Thanksgiving 2011

I've noticed that November seems to be the month of lot of things on the Facer. No-shave November, pleas for new Thanksgiving side dish ideas, oh, and football. I don't think I can open my home page without seeing someone comment on something football related. I've also seen statuses of people stating one thing each day for which they are thankful. I don't get on FB everyday so I didn't feel inclined to join the Thanks movement. Instead, I decided that I would make my list and post it for Thanksgiving thereby allowing me to publicly state my gratitude AND fulfill my weekly post obligation that I've promised myself. So, here goes, in absolutely no particular order. I tried to make it all rhyme, but failed. I'm only doing 24 because Thanksgiving is on the 24th this year. If you don't like it, feel free to add in your own.

1. I'm thankful for having another year to give thanks.
*I know, that's a lame way to start, but I couldn't help it.

2. I'm thankful for completing law school. No, it didn't go as well as I had planned, but I did it. I wish I could say that having a law degree is rare and special, but I'd be lying. It seems like everyone and their mom has a law degree these days. Yay for jumping on the bandwagon.

3. I'm thankful for a job. Not all of my law school friends have jobs and I couldn't be happier about mine. I get to work in an area that I like and am familiar with. Some days I am good at what I do, some days, I am not. But hey, I'm still learning. As they say, it only goes up from here.

4. I'm thankful that Matt and I are finally married. It was years in the making, from before our births, I guess, and now it has finally happened. We couldn't be happier. Nope, that doesn't need an exclamation mark. It's a statement of fact. Yes, there are strong feelings involved, but the period won out in my mental debate of which form of punctuation to use.

5. I'm thankful for my mom. She and I have had our differences over the years, but when I need her most, she's always there. She orchestrated the perfect wedding. Nothing could have made it better. I'm thankful that our relationship is now that of two adults. While she is still my mom and I call her every so often for motherly advice, for the most part our calls are just to chat, not find out the best way to cook potatoes.

6. I'm thankful for Marla. We are both very different than we were six or seven years ago, but essentially, we are still the same. I'm logical and at times, boring. She's spontaneous and fun. I think we've always been that way and will always be that way. She kind of evens out my seriousness and I (like to think) keep her in check. Like we've always said, if we were one person, we'd be perfect and far too much for anyone to handle. And. I'm thankful that she's graduating in May. Dr. Mar is almost official!!

7. I'm thankful for having been able to spend time with my mamaw and nanny here on Earth. They are both gone now, but I'll never forget them. The holidays are hard without them, but we carry on their traditions. Christmas isn't Christmas without someone using a Saltines box as gift packaging. Thanksgiving isn't Thanksgiving without rolls - they don't have to be homemade, they just have to be delicious.

8. I'm thankful for Daddy!! He always knows the right thing to say to make me feel better. He is the backbone of the Jordan family and we'd all be lost without him. The guitar-strumming, firewood cutting, fantastic-bench-making backbone.

9. I'm thankful for Nicholas. He has decided to bite the bullet and get his degree. I'm hoping the spring or summer. AND... he is getting MARRIED in 2013. Trust me, that isn't that long away. Laura Beth is going to spend Thanksgiving with the Jordan family. I hope she is ready because we tend to get a little loud.

10. Jeffrey and Kat have a baby!! His name is Henry. Even though I've only spend about five minutes with that bundle of goodness, I'm pretty sure that he's perfect. Jeff is still working hard and Kat is completely occupied with Henry. I'm glad that they are ready for that, because I am not.

11. I'm thankful for having the Margarets in Shreveport. From crafting to Top Model, I've loved being able to spend non-law related time with y'all!

12. I'm thankful that Judith is almost done with everything. I'm glad that Kyle's diabetes is under control. And, I'm ready for a Roberts baby. But I can wait until y'all are ready. Also, I'd like to be an "aunt" to said Roberts baby.

13. I'm thankful for having fantastic friends like Ash and Jada from high school. We certainly were a handful back then, and some things haven't changed. I still can't believe that Jada has kids and the older of the two is nearly four! Just imagine what changes will take place by this time next year. Crazy.

14. I'm thankful for the washer and the dryer. I admit, being the one in charge of the laundry has goes in 'cycles' of fun (get it!), but there's no way I'd willingly do more than I have to by hand. Thank you Mr. Fisher!

15. I'm thankful for Giselle. No, we haven't always seen eye to eye, but she kept Matt company for the past three years and has made him happy. She may not say much, but she does the darndest things. Including barking at 5 this morning. Thanks G. Really.

16. Papaw!! I'm so glad that he is with Mom and Dad now. He's less lonely. We don't worry about him being on his own as much. Mom can take care of his needs (with a little help). But most importantly, he isn't alone anymore. He gets to be a part of everything in the Jordan house. AND, he doesn't have to travel for the holidays! He's already at the hottest place in town. Over the years I've learned a lot from him. Like how silence is a good thing. How showing true character isn't always what you say, but how you act.

17. I'm thankful for all the support Matt's parents have given us over the past few months and the upcoming few. That fourth year of medical school is a whopper on the back account. They've let Matt borrow their car for a month to drive to and from Georgia. They've given Matt a place to stay while he is off pursuing his dream. And they've given me peace of mind. That's a lot for me, a planner.

18. I'm thankful for the colder weather that is bound to come and stay for a bit. I like low electric bills and snuggling. Notice, I said stay for a bit. This little breeze isn't going to last.

19. As mentioned in my last post, I'm thankful for chocolate. I'm so glad that there's something material that loves me as much as I love it. I mean, once I eat it, it never leaves. Just look at my hips!

20. I'm thankful that Christmas is coming. I really like Thanksgiving, but Christmas is my favorite. I love the music, the decorations, the extended family time. And of course, the reason behind it all. I love hearing the Christmas story and knowing that little baby Jesus grew into the ultimate sacrifice for me. That's something to be thankful for, for sure.

21. I'm thankful for my health. In this day and time when injury and illness seems to run rampant, I'm glad that I am healthy. The prognosis looks great for a long and happy life.

22. Kind of like Giselle, I'm thankful for Emma. She has made Nicholas happier just by being there. I'm glad that he has her and I'm looking forward to meeting her tomorrow!!

23. I've been waiting for this number! Matt, I'm so thankful for you, and not just because you wash the dishes. I'm thankful and incredibly blessed to have you in my life. The past few years have been tough, but we're done with them. We're (finally) married and will get to see each other almost every day of our lives. Granted, some of those days may be through Skype, but still. I wouldn't have traded the past for anything and am loving the present. Our future is going to be incredible.

24. I'm thankful for K-Love. I listen to it almost every time I'm in my car, and it really does make me happier. Sometimes the stories make my cry, but the songs fill my heart with joy. I'm a huge fan K-Love, just not during the pledge drives...

Alright, done.

Happy Thanksgiving!!