I am writing my Thanksgiving letter today, I simply have too much to cook tomorrow, which means, I have to figure out how to actually serve the whole meal warm and not just the turkey while the rest of the feast is cold and the buns burnt because I was  worrying about how to keep it all warm and forgot to pull the little fellas out of the oven!  Yep, you are right; I am not a skilled cook.

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what we are thankful for.  I think in the past I have given you so many examples of everyday moments, that are uneventful or life changing, that I am thankful for, but believe it or not, I am going to add to this list.

I am so thankful for lessons learned, lessons forgotten, and reminders of the lessons I have let lapse. 

I have learned to appreciate each and everyday I am alive.  I have learned that simply because I have lost so much.  Am I thankful for the ones I have lost to appreciate the ones and the days I have? Good question, I don't know.  I do know I am thankful that I don't walk through life thinking I am better than anyone, and I do know anything can happen to me.  Yes, I know I can die in a car accident on the way to the store, but, I also know that Oprah can call me and say, "Hey, I read your book and loved it."  I am thankful that I realize no dream or wish is too big for God!

How horrible it would be to go through life not believing in the unknown and not having faith and hope in something bigger than yourself.  Be thankful for your spirit and soul that guides you to all that is good and dreams and aspirations to help yourself, your family and those in need.  If you don't know yourself or God yet, be thankful for the lesson that will come your way to teach you to surrender yourself to something that your mind truly cannot wrap itself around, for the glory and grace of God and His graciousness that He extends to us is so great that our meager minds truly cannot wrap itself around the enormity of who and what God is. 

My lessons have always come in the form of making sure that I stay faithful in my conviction that God does love me, looks out for me, and if I believe in Him and keep hope alive I will be saved.  People, God has never let me down! Let me tell you, I have been to the depths of hell and back, at times my fault, and at times due to fate, but I have always survived, and I am so thankful that I have.

I am thankful that lessons will keep coming my way; mostly, in the form of bad drivers getting in my way and causing me to take control over my road rage, and to remind me to be patient.  Patience is not one of my virtues!

I am a descendent of the "I want it now era".  I have learned to wait, save, and that I am not entitled to what everyone else has.  I use to have entitlement issues, I no longer have those.  What I have learned is: I am entitled to whatever I create in my life, good, bad, or extraordinary. I am the keeper and key holder of what goes on in my life. If I want good things, I can create good things, I can work hard, be kind, generous with my heart, my feelings, my wisdom, my thoughts, my prayers, and my willingness to help others that in turn helps me nurture my spirit and soul.  Or I can create a lot of negativity with harsh words, acts of evil, laziness and denying myself a relationship with the one whom created me, loves me, guides me, and teaches me lessons, God!

May you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving, and as you sit around your table, look at your family, be thankful for them, and all that God has given you, good and bad, to make you who you are today!