Gratitude

Oh my goodness, I haven't posted in forever. So update! I am re-starting P90X with Ryan, because I put it on hold for reasons which are known to some. But I still want to get in better shape, and Ryan is joining me - so we'll embark on this path together. I'm signed up to do the Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving, and I've been running/ellipticalling periodically to train for that (though I really need to buckle down and make sure I'm ready for it)!

School is almost over. I have 9 more assignments due this semester and my goal is to have them all done before Thanksgiving. I'm thinking 1 a day between now and then (except Sundays) and I should be good! I cannot believe I'm almost to graduation. 1 semester of student teaching and I'm done! It's been a long, difficult road, but I'm so glad that I stuck through it. Paying for your own education definitely makes one appreciate it more. I'm so grateful to my husband and family for giving me support and encouraging me in my endeavors. Now we just need to get Ryan through his degree!

But now to what I really wanted to post about (as I avoid that homework pile). Thanksgiving is seriously my favorite holiday. I do love Christmas and what it represents, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I get frustrated with the materialism that our society shoves down our throats at that time of year. Thanksgiving is still relatively untainted by that. It's such a beautiful time to reflect on all that we have been blessed with in our lives, and if properly observed, I think it prepares our hearts to be open at the season of giving which shortly follows. Also, my love of Thanksgiving could have something to do with food, let's be honest. Truly, I think nothing brings family and friends together better than a delicious meal. I guarantee you that at every Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner, I have a moment where I sit in an almost out-of-body experience and watch the group at the table and think to myself how wonderful it is. I love it so much; planning the meal out beforehand, getting up early to cook while the boys go to the turkey bowl, getting dressed up to go to dinner, enjoying the meal with friends and family, relaxing after we eat, and planning for the upcoming holiday! I suppose that explains why my House of Dreams in my head has a beautiful kitchen and a large dining room. I want the space to entertain - to be able to open my house to all my family, my friends, and especially those that don't have anywhere else to go for Thanksgiving.

I haven't kept up with a daily gratitude journal, which I usually like to do. But I want to devote this post to the thing I'm most grateful for: my dear family. I'll start out and work in:
I've always loved and cherished the relationships I have with my extended family, the Anderson clan. Though they may be far away, I'm grateful for their love and friendship in my life. I love our family reunions so much! I only wish we could be closer to spend more time together, but when we do get together I feel as if we are able to pick up where we left off. I'm especially grateful to my aunts and uncles who, when my parents were separating and times were tough, stepped in from 1,200 miles away and offered their love and support. What a blessing they were and still are today!
When it came time for my wedding, I don't think I've ever felt more love from a group of people. My Aunt Cheryl did so much to help me get a beautiful dress, my dream dress! And she and my grandmother were by my side the whole time as I went through the temple. My Aunt Carmie and cousin Hollie put together a wonderful shower without even hesitating or asking anything in return; what a great act of service! My grandparents offered so much help and support and enabled us to have beautiful cakes and a perfect honeymoon. Everyone gave so much attention and wanted to get to know Ryan so eagerly when we visited - it still brings tears to my eyes. Truly, without them my wedding would have been... well, far much less awesome.

I also love getting to know my new family. My in-laws have also been very loving and supportive and have welcomed me into their family as one of their own. They have us over for dinner bi-weekly, and I look forward to it every time! I get regular e-mails from Ryan's grandma that always make me smile. She makes me feel like I've always been her grandaughter :) I am also really grateful for my brother and sisters-in-law. I feel as if we've been family all along!

My brothers hold such a special place in my heart, and I'm grateful for the struggles we've faced together because I know that without them, we would never be so close. They are some of the goofiest, loud, loving, most fantastic men I've ever known and I love having them so close. I espcially love the bond that they have developed with Ryan. I say this all the time, but you would seriously think I was the one who married into the family. They are so close, it blows my mind. It's like you can see that they knew eachother before this life, and there was just a 24-ish year break in their brotherhood. (Though I'm sure they're a lot more immature than they were in the pre-mortal realm... ;)
I'm thankful for my parents; they've helped me become who I am today. I love that they've never hesitated to tell me how proud they are of me. They are always forthcoming in their affection, and it's helped me be confident in myself and know that I am loved. I'm grateful to them for raising me in the Gospel and directing me to the temple.
*Here's the gooey part*
Lastly, my dear Ryan. Words cannot express my love (and sometimes exasperation, let's be real) for this man. Through friendship, courtship, and marriage, he has been my rock. He has never failed to be there for me. He makes me laugh every single day, and makes me fall in love with him even more often than that. I'm grateful to have been blessed with someone who gets me so well, who makes me want to be a better person, and who will be a wonderful father someday. I love being married, and I especially love being married to Ryan. It's a fearful thought to think of where I would be without him - I conjure up a picture of Mary Bailey, when George sees her as a librarian who never married and lives alone. He is so giving and makes me so very happy. Ryan, you are my world.
I'm daily thankful for the blessing of a temple marriage. It is such a comfort to know that I'm sealed to my best friend for eternity. Through thick and thin, we keep that perspective and strive for our marriage to be celestial on a daily basis. I'm so grateful for this blessing and for the promises it gives to our future children.

Well... I'm crying now and I've put off homework for an hour, so I'm going to go. I only wish I could give more than a few sentences to the people who have done so much and mean so much to me. I truly do have a wonderful life, and I've barely scratched the surface with the above list. Goodnight!