Thankful Thursday

I am taking this from Tiburon because it's a great idea and a beautiful graphic. I wish my blog looked like this actually. Speaking of blog, it's a way that I might be held accountable to blog at least weekly. I always sucked at diaries when I was younger too. So on to the thanks...

-I am always the most thankful for my family and friends. I know that's a generic "thankful" but this is my first thankful post so I figured I'd put it in there. Also I REALLY REALLY like my family (and friends of course but that's obvious since you choose your friends). Most people love their family but I actually like them. Which leads me to a related thankful thing, that I live so close to my parents and sister. I can easily have Lin (sis) over for Bones on Wednesdays, go over to their house for Champagne Friday with Mama and Lin, and Sunday dinner with the whole fam followed by Forensic Files with Daddy. SO thankful for that.

-Tying in with family (can you tell I'm very family-centric?) I am so thankful that I've actively gotten to know my grandma (Nana) over the past few years. She's super healthy and a very young 81 (on Dec 6) but obviously I don't have forever with her. I've made it a huge point to spend as much time with her as possible even if it's just riding together out to Tysons for lunch at Silver Diner or going to Target. I just like enjoying her company. I've also made it a point to ask her tons of questions about her life growing up and about our family and have gotten tons of irreplacable anecdotes that I'll carry forever and pass on to my grandkids. Being the planner that I am, I always try to appreciate people and experiences and to let them know how I feel about them, not just think it. So I am thankful that I'm content that I really know her, and that we really enjoy each other, and that she really knows how much I love her. Okay enough morbid thinking!!

-My job, I don't make tons of money but I'm doing a job that people with WAY more experience don't get the opportunity to have, I feel like I'm helping people and I LOVE my coworkers.

-My apartment. It's fabulous, and way more than I need but I love it and it's beautiful and it's mine and I earn the right to live here by working hard! I swear I'll post something about it but it's not up to perfection and I am REALLY bad about wanting people to see only perfection. I'll work on that.

-My recent plummit of materialistic wants. I have been SO good! I don't even want that much stuff! I know that sounds silly but I used to just love "things". Not for any good reason. I'm definitely appreciating a more clutter free approach and a nicer bank account. And I'm siding with the philosophy that I'd rather spend money on experiences than items. Hence my Bermuda cruise I was able to take.

-My country. Even though the election didn't go the way I had hoped, I am so thankful to live in a place that I have the right to vote, and I'm so thankful for our troops who put their lives on the line every day for us to protect all the freedom that we hold dear but often take for granted.

I guess that's it for now. I hope everyone has a great weekend! Maybe I'll get cleaned and organized and have an apartment post for Monday!