut.
...getting myself on track financially.
...making mistakes and finding the lessons to learn from them.
...learning new things about myself.
...blogging about blessings.
...my health.
...finding new things every day to be thankful for!

♥