A Time of Thanks...

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Although I can't quite believe it, Thanksgiving is in 2 days! And I am so looking forward to mashed potatoes, turkey (dipped in mashed potatoes), rolls (also dipped in mashed potatoes), and pumpkin pie. When I was mentoring today, the fourth graders were all dressed up as Pilgrims and Indians and it was so cute! My favorite thing to do in school was draw a "Turkey Hand" and decorate it with five things I was thankful for. In honor of that tradition, here are five things I am thankful for today!

5. Microwaves. Probably one of the best inventions of all time! Do you know how hard it is to heat up leftover rice on the stove? First, I tried the oven, but then the bowl just got really hot and it was taking forever. So I switched to the stove. Then the rice started to congeal on the bottom of the pan. Good thing I added some soy sauce to it to loosen things up. And although you really can cook anything using the stove and oven, it takes SO MUCH LONGER! So yes, I am extremely thankful for microwaves and extremely thankful that I can now afford to buy one!

4. Potatoes. In case you couldn't tell, I love mashed potatoes. But really, I love potatoes of all kinds. Baked, scalloped, in soups, in salads, fried, as chips, all forms of the potato is good! When I went on the job interview at Washington Mutual, Hillary was telling me about how one branch asks the question "If you could be any vegetable, what you be and why?" I immediately knew my answer. "I would be a potato. No matter what situation you put it in (i.e. baked, scalloped, fried, mashed, etc.), you can always expect a satisfactory result. It's a vegetable that is very multi-faceted, and most importantly, very adaptable." Of course they didn't ask me that question, but I was ready for it just in case. I am truly thankful for being an Idaho girl and for the deliciousness that is the potato!

3. J. K. Rowling. I absolutely idolize her. She restored my faith in the written word and introduced a world of magic that will help me escape the reality of the world today for years and years to come!

2. My friends. There really isn't anything I can say that does justice to how much I love my friends. I am truly blessed to have so many wonderful, lifelong friends. I know many people believe that you meet your lifelong friends in college, because that is when you discover who you truly are as a person. I am lucky enough to have friends from every major part of my life-high school, college, and work. I can honestly say that I have more true great friends than I count on both hands. I know that each of them would do anything for me and I would do anything for them.

1. My family (Go Figure, right?!). I don't have a huge, extended family. But the 12 crazy people that do make up my family are the best I could ask for. We are all so alike and so different in every way. But the bottom line comes down to this: Always do whatever is best for you. The family will support you no matter what. I am so very excited that I get to go home for Thanksgiving this year. But, just so you know, even if I was going to have to stay in Boise, I still would have been celebrating with family. About four different sets of family, to be exact!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! May your plates be empty and your stomachs' full!