Top Ten Things I'm Thankful For

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Here in Canada we celebrate Thanksgiving the second Monday in October, but I’ll gladly use any excuse to talk about the things I’m thankful for. This is a bit long, but I have a lot to be thankful for!

*I’m thankful for…my brother, Jamie

Normally I’d lump my family all together and say I’m grateful for all of them (which I am, my family is my life), but today Jamie gets his own special mention. Why? Because it’s his birthday! My big bro turns 40 today. We’ve always been very close. I always joke that he claimed me in the womb and has been my guardian angel ever since. He really wanted a baby sister; how many ten-year-old boys actually want a baby sister? One of my favourite stories that my mum likes to tell is this: the day I was born was the last day of school before the Christmas holidays. My parents went to the hospital, I was born early in the afternoon, and a couple hours later, my mum got a phone call from Jamie’s school. They were holding the bus because he refused to get on until he could tell all his friends he had a baby sister. I often wonder what would have happened if I’d been a boy lol. When I was a toddler, his school was attached to my preschool and he used to bring his friends over at lunch time to show me off. I was only ten when our dad died, and we became even closer after that. We’ve always had this unspoken bond - we can have an entire conversation without saying a word. He’s also brought me a sister-in-law, two nephews, and a niece that I love to death.

Jamie and me over the years

*I’m thankful for…the rest of my family

So I mentioned Jamie, my sister-in-law, nephews and niece. They and my mum are pretty much my whole life. My mum and I weren’t all that close when I was little (I was a total daddy’s girl), but we grew closer the older I got and now we’re best friends. We have so much fun together - she’s the kindest, most loving, generous person I know, and I don’t know what I’d do without her. Also, being an aunt is the greatest privilege and pleasure of my life, and I love my little people so much it feels like my heart could burst.

Logan (3), Noah (11), and Maddison (5 months)

*I’m thankful for…the blogging community

I started Ramblings of a Daydreamer three years ago last month. It’s been one hell of a ride. It hasn’t always been easy - I’ve gone through reading and blogging slumps, times when I wondered why I kept going, and times when it seemed like my head would explode if I had to write one more blog post on top of everything else I had going on in my life. But overall it’s brought me a lot of joy. It’s made me a more critical reader, it’s made me a better writer, and I’ve made some fantastic friends. I get to talk about books - my favourite subject - with people from all over the world who I wouldn’t have met otherwise. Plus a lot of my friendships have gone beyond just books, which is pretty special. Speaking of which...

*I’m thankful for…Molli and Jessica

I could have lumped these girls in with the blogging community but I thought they deserved a nod of their own. I met Molli (from Books and Whimsy) and Jessica (from Thoughts at One in the Morning) early on in my blogging days, and it was the friendship equivalent of love at first sight. Molli is my brain twin, and Jess is my kindred spirit. I talk to these girls every day and tell them everything. They know more about what’s going on in my life than any of my ‘real life’ friends do. When something exciting or sad or maddening happens, they’re the ones I turn to. I know I can rant, be silly, ridiculous, nerdy, and just ME, and they'll love me no matter what. They’ve also been huge supporters of my writing from the very beginning, and I’ve gotten to be part of their budding writing careers, which is both exciting and humbling. Even though I’ve never met either of them in person, I consider both of them part of my family and I love them dearly.

*I’m thankful for…being mobile

I hurt my back really badly early this year and could hardly walk for several months. I was pretty much housebound, and even after all these months, I’m still recovering in some ways. I’m so thankful I’m able to get around and that I’m finally mostly pain free. *knocks on wood* It's something I'll never take for granted again.

*I’m thankful for…getting to live my dream

My lifelong dream has been to become a published author and that happened almost two years ago. I’ve published four books since January 2012, and even though it hasn’t always been easy, I’m living my dream - how many people can say that? I know I’m incredibly blessed to love my job and to be doing something I’m passionate about.

*I’m thankful for…BOOKS

This one’s pretty obvious. Reading is my escape, it’s what keeps me sane and happy. Books are also the reason I get to be part of this incredible community.

*I’m thankful for…authors

I’m so thankful for the authors who tell the stories in their hearts, bravely send them out into the world to be adored or hated, and who live this crazy, lonely life. They entertain us, they break out hearts and put them back together again, and they make the world a better place.

*I’m thankful for…publishers

Does this surprise you since I’m a self-published author? I have nothing but love and respect for publishers. They’ve brought me almost all my favourite books. Plus, it’s really fun to get to work with them as a book blogger. I’m especially grateful for Simon & Schuster Canada and HarperTeen who have been incredibly good to me this year. It’s been a pleasure and an honour to work with them.

*I’m thankful for…my library

I’ve struggled a lot financially over the last few years, so the library has been a godsend. I’ve always used the library but I’ve used it so much more since I started blogging. Not only do they have a phenomenal selection of books (especially considering the size of my city), but I also love to go there and hang out. I usually go at least once a week to sit in my favourite comfy chair by the floor-to-ceiling windows and read. I’ve also started getting ebooks from the library which is super handy!

   

What are you thankful for?

Also, happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!

 

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