Well it is officially November, everyone is starting to get into the holiday spirit because Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner. The decorations are being put up for sale in the stores and some people might even be getting a head start on Christmas shopping. While, all that is good if that is your type of thing I think that sometimes people just need to take a step back.

There is a time and place for all things in life and I think that sometimes the meaning for Thanksgiving goes unnoticed because it is just so close to Christmas. There is a specific reason why we celebrate Thanksgiving every year and it is a reason that is especially close to my heart. I guess I have always been a sentimental type of person so maybe that is why Thanksgiving is and always will be one of my favorite holidays. It means a lot to me to have all my family that lives close or far away together for 1 out of the 365 days in the year.

I love the smell of a good Thanksgiving dinner cooking in my kitchen with the sounds of chatter and laughter in my family room. I love seeing all my little cousins running around my house chasing each other and laughing the whole time. I love hearing old stories from many years ago when I wasn't alive but they make it seem like I was right there with them. I love being able to eat a home cooked Thanksgiving dinner with my whole family at the same table or tables. I love being able to see everyone for a couple of hours and catch up like we were just together last month even though it has been six or seven months.

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for everything that you have in your life and to tell the people closest to you how much you appreciate them. I am lucky enough to have an awesome family on both my mother and fathers side. These people make me so happy and have really shaped me into the person I am today. I give thanks to all my grandparents, my aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends alive and dead because you all are awesome and really make my life that much better since you are a part of it.

Every year I say how thankful I am for the people I have in my life and each and every year that doesn't change. I was somehow so blessed with every person in my life. Each Thanksgiving I am able to see that I crossed paths with the people I did for a specific reason and these people are the reason I am so thankful for this life.

Please say a word of thanks to the people in your life that maybe have impacted it or have helped you in some way along the crazy thing we call life. Whoever is reading this right now, I hope you know that I am thankful for you whether we know each other or not, whether you found this because you are my friend on Facebook or you found this someway through the internet. I hope you are thankful for the people in your life like I am and I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and 2017!

xo