the COUNTDOWN is ON!

Well, the countdown is on for everything, it seems! Holiday shopping is in full force, Christmas trees are everywhere (even though we haven't roasted the turkey yet), and Macy's is prepping for their annual awesome parade! I'm personally counting down for Puerto Rico! My immediate fam/spouses and I are meeting there for the holiday. ( I saw on the news today that people look for posts like mine and then go burglarize their homes while they are on vacation -- note to robbers. . .nothing good where i live!!!)

I looked back at emails that my family and I sent to one another and realized that we've been planning since MAY to go and do this! This is a major accomplishment for the fam to take leave of their lives and go away together! We haven't been together for this long since we took our Griswold vaca to Europe when I was in the 4th grade! We all did meet mom and dad in Austria for turkey day 2005, but we all came in shifts that suited our schedules-- we weren't in it together for the long haul. That is one of the reasons I'm so excited. When you grow up, sometimes it's hard to be with your family due to conflicts of the past, need for independence, etc.; however, now that we are all grown up in my family (well i'm still working on it sometimes), I am happy to report that we genuinely enjoy one another's company. Yes, we still fight (funny I know) like the brothers and sisters that we are, but we are FRIENDS. And I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR THAT. I am and have always been a big family watcher. I love families. I have a tendency to implant myself into them. I love that they fight, hurt, love and give. It's amazing to me. I am so grateful that I still have my family intact after all that we've all been through. Most of what we've encountered has been personal and not involving one another. But we have persevered.

To my family I write this tonight: I LOVE YOU. I MISS YOU. I wish most of the time that we were not so far apart. But then I realize that we (as children) were all raised to be INDIVIDUALS, and that is what we've become. That is why we can't be neighbors just yet. We have our own lives to create and our own paths to travel. But I want you to know that regardless of the distance between us at any given time, you are never far from me. I see you every morning when I get up and every night before I go to bed on my dresser. And although that isn't the same as laughing on the sidewalk while grilling out on Labor Day or eating at my favorite sushi restaurant in the entire country in LEX vegas or enjoying the calm and serenity of your home mom and dad, you help me make it through. . .you all do. I appreciate you,(yes Sarah and Lisa, you are included and loved in this family speech). AND. . .I'm so glad I have a job that allows me to travel and see you! :-) One of the perks!!

To all of you who just happen to read my blog, HAPPY THANKSGIVING. Thanksgiving has always been one of my most favorite holidays (I think it might beat out Christmas if it weren't for the awesome decorations!!). No matter where you are on your path, stop and take a minute to assess your "thanks". Even when you are having a hard time, there is so much for which to be thankful. Hopefully, I'll have some updates from PR!!!

PS CONGRATULATIONS to Rebecca and Troy on Addison!! I can't wait to see her!