giving thanks

It's Thanksgiving, and I'm glad to see people on facebook this afternoon talking about all of the things they are thankful for this year.  It's a great holiday in that aspect-- we should all learn to give thanks every day.  We get caught up in our every day activities and forget just how truly lucky we are.  I'm thankful that we live in a country that is free; even though sometimes I feel pessimistic about its future, I feel thankful that it appears we have taken steps in the right direction as a country and we are now on a better path.  I am thankful that the nation's eyes are opening to the dangerous hate and polarity that threatens to divide us once again.

I am thankful that I have a superb relationship with my wonderful husband who over the past year has proven to me that we have a relationship worth fighting for and a bond that is unbreakable.  I am so happy that I have found my partner in life, someone who stands next to me and we face our problems together, side by side.

I am thankful for the happy accident that is my photography business.  I really didn't mean to do it, but less than a year after starting my facebook page-- which I consider the beginning of my photography career-- I have booked 3 weddings for next year and have another in the works.  I am very thankful for the opportunity that facebook and all of you, my wonderful clients, friends, and family that I rely upon for word-of-mouth reference have provided me.

I'm thankful for my motley crew of cats (Muse reminded me not to forget about them by jumping up onto my desk and giving me a brief snuggle).  Star, though she is 23 years old and equal parts decrepit and annoying--she is still a lover and probably the sweetest cat I'll ever know.  I'm thankful for her companionship, especially through my angsty teenage years.

Katsumoto (pictured), who is now 9, is my sweet boy and my first "baby."  He is smart, sweet, an excellent  and efficient mouser (no blood or guts, ever!), and though some might accuse him of being fat and lazy, he still plays and jumps all 4 paws off the ground to catch toys.  He makes "melancholy biscuits" on the bed and sleeps on my head almost every night.  He is adorably tolerant when his younger sister attacks and bunny kicks him in the head-- which brings us to Muse.  She is 3 now, but still small and very kittenish.  She jumps 5 feet into the air to catch her favorite toy with absolutely no regard for where she will land.  She is obsessed with paper grocery bags and barely lets us get the groceries out first.  She loves to lay on her "grammy's" chest (my mother) while we watch TV.  She is everybody's favorite cat and we are truly blessed to be her humans.  (Don't tell the other cats!)

I am thankful for my mother and the home we share together.  I am looking forward to having some more space I can call my own (the attic studio!) I am thankful that she hasn't kicked us out for being messy roommates who fail to do their dishes in a timely manner. :)  I am thankful that I have a relationship with my mom that is healthy enough for us to live together!  I lucked out in the mom department for sure!!






I could go on forever but let's limit it to those, the most important things in my life!  Happy Thanksgiving to all.