Yes, as both an American and a faithful blogger- I pretty much have to write a post about what I’m thankful for. And of course: those things are totally cliche. But, whatever.

I am thankful for my life first & foremost. I have been extremely fortunate in everything I have done. I am pretty much borderline poor, but, it could always be much worse. I have a place to call home. That right there is more than a lot of Americans can say today.

I am grateful to have a huge loud family with whom I get to spend the day with. Clearly, I am also grateful for the rest of my huge awesome family that won’t be there today as well.

I am grateful for my parents and wonderful step-parents who love my brother & I as their own and love my son probably more than my parents! I am so thankful for their love and support in everything we do and for the fact that regardless of rocky teen years we have managed to become wonderful friends.

On that topic: I am eternally grateful for my friends. The Voltron- all 6 of us. I love you girls more than most things in this world and your friendship literally means everything. We’ve been through so many years together both good and bad and come out as amazing friends with an amazing bond. I love that half of you really ARE my family and we get to spend holidays together. But, Lisa & Steph- you girls are the real thing. True friends who I’d trust with everything and know you’d come through. I love you guys. Laura: probably my first friend in life, I am so glad to still have you as a best friend and cousin. You are so amazing, you have no idea. Krust & Sarah: I literally cannot thank you two enough. I am so happy to have met your brother because I also met you two. I’m not sure what I’d do without your love and support. I really did luck out in the in-law department.

Obviously, my husband is my “knight in shining armor” (cheesy, I know.) He is the one & only love of my life and I am so fortunate to have found him when I was 14. We have spent so much of our lives together and have basically grown up together. I am so proud of him and everything he does for our family. I am thankful for his love everyday. He is perfect for me and I am so happy to have married my best friend.

And oh-my-GOSH! HUDSONNNN. My little man. I am so incredibly thankful for my son. I cannot even imagine my life before this guy. Every morning he wakes up and stares at me from his crib (or up at me while he cuddles in my arms) and he makes me SMILE. I literally have never been in love with anyone the way I am with my son. It’s something I never understood until I held him for the first time. I cannot believe how lucky I am to have him and two more on the way when so many people are struggling to have children.

I guess that’s what I’m thankful for today. I mean, I am a VERY grateful person- but this is all I can think of at 8 AM. I am thankful for my health, happiness and the health and happiness of my family and friends. I’m thankful for food on the table and the people who surround it. I am thankful for every single thing in my life. Even the challenges.

So, today: stuff your faces and tell everyone you know that you love them and appreciate them. Thanksgiving’s roots may be kind of scary- but the message of coming together and being grateful for what we are and what we have is such an important one. It’s so easy to forget how lucky we really are.