Happy Thanksgiving!!

Well, Thanksgiving will be over in a couple hrs, but just wanted to jot about the day and list some things I'm thankful for this year.

Started out the morning by making my one thing for our feast: the apple pie. It was very difficult as I had to unzip the ziploc, pour in the pre-made GA apple pie filling and then put the top pie crust on, and then place in the oven. Phew!! took me like 5 minutes! Then I searched desperately through my house for my running clothes, since the ones I was going to wear were still in the washing machine wet!! (done that like 20x in the past month! :( ) Then decided to just get ready, pack up and go and me run at Mom's house bc it was getting too late. So we did. Got there and ran out the door for my LAST TWO MILE RUN before my race on Sunday!!!! Just a little excited. Went out too fast and by the 1/2 mile point (which is all uphill the 1st 1/2 mile), was sucking wind bad, and speaking of wind, I swear I saw Mary Poppins go by! sheesh! But knocked it out in 21 minutes. Not too shabby. Felt faster but I'm so used to my slower pace now. Will def hafta get my speed back after this race. Came home and showered and got ready and sat down to our marvelous feast. E said the prayer and thanked God for our Thanksgiving feast and the "wonderful pumpkin pie we're going to eat after"...so funny! Both chits ate the stuffing this year(gasp) and then had seconds!! Pumpkin pie, and icecream w/ choc syrup. We let them live it up. I had 1 plate and 2nds of stuffing and crescent rolls. I was So dang full but managed to put away a pc of apple pie and call it a day. I never ate again...well, except the 1 more pc of pie for dinner;) i was STUFFED.
We pretty much scoured the blk friday ads all afternoon and R was on the phone w/ his nephew planning out their attack on Wally World. He just left to go at 9:) so funny. I'm going to bed in a few after I ice my legs and getting up to go to Kohl's and Bealls tomorrow. Mainly to get a few toys and slippers and such w/ my xtra 15% off!!! hoping to find some cool boots for myself.
Rambling. What things are you thankful for this year?? Here's my top ones:

1) Supportive Family and Friends! What a year it has been between starting school w/ E and training for this race. There's no way I could've done it w/out the love and support of those around me. R has helped me so much w/ watching the kids while I do my long runs, prayers coming in from Mom and inspiring stories and words of encouragement from my friends. I am so grateful!!

2) My son is learning!! I am so pleasantly surprised at how well homeschooling has been going. E is learning and enjoying himself, and I am seeing him just grow and change every day. He has matured so much and takes pride in his work. He tries hard and has an amazing memory. He is obedient and respectful. I am so glad he is learning and growing and that God is helping me lead him in this. I truly feel He is my strength and guide thru this journey. What a ride!! <3

3) My Dad's health! It's been nearly 4 yrs since Dad was diagnosed w/ non-hodgekins lymphoma. Even though he wasn't considered a "stage" when they found it, it was devastating news. I am so glad he is doing well and has no progression in his cancer to date. I think about it often and just never take for granted my Dad's health. Thank you, God!!!

4) My Family:) What can I say? I just love my fam. My little immediate group, my Mom and Dad, cousin Debbie, and the list goes on. I am so blessed w/ an amazing family. I look around and know that I am so blessed w/ the family that I have. Just to go and enjoy each other's company with no drama, completely at ease, and to feel at home...I couldn't ask for more. My kids make me laugh continually, and the love they show for their cousins and G'ma and Papa just shows how pure love really is. Wow, I just love my family and thank God for them every day!!

5) The Journey. So much has happened in the last few yrs. I don't even recognize myself anymore. God is so good. Lately I've just been reflecting back on the struggles I used to have, the doubts and insecurities I had, and how God has been working in my life. I still struggle from time to time w/ depression, but I believe it doesn't have a hold on me like it used to. I guess I just look at it in a different light and daily make the decision to not give in to it. I am so thankful that God is taking that thorn in my side, that weakness in my life, and using it to spur me on to greater things. I am grateful to be looking fear in the face and saying "I don't care. I will do it anyway!!" A couple years ago, heck, a few months ago, I really didn't think I could or would ever do this race...sounds silly I know, but it all goes back to fear, doubt, depression and not feeling worth it....and He has and is giving me the courage to do it anyway. Some days I want to scream or cry and just say, that's it...i'm done, but I have forced myself to ignore those lies of satan, and claim His victory. Thank you God, for being my strength. And even when I fail and listen to the lies, thank you God, for that small voice in my head that tells me to keep on chugging!!

Happy Thanksgiving to All. My heart is full :)