Ju Falenderoj

It's Thanksgiving Eve and I am wide awake after the nap I took on the couch while Maggie played with my hair. I love my family. My parents, siblings, cousins, Aunts and Uncles are so close to one another which is a result of my amazing Grandparent's commitment and love they have given all of us throughout our lives. They created a unity that I am incredibly thankful for... every day of the year.

Any gathering with my family is a sweet combination of laughing, crying, hugging, playing, laughing some more, reminiscing, sharing, serving, laughing, singing, and worshipping.... oh and laughing. Watch "I Love Lucy" once, and you have met my Grandma.... and perhaps a little insight into the life of my family. Throw that together with any classic musical you can think of: Music Man, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Oklahoma, Sound of Music, Annie Get Your Gun, or Calamity Jane (my personal favorite).... and you'll be prepared to break out into song with us. (Is Calamity's horse a palomino or a paint!?)

This is all coming from a mixture of a great conversation with my sisters and just being around my Aunt Andrea all day as we cooked for the big day tomorrow. We spent all day sharing recipes, doing some shopping, and preparing some dishes for tomorrow. I was on the Butternut Squash Soup, Mom's famous layered goodness, and a new desert: Pumpkin Mousse Pie. My Aunt covered the mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and brining the turkey. We paused and ate crab for dinner.... I wanted to pinch myself! Maggie was helping me in the kitchen, we had music playing, accompanied by Spencer's occasional terrets from the Shark's game in the other room. We sang, danced, laughed, and had a great time in the kitchen. In the middle of pureeing all my roasted veggies for the soup I got a great text message from Ashley that brought me to tears. I love my family, my friends, my life. 2010 has not been the most amazing year to date, but it might be one of the most life-changing... and I am so thankful for that.

My second wind is starting to fade so I will wrap it up with this last bit of what I am thankful for. I am thankful for my parents and their love and continuous devotion to each other throughout some incredibly difficult times. For my siblings that will truly drop anything for me, as I witnessed earlier this year during my lowest time of my life thus far, they came together and lifted me up. For my Aunts and cousins that stepped into perfect formation surrounding me and carried the torch that my sisters had created, to light my way and keep my spirits up. I am thankful for laughter and how it can change everything. I am thankful for change. I am thankful for choice. I am thankful for Europe, especially Albania. I am thankful for being American. I am thankful for the ocean, my constant grounding companion. For my dear friends that listen and comfort me when I can't explain me. I am thankful for my talents, for my weaknesses and for my body. I am thankful for love, for hope and for the mere possibility of waking up with the potential of something good happening for me in my life. I am grateful for exercise, for Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatuses.

Most of all, I am thankful for my faith. My relationship with the Lord and the way I feel as I study the scriptures. I love how my heart can't get enough and I'm thankful for that drive to want to know more, feel more, experience more. I am thankful for temples and congregations throughout the world. In other words, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.