Things to be Thankful For

This Thanksgiving has obviously been a bittersweet one, with the double whammy of being away from home (for the 3rd year in a row) and with Shane being at war. Lucky for me, I have made amazing friends in Texas and was in good company today.

I'll admit, I cried myself to sleep last night and woke up this morning only to continue my pity party. I was hit with the biggest wave of homesickness I've had in a very long time and just couldn't help but cry. I talked to Shane in the midst of my sobbing and the tears stopped. When we hung up, I dragged my ass out of bed and went running. I immediately felt better.

I thought about the things I do have to be thankful for, and the list goes on and on. Above and beyond all things is the fact that Shane is okay. More than ten months into war, and Shane has nothing but strength and optimism to show for it. I am thankful/grateful/blessed that my husband is okay.

I am thankful for the most supportive family and friends in the world. My family, Shane's family, my friends, his friends and our friends have been incredible and there for me from the start of deployment.

I am thankful for the friends I have made in Texas. I credit four individuals in particular for helping more than they will ever know or understand in getting through this year.

I am thankful for music and its job in continuing to maintain my sanity. There is a song for every day good or bad, and it is always there when people are not. I have always found comfort in music, and this year I have relied on it more heavily than ever before.

I'm thankful for the obvious things like my health and the roof over my head.

I am thankful for having an incredible husband who has helped lessen the burden of deployment by being as sweet and supportive as he can be from 8,000 miles away.

But like I said, I am most thankful for whatever higher power in the world has been keeping Shane safe and ensuring his return home.

50 days and counting, by the way.