{Thoughtful Thursday} Giving Thanks

While I boundlessly admire those who took the time to come up with a brand new item to be grateful for each day of the month leading up to this divine occasion, I admit to being less than pleased with my lack of the focus required to defeat such a task. However, my young life is positively replete with thank-worthy blessings that feign a desire for expression. So, since I've missed the past three weeks' worth of gratitude, I'll sum it all up for you in one pretty little package:

{one}

Oscar the Oreo Wilson; a.k.a. Oscar de la Renta/Baby Dog/Otis

{two}

moisturizing lip gloss

{three}

really, really big hugs

{four}

adorable great-grandparents

{five}

chance encounters with attractive strangers

{six}

the freedoms afforded me by the great nation in which I live

{seven}

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

{eight} & {nine}

my beautiful mother and handsome father for passing on the genes...?

{ten}

Brittnie Felix

{eleven}

a roof above my head and a pillow beneath it

{twelve}

the miracles of modern technology

{thirteen}

giant hair bows

{fourteen}

the ocean

{fifteen}

my hard-earned sense of humor

{sixteen}

obscure excuses to do weird things

{seventeen}

the ecstatic month of sparkling anticipation between Thanksgiving and Christmas

{eighteen}

legs to run, hands to hold, a mind to think, lips to kiss

{nineteen}

my darling cousins

{twenty}
my 4 grandmas, 4 grandpas, 2 mamas, 2 papas, 7 brothers, 5 sisters, 2 nephews, 2 nieces, and countless extended relatives (yes, we're a blended family)

{twenty-one}
b e a u t y

{twenty-two}
the good young men in dorm 304, for sharing their home and their friendship with me 5 out of 7 evenings a week

Remember, it's never a bad time to say thank you. This joyous holiday gives us a reason to do so without really going out of our own way, but make a conscious effort this approaching year to give thanks at all times. I've been told it takes seven occurrences of thanking someone to really get your point across, and so often we don't even do it once! This will undoubtedly be a challenge for me; I look forward to reporting the assuredly astounding results. Keep checking back in for updates as I work on my thanksgiving skills.

Happy Black Friday (and good luck)!