Gratitude.

Last year when November came along, a lot of people on Facebook were writing things they were thankful for in their status' for each day of the month. I did it last year and it really helped me to realize the things I do have and how blessed my life truly is. This year I want to blog about them.

I know. I know.

It's November 3rd.

I didn't get this idea until like 2 in the morning last night... because for some reason that's when my brain starts to function in an artsy way. Does that happen to you too? Some of these things may be small and you might wonder why its on my 'thankful list' but its the little things that make life big.

Enough small talk, let's get to the things I love, and I'm grateful for.

Two types of food:

My mom's homemade pumpkin chocolate chip
cookies. They are a must try.

Julia Childs potatoe leek soup: It's pure brilliance.
What would we ever do without Julia?

Smiles. I took this picture of my niece, and
everyday I am thankful for her smile. She
warms my heart.

and for the third day of this beautiful month... Happiness. When I first started thinking of happiness I thought to myself, what makes me truly happy and just excited about life? Family. My mom still makes me excited about things, which brings me right back to being 5 years old and just thinking everything in the world was new and cool. She makes me excited to have kids and make tuna sandwiches for them, to send them off to pre-school, to make crafts with them... even if that means play-dough stuck to the couch cushions. She makes me excited to just be a mom. My dad, he makes me strive to be the best caregiver to my own family, to be the hardest worker because we know it pays off in the end. He makes me want to be the best example to, not only my sister, but everyone around me. The 'kill them with kindness' attitude. My sister, she makes me fearless. To go get what I want because I can and because I worked towards it. My relationship with her makes me pray about the relationships my own kids will have together. I hope they become best friends like we are. Happiness is not about getting a huge paycheck, a nice car, or new outfit. Its about the things in life that never leave your side, in anything really. This whole paragraph just sounds like we have had the best life together, which we have.. but it took trials and hardships to get here. Its taken struggle and mountains to climb, but without those mountains, without those hardships there would be no happiness. I hope I can amount to what my parents are someday. They have taught me love, sensitivity, and how to be a christlike person. This is my true happiness. I mean I'm 22 and they still make it exciting to get up early on Christmas morning. ;)

xoxoxoxoxo.