Day 1:
1. I'm thankful for my one very particular TE class at MSU. For the first time in my schooling, I felt confident and that it was a place where I belonged. It is easily the one single time and place in my life that I can pinpoint which made me the social, outgoing and confident person I am today.
2. I'm thankful for my parents who let to make my own choices. I've made some doozies along the way but I was always given the chance to learn from my own experience.
3. I'm thankful for the coolest, kindest and wisest grandma in the world. Having her be an integral part of my life when I'm 33 makes me one lucky girl.
Day 2:
1. I'm thankful for my job. After 13 hours of being at work today I'm still cheery and heading home with a smile. I am a fan of my students, I'm trying new things, my administration is supportive and I've made great friends.
2. I'm thankful for my California friends. When I came here I knew absolutely no one. I used MapQuest to find everything because I didn't have a soul to pester. 10 years later, I've made friends with co-workers, fellow moms, and a girl I met at a cemetery. These are the people who make me laugh, see me cry and have fun with me.
3. I'm thankful for the friends I have all over the world. It wasn't until last summer that I realized that I knew people from pretty much everywhere. Though I spent most of my formative years in MI, I barely know anyone there because most have left the state. Michigan's loss is my opportunity to experience a variety of couches.
Day 3:
1. I'm thankful for all things Internet. Because of Facebook, my boyfriend from when I was 13 years old can give me crap at 33 from another side of the country. I can plan international adventures with a click of a mouse, keep in touch with one of my closest friends from Latvia who now lives in London and pester my favorite students. Oh, I can also do lots of things and pay half (what would life be like without Groupon?!)
2. I'm thankful for living in this country. As everyone knows because I write about it every August 20th, I'm very glad to be here. My life would look absolutely nothing like it does if my parents weren't brave enough to make this gigantic move. Would I like to live in another country for a year or two? Absolutely, it's a dream. Leave here forever? Never.
3. I'm thankful for medical insurance. It's the one thing most take for granted but as I go to a dermatologist today, dentist tomorrow and schedule my kid's opthalmologist appt I know none of these things would be possible without insurance. And then you look and realize that it's the one thing you shouldn't take for granted at all.
Day 4:
1. I'm thankful for understanding people. In the last few days, I've been getting very overwhelmed with everything that's going on and have been canceling on people left and right. My friends have been flexible, supportive and forgiving. Thank you.
2. I'm thankful for my cat. I have had him for almost ten years and he is the purriest, meowiest creature there is. Most of my friends hate him because he is a little scratch monster to those he doesn't know. With me, he is the one I can always depend on to be happy to see me. Also, he sometimes sleeps on my head and that's just awesome.
3. I'm thankful for good weather. My mood always correlates with sunny, happy weather and if I lived anywhere else I'd be one miserable mofo. I love that I can wear dresses and be warm most of the year here. And if I want cold icky snow, I get it in Tahoe on my terms.
Day 5:
1. Of course, I saved the best for last. I'm thankful for having one amazing kid. He is the most easy going, chill, sweet boy there is. I'm thankful for his positive attitude and demeanor. I can see so much of me in him but only he is a way better version. 2.0 if you will.
2. I'm thankful for Remi's relationship with my parents. There are few things more joyful in life than watching him play with my dad or having him help my grandma feed the birds. Because he only goes to Michigan three times a year, it's always special and different. As he grows, so do those relationships and it's amazing to be an observer of that.
3. I'm thankful for Remi's sense of humor. He can crack me up like no other and gets sarcasm. Man, that makes mommy proud! I can only imagine the jokes and tricks he'll pull when he is older. He is one seriously funny dude and there is nothing (and I mean nothing!) that I love more than laughing. Having my kid be a source of that is pure bliss.
