Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving! We should be thankful every day, and I honestly try to be. This is just a short post on some of the people I'm grateful for. 

First and foremost, I would like to thank God, for giving me this life, and then protecting me. I have not been the easiest kid to keep on track, and I have defiantly not stayed on track.  He has been my anchor, my strength, and often, my only hope. 

I would also like to thank my amazing mother. She is the strongest woman I know. She has (quite successfully, I think) raised three children, met everyday with a smile, and kept going, even when all signs pointed to giving up. My mom has been my best friend since I can remember. We have cried together, laughed together, had fun girl weekends.. We mirror each other in sickness and in health. She understands me, works with me, her hugs can dissolve my anger. I have not been the easiest kid to raise, and she has never stopped loving me. Making choices that were right for me. Shes spent hours making Halloween costumes for me (even just this year!) makes special food for me, because I can't have gluten. Shes the first person I ever drove with, even though I know she was terrified. Shes the woman who makes it to all of my school functions to support me, the mom that takes care of me before cheer, dances, everything. My mom is my everything and I am so incredibly grateful to have her in my life.

I'm also grateful for my little brother. Hes like, six million feet tall. He can beat me in all of our wrestling fights, he can push me over without even trying. Hes big, hes intimidating, serious. Deep down though, is my brother. Hes the first to protect me. Even when I claim I don't need it. He makes me smile when I don't want to, his jokes are stupid and he can do this scream at a pitch that should not be legal for a man to do. Hes an amazing driver,  good practice for when I need to sing over loud, annoying distractions, he is insanely smart and handsome. I know I annoy him a lot, and he hates it when I'm all emotional and mushy. Or when I'm singing. Or I get to the bathroom first in the morning. or when I walk into his room. But without him, no one would walk into my room without permission. No one would be so protective. No one would give me headaches in car rides, no one would ask me to braid their hair. 
Jake is my best friend, and I am so grateful that I get him to yell at me to stop crying. 

My dad and I have a lot of amazing memories together too. When I was little, I had rolled a perfect snowball with my dad, and we stored it under this huge pine tree to keep it safe. I remember Christmas tree hunting, sitting in the back of the white chevy, in all my snow clothes, wrapped in a blanket as we lumbered down the road. Or that one time the white chevy broke down and we had to walk to the closest house and he held my hand so I wasn't scared. I used to get really sick from driving down rattle snake grade, and my dad would always take it supper slow for me. We used to play this game in the car when we would turn on the country station and I'd guess which artist and song it was. My dad and I haven't always seen eye to eye, and we fight sometimes. but when I come home crying, he always has ice cream and a hug ready for me when he gets home. He takes good care of my car, and always warns me when its icy or cold or dangerous. My dad has always taken amazing care of me and I will always appreciate that. 

Next is a huge thank you to all of my friends. Even the ones I don't talk to anymore. Each and every one of you has had an impact in my life. Each of you has been an amazing friend, and provided me with a beautiful growing opportunity. You've all built a part of me. Countless hours on the phone, the same team, hours spent laying in the grass, staring at stars we wished we could reach. Whispering secrets, drinking milkshakes. You've inspired thousands of smiles, wiped my tears, even while I wiped yours. Midnight dives into the pool, sleeping on the trampoline, the all-nighters, the brownies at 2 AM. The mutual support. Every broken heart. Each of you helped me grow in such different ways.  You've enriched my life with every moment or ours together, and apart. I will forever be grateful for the pain and the joy. 

Thank you to my teachers at Alt. Ed. You gave me a second chance, you never gave up on me. You support me, you find ways to promote my academic growth, your patient (especially you Michael, thank you for math :D) You teach me important life skills, people skills. You are helping me build my confidence. You're supporting my college dream. You are making my dreams into goals and my goals into actions. I wake up, excited to get to school. Excited to do my best. Excited to make you proud. I'm excited to sing with Maria and adult with Jenni. I'm excited to write with Cam and just grow and learn and absorb as much as I possibly can. I will never be able to tell you how much I appreciate you and all that you have done for me. Ever. 

THANK YOU to my employer, Leslie. You make work so fun. It doesn't matter what kind of day I'm having, you just make things better. I love our dance parties, I love the food, the talks. Ruby Peak is one of my favorite places to be. You are an amazing, beautiful person and I honestly just enjoy being around you. I always learn something. Every day. It doesn't matter if no one walks in the door and asks about natural remedies, I learn how to relax, how to let go, how to laugh and smile and just be Georgia, in public! I love working for you, and I love you. Its gonna be hard saying goodbye!! I am forever appreciative of you. 

ECC!!!! THANK YOU!!!! You guys have always been so amazingly supportive. You've promoted my singing dream, your helping me peruse my passions,  your my safe place, your my happy place. The way the light comes through the windows, the people filling the space. The complete atmosphere. I just feel so grounded, so complete. So close to God. Everyone is so full of love. you find ways to include me and the rest of the youth. Hopefully, we are headed into Texas over spring break. I can't een put my gratitude into words. Thank you. Thank you SO SO SO much. 

And to my blog readers. Thank you. You have no idea. This blog started as an empty chat room I talked to myself and now its this beautiful thing where people are supporting me through everything. You guys are so amazing and beautiful. Thank you so much. Why don't you drop what your thankful for in the comments? 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING