I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — I feel like 2011 has been dual enrolling all year in order to graduate earlier and get a head start on college or something. I am having a hard time believing that Thanksgiving is tomorrow. But, whether we like it or not, this is the reality.

Dan and I are gearing up to head to my hometown to spend some much needed time with my family over the holiday, so I will not be blogging the rest of this week. I’m sure you’ll all survive.

But, since Thanksgiving is truly the original gangster THINGS I LOVE THURSDAY, I’d like to leave you with a list of things I’m so thankful for this year. Ready? Here we go, in no particular order!

• You. All of you who read my blog. You all rock my socks off (which is fine for now, since it’s still 80 outside. But come February, we’ll have some words.)
• The unending grace of a Savior everyday.
• My sweet, supportive husband. I swear, I love him more and more every day.
• A job at which I don’t work holidays and can actually get time off to see my family. (I get to be there till Saturday, y’all! It’s almost like a legitimate vacation!)
• Close friends who love me even though (and maybe because) I’m me.
• Vulnerability — being vulnerable and having other people be vulnerable around me.
• Miracles and the fact that they truly do happen every day.
• Sundresses and the ability to wear them almost year round.
• Decaf coffee which somehow still wakes me up.
• My church family.
• My bible studies — Case and Breakfast Club.
• My pastors and their families and how they challenge me to be a better person.
• Being able to do ministry with junior high students.
• Being ministered to by junior high students.
• Books and words.
• Writing for a living.
• Art and artists, particularly the ones I get to interact with.
• Pianos and the people who play them.
• My cats, Romeo and Hamlet, even though I haven’t had a full night’s sleep in well over a week because of them.
• Kittens, even though they seem to be taking over my life.
• Children and babies and the things they do and say.
• My family, both in Florida and in the Midwest.
• Text messages and gChat — forever keeping me sane at work.
• Our quirky but cute house in Frenchtown.
• Road trips for weddings, celebrations, etc.
• LIFE.

Hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving. During this holiday season, steeped in commercialism and superficial happiness, try to keep your minds focused on the non-material things you’re thankful for.

See you next week! Muah. ❤