giving thanks... friends

*Shell*

~

I can't even imagine life without the love of dear friends,

and I have been blessed beyond measure in that regard.

I am eternally grateful to each and every one -

from some of you loyal readers whom I have never met,

to online friends and bloggers I've come to know,

to friends who have come and gone throughout the years,

and even those I have recently become friends with -

Each and every one of you have touched my life.

~

This post is dedicated to my nearest and dearest friends,

starting with my cousin and friend Shell, above, 

and continuing in chronological order.

Some friends' photos are not present -

Hallie, Sandee, Mindi, Holly, Ruth, Dawn, LeAnn, Lisa, 

Jennie, Julie, Cheryl, Maria, J'Nette, Anna, Bev, ... 

a pretty endless list actually, and I apologize.

But you know who you are, and you know you have my love.

xoxoxoxo

*Annie*

9th grade - still in touch with

*Lauren, Renee, Liz & John*

9th grade again - still in touch with

*Tracy (center) and Susan*

9th grade once more - still in touch with

*Lucy, Lauren, and Van*

*Lauren*

(yep, the same Lauren as above)

 *Karen*

*Karen*

*Cheryl*

 *Susie, Marilyn and Leslie (LeAnn is missing)*

*Wendy* 

 *Diana*

*Joan*

*Jamie*

*Rochelle*

*Wendy*

*Shauna*

*Kim*

*Tami and Chris*

*Shannon*

*Traci*

*Vanessa, Rebecca, Robin, Kerrie, and Meghan*

the greatest young women on earth -

and I'm proud to call them my friends :)

~

I could go on and on about my friends and how I love them.

They have touched and blessed my life more than I can say.

Not a day goes by where I don't give thanks for them.

I consider friends one of the greatest gifts in life :)

xoxoxoxo

giving thanks

I'm grateful for all the color that gives my world life

I'm grateful for the indescribable beauty of flowers

and all God's amazing creations that never cease to amaze me

I'm grateful for music, the universal language of the soul

I'm grateful for my country, and for freedom,

and for all those past and present who earned it for us.

I'm grateful that I have the right to my religious beliefs 

and the integrity to respect others' beliefs

I'm grateful for my home and all my loved ones inside

... like my husband

... and these 3 boys

... and 2 very comical but highly lovable dogs, Luna

... and Angel :)

I'm grateful I have hobbies and talents that bring me joy

like photography

and painting... and such

I'm grateful for food (namely Round Table pizza of course)

I'm grateful that God says goodnight to the world

each night, in such an extraordinary way

I'm grateful I have the comfort of quilts as I sleep

But most of all, I'm grateful for 

*LOVE*

for without it, these blessings would be meaningless.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

xoxoxo

P.S. of COURSE I'm grateful for friends! You're up next :)

Meg & Tori's Thanksgiving Porch!

I gathered up all my Halloween decorations...

I repainted all my pumpkins... 

and just as the weather finally cooled down...

I called my girl Tori and we set it all up!

 Ta-Daaaaa!!! Our Thanksgiving Porch :)

SWEET!!!

We worked so hard and had such a blast -

I don't know what I would've done without Tori!

Please take a tour and check it out...

YES, YES, YES, GIVE THANKS!!!

 ~ Tori and Mrs. Puff ~

(no my puffy face has not gone away

and I don't want to talk about it!)

But I had to post these pics -

just look at Tori's adorable face :)

 CUTEST. GIRL. EVSKIES.

Thank you Tori! I love you!

xoxoxo