Blessings

Last November, I decided to post once a day about how Thankful I was. I wasn't quite able to finish, but I'm going to try again this November.

• Nov 1- I am thankful for my mother. I don't think she realizes how strong and beautiful she is. She's an inspiration to me and I hope to one day be even half the woman she is!
• Nov 2- I am so thankful for my job. Last November I was struggling with a job that just wasn't for me. This year, I laugh every single day. I see when I make a difference. I have several mentors that I know I will be close with years from now. 
• Nov 3 - I am thankful for the students I get to work with. I learn from them and in turn I get to see them learning/growing/succeeding!  One of the students I had the opportunity to mentor as an upperclassman at SFA just took the time to tell me how much I meant to her and that touched my heart. The Grad student we have here at Loyola is headed to NYC on Monday to help with Hurricane Sandy Relief. While I can take no credit for this, I am inspired by her!
• November 4 - I am thankful for the little fur child of mine. She makes me laugh and gives me kisses and cuddles with me. She has a way of making me feel better when life sucks.
• November 5 - I'm thankful that I have food in my belly. This week is Loyola's Hunger Week; the Loyola Community is doing all sorts of activities to raise funds for those who go without food. I might not eat the healthiest and I might not have steak every night, but I have never once in my life had to worry about my next meal.
• November 6 - I am thankful that I have the right to vote! There are so many people out there in the world who don't have the right to vote or risk their lives to vote.
• November 7 - I am thankful for productive days. They make me feel good about myself.
• November 8 - I am thankful for Grey's Anatomy. Maybe this is a little silly BUT it brought me sister/mother/me together as well as a roommate and I closer together. And it makes my Thursdays! If it makes you happy, its worth being thankful for.
• November 9 - I am thankful for Chicago. I really love living in this city. I do new things every day and meet new people almost as frequently!
• November 10 - I am thankful for Saturdays. I really get to relax and catch up with my life on Saturdays. Plus, extra time to cuddle up with Ellie (who WOULDN'T want that?!).
• November 11 - I am thankful for Christmas. It gives me an excuse to shop. And I LOVE LOVE LOVE when I can find a really awesome present for someone (Bonus points when it's on sale). Toons definitely has some Owl Nesting Dolls going under the tree this year.
• November 12 - I am thankful for ways to give back to my community. My department adopted a family for Christmas and we are definitely fighting over who gets to buy what. I'm all about our 13 year old girl. Bring on the purse and PJ shopping!
• November 13 - I am thankful for Tuesdays and Private Practice. I don't watch a lot of TV but between Grey's and PP, I always have something to get me through the week. I can handle Mondays because PP is on Tuesdays. I can handle Wednesdays bc Grey's is on Thursdays. And then it's Friday/the weekend.
• November 14 - I am thankful for new friends; specifically, Sarah, who invited me and Megan over for dinner tonight. She even let Ellie come hang out, too!
• November 15 - I am thankful for an awesome boss. Starbucks/chat time made my afternoon. Skinny Peppermint Mocha? Yes, please!
• November 16 - I am thankful for Fridays. Leaving work on Friday afternoons always makes me feel a little bit lighter, a little bit less busy. And I love my job so that's saying something.
• November 17 - I'm really thankful for the experiences I had today! I got to be a part of a huge parade in the middle of an even bigger city. Chicago, you did not disappoint me. The Magnificent Mile Festival of Lights Parade was a bit like what I think the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade must be like.
• November 18 - I am thankful for Post Secret. I'm amazed by how many lives are being changed through this blog. It definitely pushes me to think about big picture things.
• November 19 - some days I struggle to find one thing to be thankful for; today, I have many! I am thankful for lunch (My boss treated me to Chipotle, yum!). I am thankful for opportunities to serve others. I took Ellie to a nursing home tonight to play. I was nervous and awkward but Ellie had no problem loving on the people there. And that brings me to my third thankful for: Ellie (yes, again) for showing me how to care for people regardless of any disabilities/ailments/age. She's a top notch dog.
• November 20 - I am thankful for hot tea to calm me down.
• November 21 - I am so very thankful to have a God who loves me without fail!
• November 22 - I am thankful that the older I get, the better I get along with my cousins.
• November 23 - I am so thankful for my second family, Cori, Caitlin, Jimmy, Andre, and Hank. You guys mean so much to me and I wish I got to see you more!
• November 24 - I am thankful that I got to have a brother for 22 and a half years. This week really made me feel blessed. Some people never go to know Bry and all his fun but I got to have him as my brother! Nothing in the world could be better than that!
• November 25 - I am thankful that my dad chose to go to work even earlier than normal so he could take me to the airport at 4 in the morning. He gave up his lunch to have an extra 45 minutes with me and I cherished those 45 minutes! They were filled with conversation about nothing important but they mean a lot.
• November 26 - I am thankful that Ellie has so many people who love her, including my parents. They are taking care of her for 4 weeks and I miss her terribly. They're having fun fattening her up, cuddling, playing, and going on walks.
• November 27 - I am thankful for the city I live in. Chicago is so full of life and it makes me happy.