I am thankful for...

I just got off the phone with my sisters and we talked about our Thanksgiving. Courtney is staying out in the Boston area to celebrate with Matt's family and Kyleigh is coming home. Kyleigh and I were just discussing the details of our Thanksgiving dinner menu and it made me feel like I got punched in the stomach. I realized then that I don't want to have Thanksgiving. Is it okay to skip holidays? Thanksgiving isn't the same without my whole family and it just doesn't seem right to celebrate without my mom. Just like most unpleasant events, I don't have a vote in it - it is going to happen whether I like it or not. I can only control how I feel at that time, but being genuinely happy is hard now. Like past Thanksgivings, I thought I should create a list to think about all the wonderful things I am blessed with. So here it goes...

• My family and John
  
• Memories of my mom
• Old and new friends
• Family photographs
• My kitties
• My new job and apartment
• Being able to travel to see friends
• Love from friends at unexpected times

I think about all the families that lost a loved one this year and how how they, like us, will have an empty seat at the table this year. Whether or not all your chairs are filled, I hope you will please look around your table and share your love with one another and know that you are blessed.