I'm Thankful for...Life.

So, I've been looking at my life lately. I mean, literally. I've had about 20+ video tapes that I haven't been able to watch in about 4-5 years due to the fact I sold my only video camera that played them. So I bought a used camera 2 weeks ago to finally watch them again. Back to the point...I'm 'watching' myself, my old friends, my little sisters and our neighbors walk around my house, talking about nothing important, laughing at silly things...abbouuut 8 years ago.
"I don't want anyone to see this!"- said 17 year old insecure me.
(Whitney turned the camera around to ME after a hangout me, her, and Drew had for my birthday...at Sonic ;) That was my "group". Me, Whitney, Drew. The 3 of us grew up together. My core friends. The ones who mattered most.
Then the tape switches to Castle Drive's 'New Years Eve Game Night'. All the snack foods, all my friends ages 6-18 running around, the moms sitting around talking in a little circle as the dads and Art play cards ;)
Its so weird to see all the kids and how they've all grown up! I mean, yes, I was kind of a kid too...but at least I was driving back then!ha. My littlest sister Stefanie was only 11 years old. She's in COLLEGE now. Its so weird to me! I mean, her little voice is so High-pitched in these videos! I'd like to show some of these videos of everyone, but I'm sure they'd all be embarrassed...(ha, maybe one day)
And the tape switches again...to our classic homemade film "Can't Kill the Dead"...haha Lindsey crawls out from behind some bricks and 'dead' Jesse, Tory, and Emily all walk like zombies through a field. (speaking of which, we made this movie BEFORE the zombie hype came back again, just saying)
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So why am I writing about watching videos? Because, truth be told, I love watching my life. I've had such a good one. In honor of Thanksgiving...I am thankful to God for... my life. I grew up in such an amazing family. I love each and every one of them. It's a great big family on both sides. I'm thankful for my Grandparents, the ones still here, and the ones who see me from Heaven now. I watch these videos of Granddaddy and Nana alive and happy at Christmas, and have to pause it because I love seeing them smile. I miss them. But nevertheless, I'm thankful that I got to be their granddaughter. All four of my grandparents...I love so much.
I'm thankful I grew up at such a great small church. We were family. The way it should be. I know some of us are all over the place (in location) now, but my heart is still close to them all. I'm thankful to God for that.
I'm thankful my parents let me move to NY...(thats a pretty big deal) I love them for letting me go. Sometimes I'm not sure exactly WHY I'm here...but I feel like there is purpose. And my parents support that. Because they're pretty great too ;)
I'm thankful for all my friends. These video tapes have more than family and church. They have my high school days (ABS had some crazy memories), have my first years of college, the CSC movies, all my friends from the theater, just ...PEOPLE. I'm thankful I've met so many great people in my life so far...and hope and pray it just continues. I love every one of them. I love when I get to see them even if its just 2 hours to catch up at a Starbucks. Our lives take us everywhere, but when we are together, time stops. People...the most important in life.

So if you managed to read my "Thankful list" this year, ha...thanks. I hope you have lots that you're thankful for too. Through my life's story I've learned one thing...

With God in your life...it makes the journey beautiful. Life is not perfect, it has its hard things and hard times. But LIFE without God...isn't life at all. He'll help you see all that is good in your life. He's the giver :)

Happy Thanksgiving!