Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's hard to believe that we're back into the holidays - I think I just don't believe it since it really hasn't snowed much this year. I, for one, definitely tie the colder weather to the holiday season...which is really weird, since in Colorado it's as likely to be 65 on Thanksgiving Day as it is to be 32.

So then, what is there to be thankful this year, since that's what this day is all about? I can say that it has been a roller coaster of a year, with extreme ups and downs...but the basic things I'm thankful for stay the same through all of it.

1. My family - My brother and SIL make so many days better just by being so fun and still so laid back. Plus they are so awesome about helping to build my relationship with my nephew. My nephew could brighten anyone's day - he's changing so much, and has wrapped his Auntie right around his finger (being told to get off a table by his dad, so he wraps his arms around my neck to give me a hug - seriously, who's going to remove a kid who's giving you a hug??) My parents, who are just as involved as we need them to be and are always willing to offer a hand when we ask. Oh, and I would be in remiss to not mention my very talkative cat!

2. My friends - So many of these people are basically extended family. They are the ones that support all my crazy ideas with love and sensitivity, are there when I need to vent/talk through things, remind me that I do actually have something to offer when I'm feeling spectacularly unspecial, and would be there at a moments notice. I've been blessed with so many AMAZING people in my life, who all bring something unique to my world...how in the world can you not be thankful for that??

3. My job - While things are slowly getting better 'out there', there are still people who are having a tough time making ends meet. I am fortunate to be working in the field that I have chosen, and it helps to support my crazy love of travel!

4. My health - I've been able to do some amazing things this year and am so grateful that my body continues to take the abuse :) A 1/2 Marathon, a 14er, a fair amount of country and swing dancing...hopefully more of all for 2011!

I'm sure that there are other things, but just writing these things down is an excellent reminder to me that there are always silver linings, even if I can't see them in the moment.

I hope you're having a wonderful Thanksgiving, and cheers to the upcoming holiday season!

I'm Back!

It has been months and months since I posted to my blog, and this time it's not for lack of things to talk about! Really, I jumped off onto a traveling binge right after my last post. Since the beginning of May I've been:

• Portland, Oregon for a wine tasting trip with three of my favorite ladies
• Southern Indiana for my Grandpa's 85th birthday
• Most of July I was holding still (if you don't count camping within the state)
• August I ran a 1/2 marathon
• September I went to Hawaii with one of my besties
• October I went to Maine with my dad to visit my other Grandad

So, as you can see, it's not been a slow six months! But...shame on me for not writing about all of these adventures. Because really, they were ALL adventures. Maybe now that I'm headed back to technologically solvent (yep, that's right, I finally replaced my 7 year old computer) I can circle back and tell the stories that I've collected!

Tonight I spontaneously ran into some friends at the mall and we decided to make an evening of it by getting dinner and catching up. Can I just say how much I love random run-ins like that? Anyway, there was a lot of talk of blogging and it inspired me to start catching up on my own project. I've got a few ideas about posts to add here, and they won't all tie to travelling...but I can't wait to put them out there!!