It’s been eons since I posted.  For that, my dear readers, if there are any left, I apologize.  I am not going to give you an excuse.  Sure, there are plenty, but let’s focus on the positive, okay?  For whatever reason today, the day after Thanksgiving, I feel the urge to contribute.  So here goes…

My family didn’t celebrate Thanksgiving yesterday.  My oldest had to work and my dad said that he would be more willing to come down after the “hustle and bustle”, so we moved our celebration to today.  What that meant for me yesterday was a day full of prep and mostly silent reflection.  It was glorious.  So, in spirit of today (er, yesterday), here are a few of the things that I am very thankful for…

My family.  This should go without saying, but Marty, Alaina, Bren, Jameson, and Kenzie are my everything.  Because of them I strive to be a better wife, a better mother, a better role model, a better person.  I haven’t been the easiest person to live with lately but Marty’s, Jameson’s and MacKenzie’s patience and love has never wavered.  I am truly fortunate.

My tribe.  The past month has been one of the hardest I have ever had to endure.  I am so very thankful to my friends who have understood when I acted ridiculous, been a much needed distraction, been an ear for me to vent to, or been downright pissed right along with me at incompetent doctors (this means you Cleve).  I love you all.

My career.  While I am not 100% “doing what I love”, I do love what I do.  My career provides my family with a very comfortable lifestyle, to which I am so very grateful.  While the path leading to where I am today was never linear and forced me to trust my gut on more than one occasion, it has been extremely rewarding.  I have been taught lesson after lesson on believing in myself.  Who would have thought, five years ago, that this wrench turner would be where she is today?

My intuition.  I may lose a few of you at this point.  I have always been extremely intuitive, but lately it has been…somewhat uncanny, to put it nicely.  Over the past week, I have had several very specific dreams that I have woke from needing to get in touch with a couple of extended family members.  After speaking with these women, one of whom which I have not spoken to in over a year, I have been floored to learn how accurate my dreams match the struggles that they are enduring.  There is a reason that they are appearing in my dreams.  I am thankful to have them back in my life, whatever that reason might be.

The phlebotomist who performed my blood draw this morning.  I know, strange.  The man was respectful and completely professional, but nothing out of the ordinary. I did get a sense that he was a kind soul, but there was nothing outwardly different about him that suggested one way or another.  There was small talk regarding the weather, whether or not I was going “Black Friday shopping”, his playlist that was coming through the speakers.  Normal, right?  It was the five little words he said as I was leaving that made me add him to my list this morning.  He looked me in the eye, placed his hand on my arm, and said, “you’re going to be okay”.   We didn’t discuss the reason for my visit, and I understand that he could most likely tell what the codes meant for the six vials of blood he took from me, but how very odd.   As I stated earlier, my family and friends have been so very supportive.  There have been the promise of prayers, check-ins, and offers of help, but nothing as definitive as what this total stranger announced.  Maybe I am reading too much into it, but it was exactly what I needed at that point.  I will be okay.

And with that my dear readers, I leave you again, for an uncertain amount of time.  Hopefully the next time I post I will have answers and a plan of action.  Until then, thank you for reading.

Happy Thanksgiving, from my family to yours.

~Cari~