Happy Thanksgiving.

Today we give out thanks, to family friends and neighbors. And that includes you guys. 

Happy Thanksgiving my friends.

May you have a very safe and happy Thanksgiving with lots of blessings to come!

Day 26: I am thankful for friends.

It seems as we get older, the more appreciative of the friends we have. Maybe because as we get older, we hold tighter to the friends we do have.  I have never been one to have thousands of thousands of friends, but the ones I have, are incredible. Believe me they are amazing people.

I think we all will admit lives become crazy. Family, work, day to day things mean we do not get to spend as much time with the ones we love.

I know I am just as bad at catching up, staying in touch and reaching out to those that I hold close. We always assume the other is just to busy, or we put things off until tomorrow. And then the next day.I keep promising myself I will improve on this. 

We have been through a lot. All of us have, together we push each other to make the be the best people we can be. Its not always easy, but we hang in there. We are who we are because of people like friends. I fully believe that.

So I wanted to say thank you to all my friends, I have been so blessed to have each and every one of you in my life. Whether you live around the corner, an hour or way or across the country. I am so incredibly thankful for the friendships we have made. I know I do not say it enough, I know I do not see you enough but know that you are and always will be a part of my life. I have learned a lot about myself from you guys.

So if you are reading this, thank you. Thank you for picking me up when I needed it, kicking me in the butt when I needed it and just being there to laugh, cry and support me through everything. Even if I do sound totally crazy in my ideas and believe I am all alone in my line of thinking.

I love you all. And am so very thankful to have you guys as my extended family.

Day 24: I am thankful for Gary, the committee and the process.

"Some diamonds need a little more time to shine. But that does not mean they don't sparkle."

-Aleisha M. 

Today, my thank you may be a bit strange. Because less than 48 hours ago I received the 'this is not your year.' email from the very same people I am about to thank.

Last year I received the same sort of no letter while I was in the middle of a bus. This year I got it while my husband and I were on our way out the door to meet a friend for her birthday dinner. I think I did a lot better holding the tears back this year. Though fully admit, there were tears shed. Thankfully, it was dark enough that I did not have to hide my tears behind my sunglasses and I was not in the middle of a crowded bus. The same rules apply this year as they did last year in the sense that you can try and prepare yourself for the rejection (which is not so much of a rejection as a not your year. And believe me it is the best not your year letter you will ever receive, trust me on this one). But no matter how prepared you are, the truth of the matter is this, one can truly never be.

And just as much as I am sad, I still find myself happy for those that were selected. They will do amazing things in the year to come, and I am thrilled to have gotten to know a lot of them. They are going to rock the panel. I still consider many of them friends, and look forward to cheering them on as they start their journey.

But of course this is a thank you post. So I wanted to say this. I am thankful for Gary and his incredible team. I have learned so much about myself in the process of the past two years. I have grown so much as a person in the past two years than I have in awhile. And I continue to. They may not realize it, but they have helped a lot in so many ways.  So because of that, thank you Gary and the judging committee.

If you do not know anything about the Disney Parks Moms Panel, know this. The community is amazing. The support and friendships made are like nothing else. Where else can you come back year after year and still walk away thinking positive and hopeful for the future. 

Once again I was asked if I would do it again, and once again I will say yes. I will. You can bet I will be back. I will continue to grow, to improve to work on things and will be stronger next year. I look forward to perfecting my answers, learning from my mistakes, and correcting them. I do not look at this as a failure, but rather more time to perfect and grow from it. I will not give up, nor will I stop spreading the joy of assisting others. Because maybe this year was not my time. Not my year.

But maybe next year, well maybe next year? It just may be. 

Day 21: I am thankful for my health.

For the past two days my son has been down with the flu. Apparently it is going around. And while my mom has been amazing enough to stay home with him, it has reminded me how thankful I am for my health.

A couple years ago I was not aware of how thankful I should be for my health. Three emergency surgeries and a lot of weeks spent in a hospital bed later I discovered how precious and fragile life can be.

