The Yearly Thanksgiving Post

I'm so thankful to be on Thanksgiving break right now. School has been taking over my life! I guess that's what happens when you take 2 AP classes... At any rate, I'm here now!

I can't believe November is almost over. Didn't it just start yesterday? Okay, so I guess it started 20 days ago. Where did the last 20 days go? Holy starfish, time has flown.

Well, it's November 20th (I think) and Thanksgiving is in 2 days! I know I won't have time to write on Thursday and probably won't have time tomorrow, either! And I must conform to the tradition of bloggers writing about holidays, so here I am. Blogging about Thanksgiving.

I want to warn you in advance that if you are an avid blog reader you will see this post approximately 2305039485709218475098134275 times, but with different words. Just a list of things I'm thankful for. I suppose they're all fun to read because we can see where people's priorities fall and some of them are really sweet. Mine will probably be boring. Feel free to skim, skip, or otherwise ignore. I won't know, so I won't take offence.

1. I'm really thankful for cranberry sauce. I have a love for this stuff, and I only get to eat it on Thanksgiving and sometimes Christmas. How I love it.

2. I'm thankful for hot chocolate. I love it, too. And tea. I am a lover of tea.

3. I'm thankful for electricity. Mainly so I can use a stove to heat a kettle and make my hot chocolate or tea. And so it can power heat and AC and hot showers.

4. I'm thankful for the money to pay the electric bill. Granted, it's been close sometimes. But we still have a stove to heat the tea on, so I'm good!

5. I'm thankful for running water. One word: bathrooms.

6. I'm thankful for my cat. She keeps me sane knowing that she's not sane. It's funny because she's sitting on my arms right now as though she's queen of the universe and I am her humble slave.

7. I'm thankful for a house. Because some people don't have one and I know I take living here for granted. And I love it.

8. I'm thankful for a computer. I can write and play free cell to my heart's content.

9. I'm thankful for the internet!!!! Facebook, tumblr, google, blogger, TrueGirls, powerschool, email!!! Oh my gosh!

10. I'm thankful for my Church and my Church family. Because without them, I would not be who am I today.

11. I am thankful for people. Despite popular belief that the earth's gravitational orbit of the sun makes the world go 'round, it's actually people that make the world go 'round. People who talk and play and smile and laugh and work and improve and learn and search and discover and everything else. Even with the bad things, people make the world turn. Life would be very lonely without other people.

12. I'm thankful for all the adult teachers that have helped me along the way. Yes, because it's Thanksgiving I'm about to give you all the recognition you deserve: Mrs. Roberta, for helping me through every possible thing that could ever happen, big or small; Ms. Teresa, for always being there, teaching me responsibility, beginning driving lessons, teaching me about the joy of helping others, and for becoming my adoptive mother/grandmother person; Mrs. Leslie, for encouraging my faith journey and always being able to answer any questions I have; Mrs. Jaylen, for being perhaps the holiest and most God-loving woman I have ever met; Mrs. Sowell, for being there and accepting me and understanding me; Mrs. Denise, for the music lesson; Mrs. Val, for encouraging me in all of my fashion flops and making Homecoming possible; and for Father Gabe, Father Kaul, and Father McCarthy, for being the best priests and confessors that any teenage congregationalist could ever ask for.

13 . I am thankful for my siblings. All 4 of them. They've taught me quite a lot. Mainly how to make toast without burning it, use a microwave, keep fish alive (basically, keep all children under the age of 7 far, far away!), and be a responsible older sister. I love them dearly and my life would not be complete without them.

14. I am thankful for all the TrueGirls, namely Meg, Clare, Anna and Anna, Kathryn, Kat, Cam, Molly, Amelia, Lily, Charla, and Kayla. I wish I could name all of you, for you are all amazing and have taught me so much over the last 3 years. You have never turned me away, judged me, and have always been willing to give advice (some of the best advice I've ever received) and pray. And prayer makes every difference in the world.

15. I'm thankful for my other friends. Like my freepy friend, Randi!!! You are fantastic and patient and kind and loving and just downright amazing. I don't know what I'd do without you.

16. I am so thankful for my dad. He taught me how to swim, ride a bike, use the dishwasher/washing machine/dryer, read music, play the cello, and compromise. He's taught me what it means to take responsibility for my actions and the importance of being clear in what you say and communicating exactly what you mean. And the importance of calling people rather than just emailing. I love him.

17. I'm thankful for my Nathan. Without him, I would not know how to set the timer on my stove. He is becoming one of my closest friends and is practically a member of my family. He is teaching me what it means to care for someone that's not a sibling or parent or abandoned baby animal. I actually made him breakfast the other day, and even though I really don't like cooking, I enjoyed myself because I knew that it would make him happy. He is showing me what it means to do what's best for someone else even if you're not fond of the sacrifice (like having to pull things out of the oven, which I am deathly afraid of). So, okay, the cooking examples aren't very deep, but these are lessons that do go deeper and can apply anywhere. I care very much for him.

