Thankful Thursdays: Turkey Edition

Amy mentioned in her post today that she didn’t realize that she’d lined up this series to fall on the American Thanksgiving holiday. Me being one of those self-centered Americans, I just thought she was doing it on purpose. Regardless, Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends and Happy Thankful Thursday to everyone else.

Living in Germany for my second Thanksgiving, I have to say that it gives a different spin on the holiday than living in the US. It’s not a German holiday of course, so that means that everything is still open and nothing really changes. Even for our school kids they had school up through yesterday. I’m sure that any children in the German schools would still have school today. It’s hard to keep the meaning of the holiday when you’re isolated in celebrating it.

B and I hosted a big rib dinner last night with some good friends and that was our Thanksgiving celebration. Today we just went and had a nice sushi lunch. Beyond that? B is scouring the internet for good deals. (Not that I’m exempt, I’m just taking advantage of the ones popping up in my inbox and not looking for many more.)

Today I’m thankful for the friends who came over last night. I’m thankful we’ve finally meshed into a group, even if it is right before we leave.

I’m thankful for our move to Turkey. This is totally selfish, especially as a military wife, but I’m so, so grateful that this move means that B can’t deploy. I’m so excited at getting reunited with dear friends from a previous base. I’m thankful for the opportunities that come with moving there and the chance to explore another culture.

I’m thankful that I’ve gone from a small-town Texan to a girl who’s seen most of Europe and is moving to her third country to live.

I’m thankful for family back home who are super supportive of us and our moves. I’m thankful for their love and encouragement as I move further away.

I’m thankful that my Mom found my immunization records -  buried in a box in a closet – so that I don’t have to go get a bunch of boosters before we move.

I’m thankful for an awesome husband to make this move with – someone who’s as excited about the new and the challenging as I am. Also, I’m totally thankful that he doesn’t shove me off the bed when I burrow my cold feet into his legs for warmth.

What are you thankful for today?

~The Countess~

 

Thankful Thursdays: Life and Friends Edition

Today I am thankful for my life. I am thankful, still, for those who serve and risk their lives so that I can live a life filled with choices and possibilities and freedoms. I am thankful for every day that I wake up and have another chance to make a difference in the world. I am thankful for the desire to keep living no matter what life throws at us.

We lost a friend this last week to suicide. He was a loner, a quiet guy, sort of odd, and hard to get to know. But he was a good man. Things evidently became too much for him last week and he ended it all. I keep wondering if he reached out to people. It took a couple of days for me to quit using “what ifs” on the situation. Because I just hurt that he was in such a state that he felt like his only option was death.

If someone tells you they’re lonely. Listen. Reach out to them. Be there.

If someone tells you they’re hurting. Listen. Reach out to them. Be there.

Don’t just blow them off. Don’t think they’re just in a funk.

Today I am thankful for the friends I have who have listened when I’ve said I was lonely. I am thankful for the friends that email me, call me, facebook me, and tweet me. I’m thankful for the friends who hear loneliness and offer friendship. I’m thankful for friends who hear pain and offer comfort.

Real life friends or blog friends, you’ve made a difference in my life. And while suicide has never and will never be an option for me, it means a lot to me to know that you’re all there, willing to reach out and lend an ear (an eye?) to my story. Thank you.

Today, I’m thankful for each and every one of you.

~The Countess~

 

Thankful Thursdays: Veteran’s Day Edition

I know this should have gone up yesterday, but yesterday wasn’t Veteran’s Day and today is. Yesterday it also didn’t carry quite the same weight that it does today. Today is the day that in the US we will be thanking all of those who have served for the sacrifices that they made, make, and will make for the freedom we all enjoy.

Today I’m Thankful for:

1. Each and every man and woman who has ever served. It is a sacrifice and life choice that is often hard to understand. Many times I’ve seen those who have enlisted or commissioned maligned as not having a sense of self or needing to be told exactly what to do every time, or as a killer of innocents. Nothing could be further from the truth. The people who I have met as part of the military family are all individuals with strong feelings on many subjects. They rarely all agree. But they have all chosen to put their country first and their own wants and needs second.

2. Each and every person who has ever sent a loved one off to war. The military spouses club is not a hard one to gain entry too. But there’s a reason it’s considered remarkable to make it through military service with the same spouse that you entered it with. Long deployments, constant moves, the forever unknown of what could come tomorrow.

3. The repealing of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. I am so, so incredibly thankful that all of those in our military are now free to be who they are. I’m grateful that they don’t have to hide part of themselves for fear of losing their job. I am proud of each and every one of them who has chosen to serve despite the military telling them they couldn’t tell. But I am more proud of our country’s leaders for finally doing away with such an archaic rule.

