Wow, another Thanksgiving down…I got to spend it with my parents yesterday, and we went to Casey’s Family today (FYI…we have tried to do both in the same day and that was just…disgusting) My Father in Law, Usually say’s prayer when we all get together and eat…in years past I seem to kind of let the words pass by my ears, or let it just kind of be “what is said before dinner”. But tonight his Prayer was great, and it made me super thankful for many of the things I have in my life….Yeah, it’s not all roses, but I I have what is important and it’s really nice to have family so close to me….I grew up not really around my extended family, it was just me, my mom and my dad. It seems that this last year has been quite a good one, but has had some hard times as well. My husband has been gone a lot trying to find work…..it’s been REALLY hard on us, but I’m thankful that he is trying to do the best for us that he can… The Summer was especially hard with him and my parents gone most of the time and I look back and think to how chaotic those days were, and even days like today. But REALLY? Who am I to complain as I sit here healthy, after eating a HUGE meal, as I type on my computer, and sit in my warm house and hear the laughter of my kids (maybe they’re trying to kill each other, but that’s not the point). It seems like everyone in our family has been healthy this year, no big catastrophe’s.
SO I see on Facebook many of my friends have been doing the “30 days of thankfulness”….It seems so generic to me though….I don’t know why, it just does, kinda like “CRAP, today is number 23 and I haven’t put what I’m thankful for, so lets come up with something quick so Facebook land will not think I’m a phoney” (Was that mean?)
ANYWAYS–
It’s funny to me that it takes having kids to REALLY be thankful for your own family…..I know that as we get older we all become more accepting and perhaps even crave more “family togetherness”. But I honestly believe that if I had never had kids, I would never truly understand how much work and devotion my mother and father had to raise me, and to be great parents. Knowing that we are so important to each other gives me GREAT hope that someday my Children and Casey and I will have the same sort of relationship. SO here it goes 
Of Course I’m thankful for my Kids, Kiana and Kaleb without them I’d probably be less sleep deprived, but I love them So much
I’m Thankful for My Hubby, for the most part we get a long AWESOME and we are doing our best to make the most of what we have in hard times, he’s a hard worker and Loves me with all his heart
We got to go to Hawaii this year so I could shoot a wedding, that was the first time we have been alone in almost 10 years it was nice to be able to listen to each other over a meal or two……..
PS THANKS MOM FOR WATCHING THE KIDS!!!
Casey is a great dad, he’s probably a better dad then I am a mom, he Love his kids, thats for sure!!! (Kaleb looks a little upset but who knows why)
I’m thankful to live in Central Oregon where we can do so many things without having to drive far to do them (I would REALLY appreciate our summers back though)
I’m thankful for my Friends who are really more like family My BFF’s Mindy and Tanna, and my Newest Friend Rebecca it’s so nice to have you guys in my life!!!!! (Mindy I know thats a super old pic but it means a lot to me)
This is my house, I’m so thankful we have it– 2 years ago we lived in our camper (mostly out of fun, but some what out of necessity) and while I think we made some GREAT memories during those 6 months of traveling, I’m SOO happy to have a home, and live in a safe town where my kids can run next door and play!!!
This is a really bad picture of my mom and Dad, HAHAHAHAHA
But seriously, I’m so thankful that they moved back from Alaska all for me, when I needed them most, I do not know how I could raise my children without them, my mom holds me together when times get tough and the kids are tearing me apart, she watches them so I can have a minute to breath, or be able to run to the store without them, she stands behind me when the doctors and other people have turned their backs on my children and their health complications…I love you guys!!!
I’m Thankful for Full Throttle Java, which my mom owns, we have worked so hard to make this a successful business we love all our customers and I know I always have a job if I need one!!!
A couple months ago, I had to go to a funeral….. That was one of the hardest funeral’s I have ever sat through. I haven’t been to a funeral in a long long time (THANK GOODNESS) but when I walked into the church there were pictures of this man on the table…during the service they played a picture slide show and a lot of the pictures were everyday normal pictures from cell phones and such, some of them were of this man when he was in High school and junior high, his sports photos and pictures that his friends had…THEN IT HIT ME LIKE A FREAKING TON OF BRICKS…..what I do is soooo important. I have always thought of wedding photography that way. Something that would be passed down to sons and daughters and something that would become family heirlooms family history. But it never phased me that the pictures that I take of kids in sports and kids and families in general are just as important as wedding photos…really they are marking a point in time that can never be replaced or replicated. And honestly, there is a HUGE difference between the pics I take for you and your family then what your iphone can do. Don’t get mad about the iphone comment, there is a time and place for everything, but believe me you need good pictures and you do not want to regret not having good pics. So for that I’m Thankful, that I’m helping you create those memories, whether they are sports pictures, wedding photos, family pics….I’m SO happy that I’m a photographer!!
Thanks Kimberly Teichrow for taking this pic of me
What are you Thankful for? I guess my list is overflowing…….
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