Yes that was a year I do not want to remember.

But tonight, well tonight as my son fights the flu and as many around the world fight illness's and sicknesses I am so thankful that I am for the most part healthy (I could probably cut back on caffeine) and my issues are all in the past. Maybe I am still on the skinny side. And maybe I have yet to figure out how to eat an entire meal once more. But these are minor things really.

Yes I get sick on occasions. The flu hits, colds come and go. But for the most part I am healthy and happy.

And that is worth a thousand thanks!

Day 18: I am thankful for my sisters!

I have two sisters. And I am lucky enough to say I am sandwiched right in the middle.  Yes, yes I am a middle child. And believe me at times I definitely agree with the whole middle child thing.

But on this evening, I find I am thankful. Not only for both of my sisters, but for being a middle child.

Why?

Well other than the fact I have two incredibly talented sisters, two beautiful and amazing sisters. I am also honored and lucky enough in the sense that I am both a big sister and a little sister. Which is something neither can say. If you ask me, that is like getting the best of both worlds.

So yes I am thankful for my big sis, who I always wanted to be like. I mean who else could get me to reenact the entire movie of Annie! with her, and make it totally work. Who else would be crazy enough to listen to me ramble on and on about how I thought Newsies would make the best musical out there (yep we were way ahead of Disney on this one) we had the whole thing worked out, the writers the set the costumes. I just wish we were old enough to actually understand it could have happened. And who else could I get my musical love from.

And I am thankful for my totally crazy, freespirited little sister. Who, I always found the be beautiful and talented. Who I always thought, if I could be a little more free like her. Maybe she doesn't know this, but it is true. We have had our own crazy adventures. Thankfully we did not grow up in the era of social media as I am sure our epic mothers day show in the basement, a parody of Ghostbusters to Fartbusters (how mom let us both live to double digits after that is beyond me) would have gone viral by now. And yet, she has always been there. Stuck up for me and taken no crap. I love that about her.

Maybe I will never be the star like the older sister was. Or the baby/ wild one like my little sisters.

Maybe I will forever be the middle sister.

But you know to me?
There is no better place I would rather be.

Day 15: Thankful for a good book.

I am a book nerd. I live for them. I devour them and then realize I could go back and do it all over again.

Yes I love to read.

And today I am thankful for a good book. This may sound strange as how many people do you know actually find themselves thankful for a good book.

But here is the thing, to me there is nothing like a good book, a warm drink in my hand and my imagination to take me away. 

I love when they can suck me in. I love when they can make me want so much more and leaves me with the desire for the story to continue. Yes I am one of those that finds that good book and wish for it to not end. I crave more often.


Yes. I am thankful for the ability to read.

Day Thirteen: I am thankful for my dad.

I am one lucky gal. You see I am one of those girls who has been blessed with a great dad. And as I get older I find I am more like him than not.

And you know that is perfectly alright with me.

Sure we both may have little quirks that only we understand, and he may apologize for this. But what he doesn't realize is, I am extremely proud to be my fathers daughter.

What other gal can say they had a father come sit on the bleachers of a HS softball game not to watch his daughter play, but to watch his daughter cheer the team because she was only a manager of the team. And yet he was there cheering alongside all the other.

It is one of my favorite moments of high school.

Even now as a grown adult, I realize just how thankful I am to have such a great dad. I know people who would only wish to be so lucky. And as I get older, I am more thankful that I am like him. Because he is a great guy, and I would be so lucky to be just like him.

So on this Thursday night, I am thankful for my dad.

And always will be.

Day 12: Thankful for the Disney Parks Moms Panel Process!

If you were a 2015 Disney Parks Moms Panel you probably spent the better half of the afternoon glued to your email waiting for a magical (or in some cases, not so) email. Were you going to be a yes or a no? Could this be your year.