18. I'm so very, very thankful for my mom. First off, I wouldn't be here without here (or my dad either, if you really want to go there). I'm fond of the saying "remember the birth pangs of your mother". I see it all the time in the Bible, and love to spout it whenever my siblings are mad at my mom. I remember it, too, on the few occasions when she and I don't see eye-to-eye. She's taught me, perhaps, more than anyone else ever has. It's a long list that includes, but isn't limited to: brushing my hair, taking care of myself, feeding animals, taking care of others, putting others first, smiling even when it's hard, finding a bright side, expressing myself, playing a bit of piano, reading cooking directions, cleaning the house, folding clothes, listening, growing up, having the right table manners, being polite, playing nice, and, perhaps most importantly, loving unconditionally. As Mother Teresa said, "Love is a one way street; you give everything and take nothing." My mother loves deeply and passionately and eternally and she taught me how to do the same.

19. And finally, I am thankful for food.

Happy Thanksgiving and have a wonderful week off! And just for kicks, here's a Thanksgiving meme:

Tradition

Whenever I hear the word "tradition" I always think of the musical "Fiddler on the Roof". I guess because of that song called "Tradition". This has nothing to do with anything, except tradition, so, of course, I had to share it with you.

Thanksgiving is here, and that means that Christmas is practically upon us! I apologize for the lack of activity; there's this thing called school, and though I love it dearly, it often requires 32 hours a day. At any rate, tradition. Thanksgiving always brings tradition to mind because we've been celebrating this for a long time. I've actually taken about a week to mentally put this post together. Be proud. I planned ahead.

Tradition. What makes us special.

1. We always, ALWAYS put up our Christmas tree on Thanksgiving. It's just something we do. I don't know why or when it started, I just know we do.

2. Ever since I was little, if I dropped food and it was retrieved under the 5-second-rule I have always blown on it and kissed it. Just like my nana taught me to do a long time ago.

3. Ever year, once it gets cold (and stays cold!) I get up every morning and check for snow. I have long since given up hope that there will be snow. But I've done this since I was 7 on the one morning that there really was snow.

4. I always put "a horse" somewhere on my Christmas list. I've given up on this one, too, but as long as I can remember it has always been on my Christmas list somewhere. From when I was little, even today at the mere age of 16 it appears.

5. I keep all my letters. This I picked up about 7  or 8 years ago from my Aunt Carol (how I adore her). I have probably about three stuffed shoe boxes now of letters from friends, family, and now colleges!

6. Elfie, the Elf will be returning December 1st. He's what you call an "Elf on a Shelf". Each day he appears somewhere different, but you can't touch him! He's making sure you're being good while Santa finalizes all of his last minute Christmas preparations. He goes back to the North Pole with Santa on Christmas Eve.

7. I always wish upon a star when I see the first star of the night. Even if I don't say the rhyme, I always wish.  Probably because a long time ago I once saw an episode of that Little Bear TV show where he wished upon a star. I picked it up, and here I am wishing on stars, still.

8. Whenever I hear "I don't believe in fairies" I have to clap and say "I do! I do believe in fairies!" like in Peter Pan, the new version (and, might I add, my favorite!).

My mother is telling me it's time for bed. I can't help but agree. But before I depart, remember the giraffe and continuation 1? Well, here's continuation 2: And the girl agreed to see Skyfall with him, and he watched her favorite movie, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, with her. And they had a wonderful time.

Good night! Happy Thanksgiving! And God bless us everyone! (Yes, I know Tiny Tim, is Christmas, but I did say Christmas was upon us, did I not?).

Ten Months: November and October

Well, it's November. I can hardly believe it. No, I can't hardly believe it. I really can't believe it. Where did the year go? Next month is Christmas? Just yesterday was October 1st. What is this sorcery? Well, it's here I suppose and that's what counts! It's November, month 6; month of Faith. Good starfish.

October was fun, you guys. I know I didn't post much (okay, not anything), about the self-discipline thing. But trust me, I got up for school on time, have gotten the Little Office back into my schedule, said goodbye to texting and doing homework at the same time, and controlled the intake of Halloween candy! I know.  So hardcore. Not to mention I'm learning how to balance school and family with the very special Nathan. It's been interesting, but I'm learning and balancing everything out!

So now, it's November, the month of Faith. I'm pretty excited, but nervous, too. School's been stressful, as have money, illness, and lack of sleep, but I know that my Mother is here to watch over me, and God has a plan. So that's what this month is about. The constant belief that everything's going to be alright.

Hey, and remember the giraffe? Here's a brief continuation: So, the girl took the boy to Mass for the first time. And he loved it.

God is good.