Being Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving! (a day late)

I hope that you all had a wonderful day yesterday and spent it with those that you love. I spent mine doing some of my favorite things. Cooking, drinking, laughing, being with family. I was unfortunately only with some of my loved ones yesterday, but it was still great.

Jake was at his parents, which does suck we don’t spend it together, but he loves hunting and if I were to go with him, he’d be hunting most of the time anyway! So we usually spend it apart. Though next year getting married and all, that may have to change 🙂

And my dad and stepmom are in Oregon celebrating their wedding anniversary. I miss them, but I’ll be with them for Christmas!

I wanted to share a few of the things that I’m thankful for in my life. I hear so many cynical comments these days about how Thanksgiving is the celebration of “Americans” coming and kicking Native Americans off their land and so on and so forth. To me, that’s never was Thanksgiving was about. It’s about an “excuse” to be with family and friends and a nice intro into the Christmas season reminding us all to stop and take a look around and be thankful for all that we have. Each and every one of us have something in our lives to be thankful for, and most likely none are the same. I see Thanksgiving drifting further and further away from that. Don’t get me started on Black “Friday” shopping. For years I worked in retail and was forced to give up time with my family to go in and deal with crazed mean people pummeling each other for candles and soaps.

I hated it if you couldn’t tell.

But those times of my life are over, and I appreciate every single sacrifice that retail workers make during this holiday season. And ask you to stop and think twice before you feel the need to shop instead of be with family and friends, you know, actually connecting.

So to inspire you to find your own- here are a few things I’m incredibly thankful for in my life.

My wonderful family

A house full of a beautiful thanksgiving table setting, family, puppies, and love!

The best sister a girl could ask for ❤

My amazing Fiancé

Photo Credit: www.danistephenson.com

Jake and I have been together for over 7 years now! I’m lucky and thankful we found each other and have gone through everything we’ve gone through. I get to marry him next year and couldn’t be happier!

Beaver Island & Sunsets

So proud of this shot I took!

Seriously- I witnessed something this beautiful with my own two eyes?! I love nature and sunsets in general and there is nowhere on earth that makes my heart as happy to see them, than on Beaver Island, MI. If you’ve followed by blog for a while you know this is our family vacation spot. Honestly the most beautiful place on earth.

And finally, YOU.

Yes you. A reader of my blog. I started this as a fun hobby a more than 3  years ago and it’s grown into such a big part of my life. I live for it and breath for it and it makes my so happy to work on it and interact with all of you. But without you, it would just be a diary of food 🙂 So thank you, to each and every one of you, thank you for reading my posts and making my food and reaching out and connecting with me. I’m thankful for YOU!

Now- get off your computer and go hang out with good food, good wine, and great friends!

xoxo