Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Today is definitely the most homesick I've felt in the ten weeks I've been away. I've never missed a Thanksgiving gathering. I'm sad not to be there for the preparation, the cooking, the Black Friday ad perusing, the food, the secret Santa drawing, and simply being with family. Yet, I'm still celebrating today by being thankful. I've learned a lot over the past couple of months, and I've realized how blessed I am to have a wonderful family and place to call home. Here are some of the things I'm especially Thankful for this year:

1. God. I'm thankful for an amazing God that loves and guides and never leaves us. His love is amazing and He has blessed me with so much!

2. My Family. I often sit downstairs in my host family's house and listen to them as they scream at each other back and forth before finally a slammed door brings silence. The parents are seldom home, and even when they are everyone hides in their rooms. I'm so thankful for a family that knows how to communicate. That loves and tries to understand situations instead of screaming their frustrations in other family member's faces. I'm thankful for Parents who taught me respect and responsibility. Being here, in a house where those things were obviously not taught, has made me even more grateful for everything I have back at home.

3. The internet. I can't imagine how much harder this trip would've been if I wasn't able to keep up with what's going on back home through Facebook or keep you all updated through my blog. Feeling like I'm still "in the loop" has helped keep the homesickness at bay. And being able to Skype and talk face to face is absolutely wonderful. Thank you technology!

4. My Health. With the exception of getting over a cold my first week here, I haven't been sick. With all the airplanes, long bus rides, and public transportation I've been on the fact that I haven't even gotten a stuffy nose is pretty amazing. More than that though, I'm thankful that I am able to walk, to talk, to see, to hear, to smell, to think...all the things I so often take for granted.

5. You. If you're reading this, I am thankful! You have no idea how much a simple "like" or comment on one of my blog posts means to me. The encouragement, ideas, and support I've received is so awesome. It has made this once in a lifetime experience that much better. Thank you.


I won't be baking any Thanksgiving dishes or doing anything particularly special today. I'll spend the day packing for Germany this weekend and for home, cleaning, and maybe going into Madrid to do some souvenir shopping (I haven't actually gone in any souvenir shops in Madrid yet). I hope everyone has a wonderful day eating amazing food and watching the Hawks destroy the niners! I can't wait to see you all very soon :)