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~

 

Giving Thanks

I am grateful for my family. I am grateful for my friends. I am grateful for my God and Savior. I am grateful for my freedom. I’m thankful for food, clothing, a home, and the opportunity to go to school. I am grateful that I grew up knowing I was loved and wanted. I am grateful for all the people that bless my life. I am grateful for the simple things in life – football, turkey and ham, and pumpkin desserts. I am grateful that there is only a week left until the end of the semester. I am, simply, grateful.