Happy Thanksgiving :) + ABC's of Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving friends!  As I reflect on the day I can't help but think about how thankful I am for so many things and how much I'm blessed.  I'm SO thankful for John and Comet and the rest of my family.  I love sitting around a table, enjoying great food and having good conversation.  I also saw an idea on a friend's blog about her ABC's of what she's thankful for, so I'm going to steal it :)  My sisters are sitting here and are influencing some of the answers...

A = Attitude. 
B = Books.  I love to read.  Biggest Loser.
C = Comet.  He's my boy.  My sister Cate & my brother Caleb.  And coffee.  And Chipotle. 
D = Devotion. 
E = My sister Erin and Hannah's boyfriend Ethan.
F = My faith, my family & my friends.  I love my parents and my sisters and brother. 
G =  Grace.  Giving the homeless people my lunch. 
H = My sister Hannah & good health.  And honesty.  
I = Intelligence.  Inspiration. 
J = My fabulous husband John.  He is my everything. 
K = Kisses & Hugs. 
L = The gift of life. And love. 
M = Marriage. 
N = Night.  I love sleeping.  
O = Opportunities. 
P = My parents. 
Q = Quilts.  I love snuggling up with a homemade quilt. 
R = Respect - I am continually thankful for people who are respectful of my opinions. 
S = School.  It's frustrating sometimes, but it's so great.  And Samson. 
T = Straight teeth.  I'm so thankful my parents paid for my smile. 
U =University of Minnesota. 
V = Vision.  And voice.  I love to sing.  And volunteering. 
W = Water that's clean. 
X = Xcel Energy Center.  John loves hockey, therefore I love hockey :)
Y = My youth group kids.  And youth group in general. 
Z = Zoo's.  I love going to the zoo. 

Worthy.

I struggle daily, if I'm honest with myself, with feeling worthy.  I am a person that is extremely scared, even deathly afraid of failure.  I am a perfectionist.  I am afraid to let my family and friends down, but ultimately to let myself down.  It weighs on my heart and hurts me.  I am going to fight it and I'm going to win.  I am going to see my world as more than black and white, failure or success.  I am going to come out on the other side more of the person God intended me to be, living out the life He intended for me.  I'm posting this list for me as a reference.  It'll be a place I can come to when I'm struggling, read my words and find hope and know that the grass is greener on the other side. 

If I fail, I'll just take it over. 
If I have to go an extra semester, that's fine. 
If I gain ten pounds, I'll still be beautiful. 
If I sin, I can be forgiven.
If I fail, people won't be disappointed.
If I have to cut something out of my schedule, it's ok.
If someone else is disappointed in me, I have to brush it off.
If I feel pressured into something, I have to do what's best for me and my family. 
If I feel ugly, I have to tell myself I'm beautiful.
If I feel useless, I have to tell myself God has a plan for me.
If I feel like I can't do something, I have to give it my best effort. 

If I feel used, I have to pull myself up.
If I feel depressed, I have to pick myself up.
If I feel overwhelmed, I have to take one step at a time.
If I feel stressed, I have to take one thing at a time.

If I don't feel worthy, I have to tell myself I am.
If I don't feel loved, I have to tell myself I am.
If I don't feel good enough, I have to tell myself I am.

God didn't promise a life full of happiness, but He promised He would always be there for me.  He is the one and only, that I know I can always count on.  He made me in his image and I need to start acting like it.  I am good enough, worthy, loved, "as is".  I am accepted "as is". I can enjoy life and life it to the fullest.  I strive each day to honor him and praise him, but he still accepts me "as is".  What a beautiful thought. 

My Sweet Family

Today is a special day at our house.  It is Comet's 2nd birthday and John and my 3rd anniversary.  I couldn't ask for a better family!  I love how I'm a plan everything to a T gal and God mixed my plans up because His were way better than mine :)  He's got a sense of humor, I'm sure of it.  I feel so blessed!

Comet

He's my boy.  I love him SO much!  I had never had an indoor dog until John and I decided to get him and I seriously didn't know what to think of it.  Now he sleeps in our bed and eats our food with us.  He's so spoiled.  I have yet to feel the love of having a child, but I think Comet resembles how I'll feel.  He listens to me when I need to talk to someone, especially when I don't want anyone to talk back to me, he takes me on walks, he tolerates the costumes that I buy for him and make him wear, he sings with me, he does tricks, he shakes when I get home because he's so excited, he barks are squirrels and loves to snuggle.  He is the best dog ever!  I wouldn't trade him for anything.

John

He's my man :)  I seriously wouldn't trade him for anything and truly believe God had a perfect match for me.  He's so handsome, he loves Jesus, he's hardworking, he keeps things in perspective for me, he loves me for me, he will someday be a great dad, he has a wonderful smile, his sense of humor cracks me up, he provides for me and Comet, he helps me with my homework, he laughs at my terrible jokes, he'll dance to rap music with me, he takes me on dates, he pursues me, he doesn't let me get away with saying "I'm fine", he pushes me to be my best, he doesn't let me quit, he lets me cry on his shoulder, he doesn't walk out when I get irrational, he is strong, he's SO smart, he strives to make me happy even if it means doing a stupid little dance or joke, he helped me train for a marathon, he's driven.  He is my hero, for real.  I love him more than anything.  I thank God for him everyday.  What a wonderful gift I've been given.