Thank You

Trying to keep up with writing is ridiculous 😁
But I love it so much.

Today I'm just gonna write about things I'm thankful for because that's always a good thing to do; especially when trying to keep a positive attitude :)

I am thankful for my country life.  I am thankful for where I come from.  I may not have left the United States, but I have still seen some amazing places within her borders.  Mountains are always beautiful.  Southern backwoods country areas are beautiful.  It's almost as if God just took a paint brush and perfectly created a masterpiece.

However, out of all the places in the world, my heart will always be in Silver Lake, Indiana - my home where I grew up.  Most of Northern Indiana has been stripped away of the forests that once stood there.  Luckily, I lived in a place that still had a lot of those trees standing.  Luckily, I grew up in an amazing farming community.  Luckily, I have a loving family.

A lot of my values naturally come out of this small community.  My Christian faith journey started in that little small town Indiana.  And what a great story that is.  My two brothers taught me so much about life, and what family truly means.  My parents have always encouraged me and loved me.  My Church Family has always supported me in what I have done, even when I started doing things with the Youth Group at our Church.  And now that I am at College, trying to become a History Teacher, my Church Family still stays in contact with me and supports me.

So much has happened in the past three years.  There has been a lot of growing and letting go.  I would never say there haven't been hard times because there were many; and I have no doubt that the future holds more hard times.  But character is tested when your back is up against the wall.  I doubt that I would have changed as much as I have, if weren't for specific people that walked into my life.

My Academic Adviser here at school has guided me through much.  He has told me so many stories about his own life and has encouraged me through the rough moments in my own life.  He has only increased my love for History and for working with students.  He has always been a source of wisdom since my first days on my college campus.  In fact, I believe he was the first College Faculty member that I met here.  Thank you.

My RA for my Freshmen year.  He is an amazing person.  He has encouraged me so much and has pushed me to overcome my circumstances.  He has always encouraged me to write while he was still here, before he graduated.  Because of him, my love of writing increased.  My RA from Freshmen year helped me to process through so many things.  Thank you.

One of my closest friends I met here, who no longer goes here, helped remind me how to open my heart towards others.  He guided me to be willing to accept help when I needed it.  He gave me strength when I felt like giving up so many times.  I believe because of my experiences with him and his help, I will become a better teacher and leader.  Thank you.

My Roommate for two years - haha.  I don't know where I'd be without his amazing discussions.  He is wise and amazing to listen to.  He always can get a laugh out of everyone.  He has only made my love for writing increase.  He has encouraged me with my writing more than anyone else.  His ability to have story ideas pop into his head is beyond amazing.  Thank you.

Finally there is this guy.  This man who is a brother to me.  I honestly don't know where I'd be without his help.  He has been there for me more than anyone while I have been here on campus.  He has helped me overcome many of the problems I face.  He has helped me process things and see the light at the end of the storm.  I don't even think I can describe the blessing that he is in my life.  I thank to God that this brother of mine was placed into my life.  He is a natural born leader and I have no doubt that where ever God takes him, he will be a blessing to those around him.  Thank you bub.

All five of you know who you are.  And truthfully, no words can describe how thankful I am for you.  We say as Christians that we reflect the image of God in us - Imago Dei.  Well, these five people truly are  those who have been strong Christian influences in my life.

Thank you to all that I have mentioned.  You all have played a valuable role in my life, and really thanks can't even describe the amount of gratitude I have towards you.

My Family

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Well I was gonna post this big thing on the state of our country right.  I decided against it.  I figured that I don't need to be adding to the chaos that is going on.  Instead I've decided to talk to you guys about the things that I am thankful for.  After all Thanksgiving is a week and three days away.  And Christmas is only a month away after that.  A perfect time and season to be thankful for things that I have been blessed with.

Now I could go on with these things forever, but I'm just gonna talk about the biggest thing I'm thankful for.  Especially as Thanksgiving and Christmas draws ever closer :)


My Family

 
Of course my family.
Everyone.
From my Aunts and Uncles to my distant family.
I am thankful for all of them and their impact on my life.

 I wanna say I'm thankful to all of you out there.  From Gagnon's to Gault's, to Norman's, to Mort's.  I am thankful for all of you being a part of my family.  And for impacting my life in such a way that I have become who I am today.  You are all my family and I love you guys.  

 
For my Dad's side of the family, my Aunt Wendy and Uncle Mike always being there for me when I was younger.  And for them showing me how take life slow and day by day.  I'm thankful for them and their children.  For my cousins Joshua and Heather.  These two have always been a huge part of my life growing up.  And now my somewhat newer cousin haha, Marah.   I am blessed to have all five in my life; and though we don't get to see each other that often anymore, I just want all of you guys to know that I love you and miss you.

I'm thankful for my Mom's side of the family as well.  For my Aunt Samantha and her kids - my cousins - Justin and Kailey.  Being around these three, and my Aunt's boyfriend and his son, always is a blast.  Just to be around each other, swapping stories, and making each other laugh.  Makes me just happy teary eyed thinking about it.

