This time of year is a time for reflection. When I look at my life, there is so much I am grateful for,
and I count my blessings not only this time of year, but every single day of
the year. Some of the things/people I am
grateful for are:
My Parents
For giving me the
gift of life, and loving me to the fullest unconditionally. I’ve always been crazy close with my parents,
talking with them multiple times a day about important things and trivial
things. My Mom passed away last year,
but during the 25 years we spent together we were best friends and had many
many unbelievably fun times together. She
was kind, intelligent, giving, genuine, loyal, funny, beautiful, courageous,
and so loving. She was always there for
me…she was my rock. I miss her with all
my heart every day. My Daddy and I have
always been close too and still are! We have
so much fun together!! From cooking, to
talking shop (we’re both Finance majors and have our MBA, and he was in the healthcare
industry as I am), to traveling, to taking dance lessons together, to rockin’
out in the Vinyl Lounge at home, my Dad is one of the smartest, most fun, goofy
men I know. I love him to the moon and
back!
My
Hubby
My
soul mate and everything bright in this world!
My husband is truly one in a billion, and I am the luckiest girl in the
world to have him as my partner in life.
We have shared so many wonderful experiences together over the last
seven years from the mundane of watching Walking Dead on our couch to the
luxury of traveling to exotic locations abroad.
Each day is an adventure with him, and I look forward to all the future
adventures life has in store for us. I
couldn’t imagine sharing this life with anyone but you my love!
My Family
Growing up, my
family and I spent every Friday or Saturday at someone’s house cooking dinner,
listening to music, and just hanging out.
Now that I’m older, not much has changed, and I love it. My family is my rock, and without their love,
support, comfort, and craziness, I would not be who I am today. From our silly evenings at someone’s house to
our travels together, I am so grateful for all our laughs, cries, singing,
etc! I love my family!
My Friends
My friends are true
gemstones, and I know that they are there for me no matter what. You know who you are. Each and every one of you makes my life so
much brighter, and I am so grateful for your friendship. Some are close by, others across the country,
but no matter how far apart, we always pick up right where we left off.
Our
Furbabies
Our
two puppies, Rugby and Juno, and our kitty Tantalum make our world so much
happier. Nothing beats coming home from
a long day at work to three loving furbabies who are beyond excited to see
you! Their love is unconditional, and
our love for them is unconditional. They
are our babies, and I can’t imagine life wihtout them.
My
Health
Over
the last couple months I learned that I carry a genetic mutation that my mom
and grandmother carried, that predisposes me to MDS and/or leukemia. I could be depressed and heartbroken and fall
into a deep dark place thinking of a terrible fate, but that’s not who I am
(there’s no room for negativity in my life).
Instead, I fill my life and heart with positivity! I am grateful that I can breathe each day,
that I can work out and push my body beyond it’s limits, that I can explore the
world with through site, sound, smell, touch, and taste. I am a very healthy 27 year old, and I’m
going to be one very healthy 90 year old down the line!!
Our
Home
We
are so thankful that we have a roof over our heads and a place to call
home. We were able to buy a home two
years ago, and it’s been so much fun remodeling and decorating and really
making it “ours.” This time of year is
especially exciting because we have our Christmas tree (this year we bought a
monster one at 11 feet!), Christmas decorations around the house, and Christmas
lights outside. It was so fun decorating
for the holiday with my hubby while we listened to Christmas music :)
Travel
My
parents always believed that travel provides knowledge, insight, and experience
that cannot be obtained in a classroom.
Don’t get me wrong, school was always number 1 (I was always a straight
A student and went on to earn my MBA), but seeing the world enlightens you in a
way that is so profound and mind-opening.
I have been fortunate enough to travel all over the world including,
France, Spain, Italy, England, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and
more! We have several adventures planned
for 2014 including Iceland!! Stay tuned!
Education
Education
is embedded in who I am. My parents gave
me the gift of education, for which I will be eternally grateful. I was always an over-achiever (and still am),
and wanted to excel in school not only to impress my parents, but to give
myself a sense of gratification in knowing I absorbed and learned everything I
possibly could! I recently earned my
MBA, and I continue to look for ways to expand my knowledge and grow! As cliché as it may be, knowledge is growth
and knowledge is power. Keep on
educating yourself!
Technology
I
am so grateful for technology on numerous accounts. First, I am grateful for my iPhone and the
ability to communicate in real-time with my family and friends around the
country. Second, I am grateful for the
internet and social media for keeping me up to date on current events and acting
as a tool for sharing my own stories like I am right here on this blog. Third, I am grateful for medical technology
to help fight diseases and find cures!
Transportation
I
love that I have a brand new and reliable car that not only gets me from point
A to point B, but also carries our precious cargo with ample space (our pups
love their car rides!). This was my
first car purchase completely on my own, and I am very proud of myself for
that.
Music
What
can I say other than music is so fun! I
enjoy listening to and singling along with music in my car, during my workouts,
and just singing and dancing around the house!
There is music for every mood, and it’s wonderful!
My
Career
I
am grateful that I have a job, and more importantly that it’s a job I
love. I have been with my company for
nearly 5 years now, and I love each day.
I am tasked with many challenging projects, and I enjoy every bit of it. My team is making huge strides and I couldn’t
be more proud of our accomplishments!
Be thankful for all the blessings in your life this holiday season and always!
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