First off, I wrote this post Wednesday night, not today, so in case you’re wondering, I am still out of the office. I just wanted to stop by and wish those who are online today a very Happy Thanksgiving!

If you’re reading this between the hours of 10am and 5pm Thursday November 28th, 2013, I am at my mom and dad’s house celebrating with both my mom’s family and my dad’s family. This is the first year that both sides of my family are joined together and it’s really exciting! I absolutely love my family (every single member of it!) and there’s no better time to gather together with everyone under one roof than on Thanksgiving Day. Well, maybe also on Christmas Day… but you know what I mean 😉

My mom always hosts her side of the family and for the past several years, we haven’t gotten together with my dad’s side. For no reason other than it just got to difficult too work around everyone’s crazy work schedules. I don’t know why it’s easier for my mom’s side. And normally, Neil and I go to his parent’s house Thanksgiving night to have dinner with his parents and his siblings and their spouses and kids (as of right now, there’s only one kid) (no, I’m not pregnant). But this year, due to everyone’s crazy schedules, we actually had The Houser Thanksgiving a couple weekends ago! Which, I think, is better because I got to actually enjoy that meal instead of not fully enjoying my mom’s meal and then a few hours later, forcing myself to eat more. Pretty sure we’re going to do it this new way from here on out.

Because my mom always hosts at least her side, and because I am the only daughter she has (other than my sister-in-law who is busy helping her own mom), I spent half of yesterday shopping for anything my mom needed and cooking anything that my mom needed me to cook. This year that included creamy garlic mashed potatoes, Indiana corn casserole, and pecan (peh-kahn) pie. Even though those errands cut into my work day, I’m reminded that I am so incredibly lucky to still have a mom to help with the cooking and a family to cook for. Which brings me to what I wanted to blog about for today…

My Thankful List! This list is definitely not an intent to brag but a way and a place for me to look back upon and remember all that I have to be thankful for.

I am thankful for…
… My faith. If I didn’t have the faith that I have, if I didn’t have a Savior to whom all the praise goes, I wouldn’t be so blessed; and I wouldn’t feel the gratefulness I feel for just being His beloved.
… my husband. Neil is the most patient, understanding, and supportive man I know. Lord knows he’s gone through the ringer this year, what with our infertility diagnosis and me quitting nursing and going full time with my photography business. But he has stuck with me and stood beside me throughout it all. Never wavering. I freakin’ love that man, y’all!
… My parents. Golly, I could go on and on about how thankful I am for my parents but to keep it short… my mom is my best friend. Seriously. And my dad is my hero. I know a lot of daughters will say that of their dads but it’s so much deeper for me. He has been there and will always be there for me in any way I need him to be. It’s an incredible feeling.
… My family’s health. For the most part everyone is in good health and lives balanced and active lifestyles. It is such a blessing!
… My dogs’ health. If you know me at all you won’t find it weird that I list my pups, Aly and Benny. They are our fur babies, our only babies, and just simply their being make my life such a happier one. Their lives are so short compared to ours and I cherish every day I have with them.
… Our home.
… My business. My situation is different from most part-time turned full-time photographers. I actually loved my nursing job but everything else in my life was suffering from trying to do everything 100%. I felt like God was calling me to pursue my photography business more and it really was the only way. I thank God every day for the success He’s brought to me and my business!

I could go on to list the smaller things that I’m thankful for but I’m afraid this blog post would never end. It’s not that I have more than others, it’s just that I’m able to be thankful for what I do have (instead of wanting more and more and more) because my Jesus gives me peace and the ability to find happiness in my life as it is. Next year, God could choose to take some things away from me or He could give me more. I trust in His plan for my life and I will continue to be thankful and praise His holy name, no matter what. I don’t talk about my faith as much as I would like to (something to start doing more of, maybe?) but if you’re hearing all of this for the first time and/or you’d like to know more about this love I’ve found, a love that can only be found, in Christ, PLEASE email me! I’d love to share my faith with you!