...live the questions now...

This is my nephew, he is actually much older than this now, but I just love this picture of him.

This is my older brother Mike and I working in the garden for our mom this past Mother’s Day.

This is a favorite picture from college with great friends!

In 24 years of my life I have never been more ready for Thanksgiving as I am this year. It is something I have really been looking forward to all year. Last year was a great holiday, and a great start to the Holiday Season. I get to spend time with my siblings and my parents that we are all normally too busy for. Living in the same city as the rest of my family has given a new experience to this day. I am not sleeping at my parents’ house for the first time over the Holidays, and it’s a nice change.

So here’s my list of what I am thankful for:

1.     Family: I have an amazing set of brothers that I really do not appreciate as much as I should year round. I am hoping that I am starting to grow up a little more and see the errors of my old ways. My mom and dad have been so supportive my whole life and now that I am living back in the same city as them, its so great to be able to see them regularly, but not feel like I am regressing back to high school too much. My sister-in-law is someone who I cherish simply because she is the sister I never had before, and she has given me the greatest gift of being an Aunt to the most awesome toddler and a soon to be Aunt again. (Here’s hoping for a niece!)

2.     Friends: When I was in college at Xavier University, I truly met some of the greatest people in the world. They helped me grow and learn more about myself and things in the world that are important. I have definitely been changed in so many ways by the people whom I spent those four years with. I have moved away from those people now, and have reconnected with people who knew me before I knew myself better. I am so glad that I have been given the recent opportunity to reconnect and to make new friends. God has truly placed some amazing people in my life.

3.     Books: I love reading and since graduating college have dedicated my time when I can to reading. I love the stories, the adventures, the lessons, and the ideals that can be expressed in books. When I am able to absorbed myself in a good book for an afternoon, I truly feel fulfilled.

4.     Music: I am so glad that I have a wide taste in music.

5.     Tumblr: Special shout out to my friend Sam who switched his blog to tumblr, which allowed me to explore this new, magical land on the internet that I had not come across yet. I love the blogs that I have read and the people that I feel I know now. I would not be writing this post right now if it were not for this amazing community of people who put their honest selves out there, and grow in their interactions. Relationships are wide and varied, and I am so glad that I had decided to stop being a bystander and engage in this area.

6.     My job: Having worked at my new job for three months now, and realizing how different it is to enjoy going into work everyday has truly changed my idea of work. I am glad that I had the job I did for the past two years, so that I could realize and appreciate being in my current job that much more. Discovering yourself and your passions are a constant work in progress, and I am just glad I have found meaningful work that allows me to continue to grow.

I am going to keep it short this year, because these right now are the most important things. I am just so happy to be in this place, at this time, with these people.

Thank you God for this world you gave me and for the ability to make it my own, all for your Glory!

Love with Abandon’

Molly :)

M