Yes I confess I was one of the many who sat nervously behind my computer. Did I want to check? Maybe I didn't. But I had come to the decision that either way, what I was thankful for that day is the friendships and the connections that I had made through the process. We have become a family. Strangers miles away linked together through the love of Disney. That in itself is all sorts of awesome.
 
So either way I was to be happy. That was my decision. So today, on day 12 of what I am thankful for I thank the Disney Parks Moms Panel process for allowing me to meet some of the incredible guests that have gone through the journey with me. Whether I have connected with you personally or not, it has been an amazing thing to go through year after year.

I did receive the magical email. I danced. I admit I ran around the office looking for someone to tell when who I really wanted to tell was the other hopefuls because they knew exactly what this meant. I realize a lot of my fellow hopefuls, some of which I have become quite good friends with didn't receive the same news and my heart went out to them. I know how much dedication and love they put in to it. I know the desire to continue on is strong. But I also know, just because it is not their year this year, doesn't mean it will forever be a no. Believe me, I know. Yet these same men and women who received a no, turned around and congratulated me for moving on. I just wish I could have returned the favor to them, and hopefully one day I will be able to. Because as a Disney family, this is what we do.

And because of that, today I am thankful for them.

On to Round 3.

Day Eleven: Thank You vets.

On this veterans day, I am thankful for all those who have fought for my freedom. We owe you more than you owe us.

THANK YOU.

Day Ten: I am thankful for witnessing all four seasons.

I love this time of year. When the leaves are changing, sweaters are pulled out and I can throw on my knee high boots and totally get away with it. Yes I may be a summer girl but there is something about the autumn that makes me fall in love with the season. I love the color scheme of the season, the burnt reds and deep yellows. 

And today I am thankful that I have grown up and been raised in an area which allows for all four seasons. Yes the winters may get snow, and the temps drop well below what I would like. And yes I will moan and complain about it until spring arrives. Because despite it being beautiful, it does get old after awhile.

That being said at least  we get to experience it. I get to watch the leaves fall and drink hot chocolate in the fall and then lay out with a book in the spring as the buds bloom.  I have run in to a couple of people who have never seen the change over, somehow I get the sense they felt as though they missed out. Come to think of it I suppose they have in a way.

So yes, today I am thankful for the area I grew up in. For allowing me to have it all. I get to experience it all. I get the best of all worlds. Autumn, Spring, Summer and yes even winter. 

And that when I think of it. Well that is not to bad if you ask me.

Day Nine: Thankful for weekends

I never appreciated the weekends until I became a working adult. I assume it is because as a teenager my weekends were spent babysitting the neighborhood kids, or on the softball field. So weekends, really weren't all that special.

Now as I am staring at the clock on a lazy Sunday I realize how much I love weekends. How much I am thankful for them. Especially since I know a couple of friends who work during the weekends and do not know the meaning of them.

Yes I am thankful for the two days I get to spend with my family. I love that on a Sunday afternoon little man and I can dance around the living room in our pajamas because we have no where to be. Or just hanging out with friends like old times.

Yes weekends, who would have ever thought we would live for them as much as we do. And on an eve of a Monday, when I am feeling the Sunday night blues, I am thankful that I only five days until they return.

Day Eight I am thankful for my freedom.

This past week during poetry workshop a woman read a poem that was beautiful, and emotional. Fully admit she had a hard time getting through it without tears. The class of course thought it was about drugs and getting high. And we debated endlessly about it as the poet could not say anything until she was told she could respond.

When she did, through a tear filled explanation it was discovered the poem had nothing to do with drugs but war. For her home country is at war with one another and it was her account of what she witnessed as a child on the streets before her parents escaped to America.

"You guys do not realize the freedom and the privilege you have of not growing up like that. War is awful."

We know it isn't pretty. We have seen the pictures, I have had friends that have fought and have come back changed people. But hearing it from an actual person who grew up there, spent her childhood not knowing if anyone in her family, including herself would see another day.  It made me really thank the Lord a little more.

