Giving Thanks

I thought this week, in celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday, I would share a few things that I am thankful for in my life.  I have so much to be thankful for and, although I try to show gratitude for these things all year long, it is always nice to take time to reflect on all of the good in my life.  I am really very fortunate.  While I am far from wealthy, I have enough.  I have a home, my health, a good job, food, family, and friends.  I know that there are many people who are not nearly as lucky as I am.

I am thankful for my volunteer work and my rescue community.  I have met so many good people, people who care about doing good and helping others, and it has restored my faith in humanity.  I am so thankful that I have the good fortune to be able to help others who are less fortunate.  

While I have only had the opportunity to foster two dogs this year, I am so lucky that I was able to help them both.  I have been blessed with the opportunity to give Peaches a home to live out her life, a home where she is appreciated and loved...some may even say she's a bit spoiled.  And I am glad that I had the opportunity to meet Zi and give her a place to decompress from shelter life while she waits for her permanent home.  

While my ability to foster this year has been limited, I have continued to join our Dog Walking Club at the Shelter on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  These Wednesday night and Saturday morning walks give me the opportunity to spend time with friends and with our amazing shelter dogs.  

Through rain, sun, snow, hot and cold, and anything else any of our seasons throw at us, we are out there walking the shelter dogs and giving them a small break from their time at the shelter.  I'm especially lucky because I get to photograph these beautiful souls and spend a little one on one time loving each and every one of them.  Any bad day can be made better by spending a little time with a shelter dog.  We could all learn a lot from them about love and resilience and gratitude.  I am thankful for all that they have taught me over the years.  

I am so thankful for my ability to travel and all of the things I have seen and experienced.  I am also very thankful for my amazing travel buddies.  We have seen so many amazing things this year.  

I am thankful for my amazing work family without whom I wouldn't have been able to do all that I have this year.  Because of them I was able to take nearly a month off of work to travel to Alaska.  Because of them, I was able to spend more time with Imke in her final months and I was able to be with her at the very end.  I don't know if they will ever understand just how thankful I am for that gift of time.  What a great gift they are.

I am thankful every day for my beautiful daughter who has helped to make me the person I am today.  She is such a good person and she is always there for me.  I just don't know what I would do without her.  I am especially thankful that she got to join us on our trip to Alaska this year.  

Although it may seem silly, I am thankful for Peaches' bucket list.  It has gotten me out on new adventures and it has taken me back to places that I love.  It has given me something positive to focus on instead of always worrying about her cancer.  It also helped me through the days as Imke was nearing the end.  When you focus on adventures and happy times, on making memories and making sure that you are really living life, it is much easier to appreciate all of the good things that you have.  

One of the items on Peaches' bucket list was for the girls to get a picture with Santa..and I am thankful that I stopped in Christmas, MI while we were on our last U.P. trip so I could get this picture of all of the girls with Santa.  

I am thankful for the U.P., the North Country Trail, and all of the people I have met this year, even if only for a brief moment, those meetings were all a part of this great adventure of life.

I am thankful for Maddie who has been there with me for a lot of good and bad times.  I don't feel like I say enough what an amazing girl she is.  I am thankful that she loves me despite my shortcomings.

I am thankful for my quiet Thanksgiving at home this year.  It is the first Thanksgiving meal I've cooked and it turned out pretty good.  It was nice to spend a quiet day at home with my girls.  The girls were thankful to have Nicol home and they made the most of her time here.

I am sure that this list doesn't include everything, but I am really full of gratitude today, and every day.  I've found that living a grateful life is really the best way to live a happy life.  

As we move into the holiday season, I want to wish you all a season of peace, joy, and love.  I hope you all get to spend the holidays focused on the really important things and that you get to spend quality time with those you love.  

From me, Maddie, and Peaches-we thank you for following our adventures this year and wish you the happiest of holidays!