Grateful Heart, Wed Wishes, & Monthly Musings: Dec

I know I'm late for all of these link-ups (Grateful Heart, Wednesday Wishes, and Monthly Musings), but I'm not really sorry about it. I had my finals yesterday and if you follow me on Twitter, you'll know I was boobs deep in books and notes for the past few days.

I love this time of year. It's full of joy, giving, and wonderful sights, tastes, and sounds. It's always been my favorite because my whole family gathers in one place at the same time. That almost never happens for anything else. This year, however, Philip and I will not be able to join them in person. I did make my mom download Skype on her tablet so we can video chat on Christmas morning while we open gifts.

There is so much to be thankful and grateful for in my life. If you've been around these parts for a while, especially on Mondays, you'll know that I like to focus on the good stuff rather than the bad. It helps me to stay positive and not get pulled down into a depressive state... my fluffy furkids help in that department too.

I am glad to have a break from school for a few weeks over this Holiday Season. I am glad that Hubs gets Christmas and New Year's Day off from work. I am glad that he took a half day off today to take me to see The Hobbit *insert happy dance here* I am so so so so glad to know that I made an A in my speech class and I am confident that I made an A in my Psychology class as well. I am glad that my mom is excited for us to receive the gifts she has sent us. I am glad that I found a tripod and remote capture for taking photos with my phone! I am glad that Hubs likes the gifts I found for him. I am glad Bear has done so well in our home. I am glad for you, my lovely readers. Without you I might have given up on this space a few months ago. Without you, I would not have met so many wonderful people.

I hope everyone has as much to be thankful and grateful for as me this year. #IWinThisThursday

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Monthly Musings: November

There are so many things I could talk about with this prompt. I could go on and on about all the gadgets, clothes, food, and beauty things in my life, because I really am thankful for them. But as I started to write about those things last night, something felt off. I felt shallow. So I deleted every word and put my computer away.

When I woke up this morning, it hit me. The things I am most thankful for are not really things, it's people. Two people in particular.

Yep. Those two faces are my favorite faces in the whole wide world. If it weren't for them I would not be where I am or who I am today.

Philip, my wonderful Hubs. He does so much for our little family and he puts up with all my crazy antics, like my over-the-top excitement about Christmas decorations (read about that here) and my need to purchase every color of nail polish available. He reigns in my crazy and I bring him out of his shell. We're a perfect match. His unyielding support for my school dreams and goals is amazing. I don't think I'd be doing as well as I am (I made the Dean's List!!) if it wasn't for him. And he's always showing me with little things how much he loves me; a kiss every morning, a touch as he's passing, letting me buy those fleece lined leggings, and being my model for my crochet projects. I honestly do not know what I would do without him now, and I am so much happier here with him than I have been in years.

BUT, if it wasn't for my mom, I would not be here (literally!), I might have given up a long time ago. She's been my rock, my shoulder to cry on, an amazing source of support and encouragement. Quite honestly I might still be back in Georgia working at that miserable job and living a miserable lonely life. She's the one who encouraged me to follow my heart and move to Missouri to be with Philip. She's the one who helped me pack all my furniture in storage and stuff my little car full of clothes and other random items to take with me. She's the one who calls my phone and leaves a voicemail of herself reading my favorite childhood book. She's the one who inspires a lot of my creativity and nudges me to explore things. She's been the one true constant thing in my life since I was born and for that I will be forever thankful.

What are you thankful for?

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