It's that time of year again!
The most wonderful time of year!
The holidays are quickly approaching. Thanksgiving is THIS week. I'm beyond excited for the holidays this year. Last year, I was quite down during the holidays because I just learned I couldn't eat "anything". Well that's what I thought. So I was pretty upset that I wouldn't be able to fully enjoy all the wonderful food. Since I had to cut out sugar, seeing all the christmas goodies was really hard. My family tried hard to make dishes I could have, but since we were all new to gluten and dairy free cooking & baking. It was quite hard and things just didn't taste the same. And then I gave in, and had some sweets...which just back fired on me and I ended up feeling worse. Changing your lifestyle is a roller coaster battle. It's constantly changing.
So this year is going to be different. I've grown to except that I won't be able enjoy the same foods again. I'm okay with that. Now I want to recreate those dishes that I thought I never would have again. Last year, I will be honest, I was a pretty negative person through the holidays...It's hard to admit, but I just didn't let myself enjoy the season. Since I can't change the past, I'm making sure that from now on, no matter what day it is. To have a more positive outlook on life. I have so much to be thankful for. I know the whole month of November people will put what they are thankful for each day on Facebook. I really think it is a cool thing to do. I love seeing what people are thankful for. But I believe that's something you should do everyday. But I know we are all humans and get caught up in life that we forget to think about those things. I'm just as guilty.
With the holidays quickly approaching, I know I'm going to get caught up in the craziness and I'll forget to write what I'm thankful for. So I'm taking a little time before everything starts to list what I'm thankful for. I honestly could name so many things I'm thankful for, but I put my limit to 10. They are long, but I am just thankful for so much. It's hard to limit them.
1. I'm thankful for my amazing Fiancé, he's my best friend and biggest supporter in everything. We've been through so much together. I really don't know where I would be without him. When I feel sick or not having a good day, he knows exactly what to do. I love the life we are creating together, and I'm so excited to marry him!
2. I'm thankful for my mom. Even though we seem to butt heads a lot. I always know she wants the very best for me. And she will drop everything she's doing just to be there. She is the one who taught me how to bake. And now she's mastering baking gluten free. It's pretty cool to share that with her. And no matter what, whether she realizes it or not, I always look for her approval and I listen to what she has to say.
3. I'm thankful for my dad. I'm such a daddy's girl. I guess being the only girl out of 4 boys just makes sense. He has such a good heart and loves people. Everyone that meets my dad always says that he's such a great person, and I just nod because I already knew that. He works very hard to provide for his family and he does everything he can for his kids, well both him and my mom work together to make sure they take care of us. They always put everyone else before them.
4. I'm thankful for my soon to be in laws. My (almost) mother-in-law tries so hard to make meals for me when we visit. After a year of trial and error, she has created some amazing dishes as well! Also, I am so excited to officially be a part of their family. Even though they already make me feel a part of it. I just need the last name ;) I'm blessed to have such a caring family that I'm marrying into.
5. I'm thankful for my brothers. All four of them. I call them my crazy brothers, not because they are actually loopy.....okay...they kind of are ;) But it's just my way of saying we have one big family and there is never a dull moment. They are all married and have kids now..well almost, there is one with his first on the way. But it's actually fun being the youngest and watching my brothers fall in love, get married, and have kids. Also, they are pretty protective over me. I guess being the youngest and only girl...they had to be. With having four older brothers, now all married. I now have four sisters! I have such a big family, and it keeps growing. But I love all of them. I love all of my brothers the same. Even though they have their differences with each other at times. They need to realize how blessed they are to be apart of an amazing (and crazy) family. I wouldn't trade any of them. No matter what.
6. I'm thankful for the rest of my family. Close and far. I have family all over the U.S. We all keep in contact through Facebook. I don't get see my extended family to often. But I truly love all of them, and it's cool to see what goes on in their lives as well.
7. I'm thankful for my best friends. I have only a few, but they know who they are. Two of them are friends I met in high school, one is from kindergarten, and the other I've known pretty much my whole life. If a friendship last longer then 7 years, psychologists say it'll last a lifetime. I believe I have found my lifelong best friends. I'm beyond blessed to have such amazing true friends in my life. I rather have a few very close friends, then a lot of "just friends". They mean so much to me, and I hope I am just as good of a friend to them, as they are to me.
8. I'm thankful for all of the other supporters. Through my journey, I've been able to reach out to people and help them. Growing up, I've always had dreams in making a difference in people's lives and reaching out to others and offering them help and support. I just never knew what I could do. I now think I'm finding that "thing" and I'm trying to follow that dream.
9. I'm thankful for all of the other gluten free and allergy friendly companies out there that have made my lifestyle change easier. Seriously. I used to walk into the grocery store lost because there wasn't to many options, but now. I'm excited to go because there is way more options and it's actually fun finding new products! So to all of you companies dedicated gluten free and allergy friendly, keep up all the good and hard work! You really make a difference in people's lives.
10. Lastly, but not the very last. I'm really thankful for my life. I never knew that I would have health issues or ever worry about what I have to eat. But life throws curve balls and you have to adapt. I'm just so thankful that I caught my stomach issues early on before anything really serious happened.
Have you taken time to think about what you are thankful for? Maybe take a few minutes to think about the things you are thankful for. It'll really make you realize how beautiful life really is.
Cheers!!