4. For all the amazing men and women that are now part of my military family. They get it. Whether they’re over here with us or stationed far away, they understand. They know what the waiting is like, what the distance is like, and how hard it can all be. They’re the ones who call you when your husband is gone and invite you to dinner even without him. It’s in the little things. They make this journey less lonely, less arduous, less scary.

5. My hero, my love, my B. Yesterday we received B’s release date from his current program. The special program that meant lots of time together and no deployments. The one that gave us over a year of marriage without the extra stress. As of Monday he’ll resume working on a regular basis. In just over a month he will return to his normal duties and become deployment eligible again. He’s a kind, smart, funny, and surprisingly gentle man and I am so thankful to be his wife and to support him as he serves our country.

Happy Veterans Day. Today I’m thankful for a country full of men and women willing to live out the knowledge that freedom isn’t free.

~The Countess~

Thankful Thursdays: Family Edition

There’s a part of me that just wanted to skip today. That just wanted to bury my head in the ground and go back to sleep until winter was over.  That didn’t want to think at all about being grateful. But in the typical manner of how my life goes, whenever I’m feeling down or blue I find someone who has more reason to complain than I do and instead they’re showing gratitude for what they do have. Today’s version of that included a friend’s post on facebook about going to say goodbye to her Dad who is losing his battle with cancer. Talk about the gentle two-by-four to the head. I have so much to be thankful for. So, even if I’m not feeling it, I’m going to choose to feel it anyway.

 

Today I am thankful for:

1. My parents and that they still have their health

I have always been so lucky to have a fabulous relationship with my parents. They’ve always been so supportive of me and all of my endeavors.

2. My siblings and that we all get along

Sure, we have our ups and downs like all siblings, but for the most part we’re a fun, loving group. We’re separated all around the globe now, but we stay in touch via facebook, skype, and video games. Hey, it works for us. (In the photo above it’s my baby brother, me, big sis 1 plus her new husband, and big sis 2)

3. My fabulous in-laws

I do not have the MIL from hell. I actually have amazingly fabulous in-laws. They’re as relaxed and quirky as my family. And yes, very dedicated to their country. The above photo was taken when my husband administered the Oath of Office to both his younger brothers as they were commissioned into the USAF. I was always worried about in-law relations having witnessed the strife it caused in my own family, but I’ve been truly blessed to have joined such a great family. (In the above photo: mom and dad D are sitting down, Thing 2 and his now fiancee, me and B, B’s big sis, Thing 1 and his girlfriend)

Family has always been important to me. And now, with all of us so spread out (my family is in Texas, New Mexico, Washington, and of course Germany; B’s family is in Michigan, Virginia, and Texas) they’re even more important. Our families mean the world to me.

What are you thankful for today?

~The Countess~

Thankful Thursdays: Power of Attitude

Another week, another Thursday, another chance to link up with Amy to talk about what you are thankful for. This couldn’t have come at a better time for me this week. Or, in general life actually.

Gratitude is all about Attitude

I really want to make sure that hits home for you today. Because it has for me. Earlier today, I was thinking about writing this post, and I really didn’t want to. The first thought that ran through my head was that I have had a rotten week and that I don’t feel particularly grateful or thankful at the moment.

I gave myself that little moment. And then B’s dog started eating our carpet and that little moment of self-pity was totally destroyed by a cute puppy. It also served to remind me that I do have a lot to be grateful for. I just have to remind myself of what those things are sometimes.

It’s easy in the monotony of every day life to forget to be thankful. It’s easy to let the little things that we should be thankful for become the little things that we expect to just work right. That isn’t fair and it isn’t healthy. Focusing on being thankful pulled me into a better place this week.

Today I’m thankful for:

1. A puppy that makes me laugh and laugh

2. a husband who spoils me and holds me no matter how long i cry

3. Ever expanding studio hours

4. Sweater dresses from Victoria’s Secret

5. My health

What are you thankful for today?

~The Countess~

Thankful Thursdays: The Beginning

Hey everyone! I’m linking up today with Amy for her Thankful Thursday series. I live such a blessed life and I’m thrilled by the idea of spending each Thursday talking about things that I’m thankful for.

Gratitude is something that doesn’t get much more than lip-service these days and that’s something I wish I could change. Every one of us, no matter our situations has something to be grateful for. You know what they say, gratitude is attitude. I know that for me, listing things that make me grateful always improves my day. Here is today’s list!

I’m Thankful For

a happy marriage

a man who loves me

a beautiful home

a job i love

an adorable puppy

the opportunity to travel

What are you thankful for today?

~The Countess~