{Okay} Family

Of course my family isn't really just "Okay," they're awesome! But today for Thanksgiving, we spent the afternoon in Okay, Oklahoma with my mom's family. It's always a gathering of people that I'm related to in a way that I don't know, but nevertheless, it was a good time! My mom's grandparents, Grandma Dorothy and Big Daddy, had four kids: my great-aunts Sheila and Debbie, my great-uncle Donald, and my GranDaddy Ronnie. All of them had kids too of course, so this get-together consists mostly of my mom's cousins and all of their kids, and so on! There were a lot of us!

Baby Meggie and Big Daddy! He was so mischievous.

By far, my favorite part of this year's Thanksgiving was getting to go through old photo albums of my great-grandparents. Both of them have passed away, but I still remember them well, even though I wish that I could have spent more time with them while they were here. Even if I never got the chance to know them when they were young and healthy, looking at photos of their lives made me appreciative of being here today. Without all of the people that came before me, I wouldn't be here, and I wouldn't be the person that I am today without the wonderful family that I have.

One of my favorite albums that I got to look through was a trip that Big Daddy and Grandma Dorothy took to Hong Kong in the 70s. They took some really cool photos that I brought home with me! I'm not sure what I'll do with them just yet, but I definitely want to show them off in my apartment somehow! Here are a few of my favorites...

There is Always Something is be Thankful For

Despite everyday stresses and getting too caught up in what I wish I had, deep down I am thankful everyday, and not just this time of year, for so many wonderful parts of my life. I'm not the same person that I was at this same time last year. I've gone through a lot of changes and ups and downs, and at this point I can say that I'm grateful for what I've been through and can see the beginnings of happiness coming back into my life.

Most of all, I'm grateful for the people that I have in my life. There are days when I feel like I've missed out on friendships or feel like I don't have enough friends, but in reality, I have so much more than a lot of people and am so lucky to have the support of the people I do have. In my darkest times, even if they don't understand me, I have family that will support me, stand by me no matter what, and actually BE my friends. Some friends come and go, but my family will love me unconditionally and be there for me when I need it the most.

Like I said, sometimes I feel like I could always use more friends (you can never have enough!) but the few friends that I do have are the best. I'm sad that I've lost the best friend I had for 3 and a half years, and he'll always be important to me, but I'm so grateful that I have friends that stuck around, new ones to help me see new opportunities, and old ones that came back when I needed them most.

Old Friends! They'll always be special even if we don't keep in touch as much.

My BFF Lindy!

And of course, I have to dedicate an entire thankful paragraph to my number one blog reader, Lindy Tucker Terburg. My dearest Lindy Loo... I really mean it when I say thank you for being my best friend. It seems like just yesterday that you awkwardly asked me to hang out for the first time, and after our first date, I was so excited that I had a new friend like you, but I don't think I could have ever predicted just how much you would mean to me. I don't care who knows it... I love you! You have been there for me just to sit around and watch TV or movies with, you listen to me better than any friend I've ever had, and you got me through (and continue to get me through!) some of the hardest things I've ever had to endure. I hate that you're not here in Oklahoma anymore, and I hate the thought of possibly never living in the same state again, but that doesn't change anything. You will always be my closest, dearest friend. Because we're much more than best friends, we're bestbians. I miss you buddy!

 

Finally, after the longest first blog post ever, even though I complain about school, I am so thankful for the opportunity to get an education, and I know that I've grown into a stronger person because of it. Change is hard, but I can see past it now and realize that I've already become a more confident and independent person because of it. I'm one lucky lady!