What Am I Thankful for This Year?

This year there are a few things that I am thankful for. January brought us a new rental home, in Mandarin. My son and daughter (David and Miranda) needed to be taken out of the trashy apartment complex that we were living in. We decided to rent an 1800 square foot home on Mandarin Road. Now we live in a great neighborhood and it's safer than the apartments. My son was getting into a huge amount of trouble with the local gangs and drugs. Once we moved things got better. My daughter was in danger at the apartments, because I caught grown men eyeballing her. She is only eleven years old, why were they even looking her way? I am thankful we were able to move.

I was blessed with being able to adopt three dogs from the Animal Care & Control office. They have the best temperaments, especially for being abused pets. When they look at us we can see how thankful they are. The best part is no one will bother Miranda or me when we're outside chilling. I say this because Ruger is a 95 pound Black & Tan hound dog; Ritta is a 55 pound Catahoula Leopard dog; and Roxy is a 100% all American Rottty Mutt, at only 4 months old she is already a whopping 29 pounds. I am thankful for such great dogs from my local dog pound.

After four years of living together, my boyfriend and I were FINALLY married. There were lots of down times and up times were far and few between. But we walked right through it. We did not let my children dictate our lives and we (mostly me) stood our ground, with the children. After my second divorce I was a mess, Edwin (my new husband) was there and kept picking me up. I am very thankful for him. I could not ask for a better husband, stepfather, and best friend. I thank God everyday for leading me to him, "The last good man." I'm just kidding; I know there is a couple more out there for you single ladies. I am thankful for him.

This may sound odd, but my brother just got out of prison. He was there for ten years, it was his first offense. First thing, don't get arrested in Georgia and be from Florida. Somehow for those ten long years he managed to stay out of trouble or maybe he just didn't get caught and he managed to stay ALIVE. He went in at 16 years old and came out a 26 year old man. Do you know what happen while he was in that place? We all missed 10 birthdays, 10 New Year's, 10 Thanksgiving's, 10 Christmas's, and 10 of everything. I can't wait to sit around that great big table and eat a huge family dinner with my little brother, after missing so much of each others lives. I am thankful he is at home, safe and sound.

Charley, my grandfather, has been ill. He has been in and out of the hospital, now he's at home getting better. I am thankful for that. My son totaled two cars this year and he walked away from both accidents. No one got hurt, I thank God for that. My family has been getting along a lot better this year. It seems to me they are all being more patient with each other. I am thankful for that as well.

This year I can honestly say my family, as a whole, has been blessed. We are getting along better with each other, we are healthy, safe, and we will all be together for the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year holidays. This is everything I am thankful for and more.