What I am Thankful For

This last year has been insane. Last July I got engaged and almost everything since then in my life has been wedding or blog related. The wedding is now less than a month away and I’m just trying to make it there at this point.

Amidst all the crazy wedding stuff and getting ready for the holidays, it’s still so important to slow down and take a minute to think about and appreciate everything I am thankful.

And I certainly have a lot to be thankful for in my life.

My parents

My mom and dad have been so supportive of me my whole life and now is no different. A few months ago my parents let Nate and I move in with them. It started out in efforts to save a little money so we could find somewhere nicer and not break the bank since we’re still saving for the wedding. Flash forward 7 months and we’re still there and they thankfully haven’t kicked us out yet. Just kidding, they would never. They are super patient with us as well as understanding and supportive of me and all the things we’ve had to deal with the last few months. I am forever grateful to them but thankful now more than ever because I don’t know what I would have done without them throughout this entire process.

My sisters

My sisters are my best friends. Being the middle child allows me to have amazing relationships with both of my sisters in such different ways and I love them both endlessly. They’re my co-maid-of-honors and Meagan has just gone so far above to be there for me and be supportive through all the crazy wedding planning. We’ve also been able to reconnect while working together again this last year and I love it. Grace, my younger sister, has definitely been supportive in her own way. It’s been an adjustment living with her again but we’ve grown a lot closer the last few months.

*My family as a whole as well as Nate’s family (who will soon legally become my family) – I am just so thankful for all of them in my life. And my little nephew J, who is just the brightest light in all of our lives.

My friends

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I have one of the most amazing friend groups in the world. There are few that compare – maybe Taylor Swift’s girl squad – but hardly. I have been friends with these people for roughly 8 years, some longer! As I get older I’ve started to realize how lucky I truly am to have them all in my life. I think it’s rare to have such a large group of friends who’ve known each other this long and are so comfortable with each other that pretty much anything goes. It’s crazy because so many people have moved away but we always make time for each other when they come back to visit. Some have even moved back and it’s like they never left. I am just unbelievably thankful to have this group of people in life.

My new friends

This last year I have made a few new friends and that’s not an easy thing for me. So it’s been amazing to connect with these ladies and I hold them close in my heart. One of which, while we’re not exactly brand new friends, we have gotten so much closer this last year that I asked her to be in my wedding and I truly don’t know what I’d do without her. She is a shining star in my life and I’m forever grateful for her.

My long-distance friends

Between people I have met over the years on my travels and friends that have moved away, I have a pretty wide group of long-distance friends. And they have all really come through this year. We have 4 friends traveling from out of state to be in the wedding and one’s even coming from Australia! Actually, everyone invited from out of state is coming to the wedding. But it’s not just about the wedding, it’s just the fact that no matter where we are in the world we’ll be there for each other.

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My Bridesmaids

I had to give them all a special shout out even though they all fall into the other groups. But these ladies and Curtis have all just been so amazing in every way and I am so thankful to have this group to stand up next to me on my big day.

My fiance – Nate and our Dog, Mash

I could not have made it through this year without these 2 boys. Nate has been the most supportive and most involved fiance anyone could ever ask for. Sometimes I want to tell him to stop giving me opinions but I’m thankful that he cares! He’s just been there for every meltdown, all the stress, and anxiety. He’s been the most amazing person and I can’t wait to marry him. And I’m so thankful for our dog Mash! We moved into my parents’ house with 2 beagles – Mash and Devin. In June Devin died suddenly and it was absolutely horrible but Mash got us both through it. In the past 6 months, he’s become my buddy that I take everywhere and I’m so thankful to have this dog. He’s been like a therapy dog and my best friend.

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There will always be things in our lives that make it easier or contribute a bit of happiness (like my kindle app!) but it’s the people and relationships we keep in our lives that mean the most. The experiences and adventures we share together are what make life worth living. And I am truly thankful for all the amazing people in my life.

Who are you thankful for? Let me know in the comments below!

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