Thank you.

With Pinterest, FaceBook,
Instagram, Twitter, 

and alLlLlL of the other
cyber realities out there, how do we manage to

 focus on 
anything else?

 Half of the time we I don't, that is a for sure. 

There are 

so many distractions, 

so much noise. 

As the Thanksgiving weekend comes to a close, I can't help but feel
entirely overwhelmed. As I separated myself from the 
*technologies* of the world 
and let my mind wonder... 

I really realized, I have SO much to be grateful for.

This weekend was different. 

No family to visit with, 

no homemade turkey dinner magically appearing
on our table, nothing was familiar. 

Just Joe and I. 

Two good intentions, mixed with multiple trips to the grocery store, hours of preparation, one awesome couple (the Malmberg's) and one fully cooked *just in case chicken* awaiting us in the fridge later

...............

THIS WAS BORN.

We realized this morning (that's right... a good 12 hours later), we may have left the oven on all night... but no one died so WHO CARES! Dinner will still be counted as a success!

We made our own traditions this year and luckily

burning our house down, wasn't one of them. 
It was a great weekend, Just the two of us. How lucky we are. 
I'm so grateful for oh so many things this year. Just to name a few, I'm thankful for:

• the obvious, my Joe (said with authority, it just doesn't seem right any other way)
• owning him {twice} in Monopoly this weekend - he thought he had it in the bag
• my Mom, who answered every frantic, "How do I cook this naked bird for dinner" phone call, this weekend
• my Dad who comes up to Edmonton more often than he's in Lethbridge (or so it seems), it's nice to see him
• my sister and her family, they have seen me through it all
•  the mornings when I wake up next to my nieces
• my favorite song coming on the radio just as I start the tracker
• clean bathrooms, yep.
• finally getting that eyelash out of my eye, when it's been stuck there all day {they.are.everywhere... 24.7.} 
• fresh socks
• my dad's face when he finds out how many long distance calls I make, on my cell phone, with no long distance plan
• seeing Robyn come on Skypiiiiiiiiiiiiie
• seeing old friends and knowing I love them just as much now, as I ever did 
• finding those, "OH SiiiiiiiiCK!" highschool pictures of myself
• moving to Edmonton and meeting some of the best people this world has to offer
• the LDS Gospel
• when the chorus finally comes during the hymns at church - nailed it! 
• dancing until I look like that sweaty guy from Footloose
• My sister's stamp business {she was 12}
• realizing I showered yesterday so today the shower gets  the day off
• new Taylor Swift songs
• Q-tips, Joe tells me, "They don't belong in your ears". To that I say,
  "Mind your business".
• the sweet taste that comes from bitter moments

• people's kindness, they will be there for you when you least expect it and need it the most
• marrying up

• My life. looking at what I've made out of  what I have been given to work with

When did life get so good? When did I have so much to
be thankful for? I guess the answer is, always. I know how hard
life can be, I'm thankful mine has decided to 
go easy on me for a little while. 

As a thank you, I feel it's only fair to make better use of my time - I wake up and check my facebook like it's the morning news.

I will admit... I have that need to be *constantly connected*. How annoying. No one wants to be with that girl... you know the one, she is s always on her phone, always checking her "mail", or  constantly updating her status(es).
Well I AM THAT GIRL OKAY. That is me. 
I love myself and I hate myself.

I know my time is worth more than
 that and SO IS YOURS. I'm going to put down
that phone, pick up that new ensign, new recipe, shampoo,
and vacuum and take care of what's been neglected.
Who's with me?! 
No one? NO PROBLEM.
I'm doing it anyway! 

 So here's to being thankful, 

 Here's to me hoping we can all take a minute 

and see what's important...and what's not.

Here's to the good life.  

Happy Thanksgiving everyone :)