I'm thankful for my Grandparents.  From my Mom's side - my Grandpa Tom and Grandma Nancy; from my Dad's side - my Grandma Maggie.  Well both Grandma Maggie and Nancy are some of the most loving and caring people I know, but also the kind of people that you don't want to get on their bad side.  haha.  I love them so much.  And my Grandpa Tom, even with recent developments, still laughs at the crazy things that we do when we are around him.  And I love that about him, even in the face of adversity.

Of course I'm thankful for my immediate family.  For my mom and dad - Dawn and Leonard.  Probably two of the hardiest people I know in my life.  Two of the most loving, caring, and influential people.  They have taught me more than I can possibly even begin to mention in a post.  I love my parents with all my heart because they have given all their heart to help through rough times.  And they are always ready to make a joke - and if not them, then they are ready to laugh at the stupid and crazy stuff my brothers and I do.

Above all my family members immediately close to me, my brothers stand above all others.  I love my brothers, more than they could possibly ever know.  Nicholas and Jeremy are probably my favorite people in the entire world.  And no one will ever trump them in my heart.  They sometimes jerks and dorks - but I guess so am I.  Every minute I get to spend with them is precious to me.  And now my older brother, Nicholas, has a son - Conner.  Nick's a dad, and Jeremy and I are Uncles.  And it is the best feeling in the world when all five of us - mom, dad, Nick, Jeremy, and me - are together.  When we are in the kitchen and Nick will come in and say something ridiculous and we'll all laugh.  And then someone else will say something, and the cycle will continue on for what seems like forever.

 
And when all of my immediate family is together, both sides.  I don't think it's possible for me to stop smiling.  I love my family so much.  And I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world.  They have had the biggest impact on my life and have made me who I am.  So thank you guys.  For everything.  Love you all.

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All picture taken by my family

November!!!

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As we express our gratitude,

we must never forget that the highest appreciation

 is not to utter words, but to live by them.  

- John F. Kennedy

HAPPY NOVEMBER!!!

That's right.  October is no more, and unfortunately Halloween is over...

But that's alright because it is November!!

Fall is in the air, and don't you just love that beautiful smell of fresh air that comes off of all those leaves.

                 *thinks to self* - You mean that dead decaying smell? *shakes head*

Gosh, I love Fall!  Or Autumn depending on where you are from!!!

Anyway it's gonna be awesome!!  -- PLUS IT'S NANOWRIMO!!! 50k words here I come!!!

CHECK OUT NANOWRIMO HERE

Being thankful for what we have is very important to me.  I love remembering that it is the simple things in life that truly count.  Sure we go out on our own lives and try to make it big out there, but when it comes down to it, all the small things that you do to achieve your goals are really what makes succeeding in your goal all the more worth it.

Have you ever gone outside on a walk, during the fall (or anytime really haha) and walked past a tree while the wind is blowing softly over your head.  Do you remember that sound the leaves on the trees make when that soft breeze lightly brushes over them, making them rustle in the wind.  To me, listening to that rustling sound, while sitting with my back propped up against a tree, looking up at a blue Indiana sky with a couple white clouds speckled across it...well that is probably the most calming thing in the world for me.

I think one of the biggest problems in our society now days is that we don't take the time to see the simpleness of life.  We don't take the time to see the life that is all around us - whether we live in a city, a suburb, or in the country.  Life is always around us.  And we forget that.  We forget how precious that life is.  We forget to be thankful for what we have.

You know - I promise this will be the only thing election based I'll talk about - Mr. Trump says "Make America Great Again."  Well he's right in the sense that we need to make America great again.  Key word is WE.  We need to do it.  It was the people of this country that made this country - not the politicians.  Yes during the Revolution, the Continental Congress pledged their fortunes and support to the cause; but, for the most part, none of them were out there fighting on the battlefields - holding their brothers in their arms as they died.  You see it was WE the people of the United States, not We the select few.  I think we've forgotten that.

Whelp enough of that.  You don't need me to remind you of the ever present Election that is happening next week.

Anyway!!  Back to November!!!

November is a time of thankfulness.  I mean Thanksgiving is at the end of the month of course.  But I think every year we really miss the point of Thanksgiving.  We grumble when we have to hangout with our family for a day in the year, and be able to eat a dinner with them.  Then of course there is Black Friday that starts on Thursday now (American naming logic lol).  Don't you guys love how we have a holiday about being thankful for what we have and that same night and the next day we have people getting into fist fights over who saw that product first.  Isn't it lovely?  --- oh if sarcasm could pass through words.... :)

Here is my challenge for you as you go about this month.  Post something on your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or other Social Media about one thing you are thankful for for everyday of this month.  See how much of an impact that has on your life.    USE THE   #ThankfulNovember Hashtag

Have an awesome week everyone!!!!

And remember!  

It's the simple things that matter :)

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