I have thought about that poem a lot this week, as my month of thanks continues, and I have found myself thanking the lord I grew up in a country that allows me to be free. I do not care what your belief is in the system that we have currently, whether you like the President or not. To me that does not matter. I am thankful enough that we have the ability to decide who we want, and get the right to vote every four years.  I am thankful that my country allows me as a woman the right to an education, and to vote and to wear what I want. Yes, this classmate made me think a lot about the sort of thing. Why?

Because these are freedoms that other cultures do not allow.

Maybe there are a lot of things that I do not understand about politics at the moment. Maybe I do not agree with certain things. But at the same time, I get to wake up and go to work. I get to decide what to do, what to be. And I am free.

And for that...I am thankful to be an American.

Day seven: I am Thankful for the small things.

This morning my son came crawling in to snuggle right before the alarm was to go off. As he wrapped his little hands around my neck and hugged me I wanted to stay in the moment forever. I wanted to capture it and put it away for the day he is 17 and no longer wants to have anything to do with me. 

This of course is not the first time he has done this. But each time he does, it turns out to be one of my favorite moments of the morning. It is also one of my most happiest moments of the morning. Probably because it happens to be the same time I realize how truly blessed I am.

I lay there in bed this morning, and listened to him chatter on and on. I admit half the stuff I probably didn't truly comprehend though I am pretty sure it was Star Wars related. And smiled. Yes, it is the small things in life like the extra five minutes of snuggle time that I am thankful for. It is just laying there cherishing the moment, not wanting to let it slip by me.

Sure fancy cars and huge rings are nice. But there is something so special and beautiful about the simple things. And none of these things seem to last and have the same sort of memories that the simple things can.

Often I think we take these simple moments and things in life for granted. How many times do we rush around to get ready, end up at the breakfast table and stare at our cell phones? I know we all do. But sometimes, well sometimes what we are missing is huge. 

Take a moment, look up. It’s catching your son snorting chocolate milk out of his nose so hard he is crying. Or watching him write a complete sentence and then reading it without any help. Yes, they are simple. But they are also amazing to catch.

It is those simple moments that memories are made from. And they are those moments that you will look back and think, why didn’t I do something about it back then?

I decided to stay in bed with him as long as we could. We giggled as he tried to wake his dad, and we danced around the room at the knowledge that it was in fact Friday.

As we left the house, I realized I did not make the bed.

And you know that was alright by me.

I am thankful for: Day Six: Disney.

Last night, my first contribution of November to the Disney Drive Life site went live, the topic was why I was thankful for Disney. And because I do not feel like repeating myself, I am asking you to go to the link below as my thankfulness month continues.

So for day six of thankfulness: I am thankful for Disney....

Why I am Thankful for Disney!

Enjoy!

Day Five: Thankful to be a creative writer. (and a little poetry)

Today as I stare down at a creative piece I am working on, I found myself smiling.

You see, writing makes me happy.

No matter what capacity it is, (though I prefer the creative kind) watching words flow across a blank piece of paper is like trying to create a masterpiece. It fills me.

It has become my passion. A passion I am not only embracing, but so thankful for.

Really, it should have come to no surprise. I loved my creative writing English class I took in High School. To this day I write in a journal. Though not as often as once used to. While my sisters may have enjoyed acting and walking down the runway, I was perfectly content to be behind the scenes. To me, creating a piece that was later acted out, sounded a lot better.

While my writing has yet to pay the bills, I have found at times it doesn't need to. Sometimes, just simply knowing I am writing is worthwhile enough for me. And should my writing expand, should I help one person, touch one person with my words, well then I consider it a good day.

Yes, my writing is my passion, it's my desire and joy. It has taken awhile to really come to terms that writing is something I really want to do. What has been so rewarding is finding something that truly makes me happy. Being happy with what you are doing? It makes life so much more enjoyable period.

