Thank YOU!

As Halloween’s high fructose corn syrup high has faded, the leaves have turned brilliant shades of orange and yellow. They swirl off the trees in my yard making a damp carpet for my children to fall on as they play and remind me that another year is coming to a close.

There are so many things to be thankful for this year; I’m overwhelmed at where to begin. I am beyond thankful that the most serious problem I’ve faced in the last week was arranging for the burial of multiple goldfish, although I did learn that the death of a goldfish is quite a serious matter to some.

I find it hard to believe that I’ve been in my new home in Greenwood, Mississippi, for less than a year, it seems more like ten. Moving to Smalltown, USA has been above and beyond what my husband and I thought it would be, and after growing up in Jasper, Ala. we had pretty high expectations. We’ve been so fortunate over the last twelve years. We have lived in some of the friendliest cities in the country: Savannah, Ga. Mount Pleasant, S.C., Fort Worth, Tx., Auburn, Ala. Moving as often as we have could have been a difficult thing, but it’s proven to be one of my life’s greatest blessings.

This year I am thankful for the friends I’ve made, for the people who have challenged me and made my life better, for the people, in all of these cities who welcomed me with open arms and helped me to make their city my temporary home. I’m grateful for the group of women who are in my life now; women who make me laugh until I cry and who pull me through life when I can’t make it on my own.

Among the blessings I hold closest to my heart: my family, my friends and you, my reader. I’m thankful for your acceptance of the real me. The me that is flawed, quirky and occasionally (fine, always) overshares. The me that works out until she can’t get out of bed then runs through a drive-through for lunch, the me that chases her baby around the country club swimming pool then falls in head first, the me who loves her family desperately but gets motherhood wrong a million ways every day. Thank you for laughing with me, encouraging me and actually taking the time to read what I write.

This Thanksgiving as I sit down with my family and give thanks, my prayer will be simple. Lord, thank you for so many places to call home and so many friends to call family.

Don’t forget to enter to win my latest BLOG GIVEAWAY!!