The definition of Thanksgiving is giving thanks--go figure.

This Thursday of giving thanks and eating sweet potatoes, I am grateful for...

My God, Savior, Pa and Ma, the siblings, my uncles and aunts and cousins. My gracious, compassionate, loyal friends. My dog and two cats. Homemade food. Internet access. Writing. A roof over my head. The most ridiculously comfortable bed known to man. Looking pretty. Clothes on my back (and front). Christmas music. The hope of snow. Family fellowship. Books, lots and lots of intelligent-written literature. Christians. Teachers that listen and understand. Joy. Writing. Big, fluffy, warm towels after stepping out of the shower. The Word. Bright colors. The holiday spirit. Forgiveness. Gifts. Prayers. Singing and dancing. White, ankle socks. My best friend/roommate's pumpkin pie. Gentleness. Foreign friends. Road trips. Photography. Randomness with Olivia. Writing. Knitted sweaters. Fast food. Snorting while laughing. Honest people full of the Truth. Olive Garden. AOL instant messenger. Music. Every movie ever made. Extremely awesome television series. Kind strangers. Dreaming. My fairy-god-son, "nephew" Jassir. Good health. Animals. Playing sports. St. Louis Cardinals World Series Champions. Writing. Bicycling. Second, third and forth chances. The Gospel. Hot cocoa. Blogging. Thunderstorms. Loads of fatty food that only Thanksgiving can bring. Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin's voices. Inspiring, well-written movies. Second cousins. Computers. Thought-provoking quotes. Sunrises. Chinese food and people. Batman. Weddings. Happiness. E-mails from old friends. Late night drives. Late night talks. Breakfast. Teddy bears. Perfume. American Eagle, Old Navy and JC Pennys. Traveling. Angels. My apartment and roommates. Ice skating with "no one in particular". Acceptance. Freedom. Friends I consider family. Going home. Athletes. St. Louis, MO. Johnny Depp. People who aren't afraid to be themselves. Respect. Facebook and Myspace. Video games with the 'lil bro. Max Lucado. Harry Potter. Authors. Janitors and mechanics. Libraries. Fine lookin' guys. Writing. Pictures of the beach. Perseverance. Chick flicks. Love, Love, Love! Wisdom. Holidays of great and small. People who have changed the world. And last, but most definitely not least, my faithful readers.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! Give thanks!

Always a Day Late and a Dollar Short

Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever get ahead. Not even ahead, but caught up. For as long as I can remember, I've felt as if I'm behind. Behind on everything. I'm always feeling like I still need to get something done. This isn't a comforting feeling to say the least. Feeling behind on the majority in life--class work, family life, connections with friends, work, fitness, hobbies, etc. It definitely makes it hard to find any relaxing time.

I'm naturally a "late" person. It's not a great quality to possess, let me warn you. I wish I could say it was inherited. I believe it to be something I've picked up in the past few years; something I wish I could shake just as easily as I've grown accustomed to it. I'm in the process of making "five minutes early" my new slogan.

Being poor doesn't bother me anymore. Oh, it used to. It used to bother me so much that I would try to make white, feathers fly out of my pillow from punching it so harshly. There's just a period in which one has to come to terms with what was and is. I grew up poor like three-fourths of the world still does today. I've accepted being broke through hope. I know what was and what is. However, my hope reveals to me that I can and will make a good living in the future for myself. I'm grateful that I grew up without wads of green paper stuffed in my family members' wallets and pockets. I've grown to realize that I wouldn't appreciate the blessing money can bring to me in the future if I grew up spoiled. Not having money humbles you. It humbles you a lot in today's society. When I make my first paycheck after receiving my first job in the "writing business," I will feel the blessing of money that God intended because I will have earned it. I will not take money for granted because I will have known what it was like to not have it for much of my life.

If you know me, you know that I always tell the ones I care about that he or she can always count on me for anything needed. I've got to be honest and say that it makes it hard to lend a helping hand when I'm always behind on life's chores and not owning a fat wallet. It just makes things a little harder when I know I could be helping a friend clean their house, study for a test or lending 10 bucks for much needed gas money. The thing is, right now, I am in control and have the ability to change my time managing skills. I need to organize and schedule my time in a more positive and effective way. As of currently, I am not in the state of giving out the dollars. Oh, I do occasionally, but unfortunately, it's usually me who ends up borrowing the cash. If you're not a stubborn, hard-headed being, you have absolutely no idea how difficult it can be to borrow money. Sometimes you just have to release the pride barrier.

The thing is, I don't want to always be the late one or the one who comes up a few bucks short. I'll admit that I grew up in a family whose tendencies were quite similar to this. I have sadly remained faithful to this entry's cliche title. These are traits I'm working toward changing through the aid of God. I know they won't change drastically in the next couple days, but overtime, I'll become a more reliable person. I'm looking forward to it.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
--Romans 8:38, 39

He Ain't the Leavin' Kind
[Rascal Flatts]

they tried their best to drag Him out
of a courthouse down in montgomery
now they want to kick Him out of school
and take Him off our money
they can take those words off of paper and stone
but He aint gone, no

He ain't the leavin' kind
He'd never walk away
even from those who dont believe
and wanna leave Him behind
He ain't the leavin' kind

she stayed mad at Him for a lot of years
for taking her husband
started losing her faith and thinking that
her life meant nothin
but when she looks at those kids
she raised all by herself
she knows she had some help
yeah she knows

He ain't the leavin' kind
He'd never walk away
even from those who don't believe
and wanna leave Him behind
He ain't the leavin' kind

no matter what you do
no matter where you go He's
always right there
with you

even from those who don't believe
and wanna leave Him behind
He ain't the leavin' kind