I have shared my passion in words with you for awhile now and I will continue to do so. Including the latest piece from my creative poetry workshop:

CONCERNING WISHES

Spells

You think they come easy

As though I keep them buried

Between bosoms and straps

And fluffy blue outfits made from fireflies

Oh dear child

Your naivety will catch up to

Dreams

You think you’re the only one

To have them

Looking to me as if

You expect me to be a miracle worker

I am a busy woman

Do not waste my time making decisions on

Magic

Is not always a good thing

Power beauty money they all have a price

Temptation is not spoken of

Be careful you don’t fall trap

To a young girl’s fairytale of

Wishes

That often fall victim

To adulthood expectations

-Aleisha M.

Thankful for day four: My mom on her birthday.

Today just happens to be my mother’s birthday. And seeing that it is a month full of thankfulness, well how can I not dedicate today’s thankfulness to her?

Moms, they are something special. They are there through thick, thin and every place in between. My mom is no different. Between my two sisters and myself, we keep her a busy woman. She helps out with little resistance, complaint or thought of herself. She is the first one to help out, bake something for complete strangers and offers to watch next door neighbors kids in an emergency.

Yes, my mom is Superwoman at times. 

And she has been my entire life. She hasn’t just been mom to three girls, but to every single kid she drove during her 35 years as a school bus driver. Yes, my mom was one of those drivers that brought sodas for the seniors on the bus during their final days of school, held art contest each and every season and had prizes for the winners (judged by the older kids). She would lend them money if they forgot. Wait for them as they ran to the bus on rainy days. She was the kind to decorate the bus during field trips, high school games and other events. As a student, it was super awesome to get on the bus to balloons and streamers in your school colors. As a daughter, it was even more awesome when you heard later how cool that was. Yes Mom, people did love it. And they still remember that sort of thing to this day.

Of course I am no longer in school, and she is no longer driving a bus. But that same spirit remains. I see it as she decorates for Halloween and Christmas and asks the neighborhood kids if they need anything. Then later invites them in to see my dad’s awesome train setup he does on an annual basis (this year he will add a Walt Disney World Resort Monorail to the collection) because well, she enjoys it. She is the type of mother that bakes cookies for the entire neighborhood and makes sure they are safe. And she is the type of person who on a Halloween night, when her next-door neighbor decides to take her kids out trick-or-treating, makes sure their house does not go unnoticed. She even has one of us stand there and hand out their candy so that a young mother can enjoy the holiday as well.

I see it as she watches my own son and the joy they bring to each other.  I am so thankful for her willingness to watch him throughout the years so we can work. Or while I have taken classes, gone to hockey games or simply enjoyed some time to myself.  I know how much he loves it in return. I know in years to come; those moments will be precious memories to both my mom and my little man.

So on this day, her birthday (I will politely leave off the number, because I love her and cherish my life), I want to say, I love you Mom, not just from me but from everyone. You may not realize it, but you are and have been a mom to so many people.

And we should all be so lucky and thankful to have a mom just like you.

Day Three: I am thankful for the hubs.

You think I would forget my husband? I am thankful for my husband. It is hard to believe thirteen years ago I found myself parking at a local mall and making my way to meet a guy off the internet, having no idea that when I did, I would be meeting my future husband. Back then I truly just thought it would be a lot of fun to do something that no one really expected me to do.

But here we are, nearly thirteen and a half years later. 8 years of marriage, a kid and well? What can I say that I haven’t already said?

We have been through a lot in those several years. The road to happiness is not always an easy one. Bumps, hills and valleys are expected in every relationship. But somehow we have managed to weather it out and stick side by side.  Yes we have.

I can’t imagine a better guy for our son, you have done a lot in raising him and for that alone I will forever be thankful for. You are a great father I hope you realize this. Not too many other guys will sit through the same episode of SpongeBob because it is his son’s favorite episode and still find something to laugh about as if it is the first time you have seen it.

And then there was 2011. It was a pretty harsh year for me. And despite my three emergency surgeries somehow he managed to hold it all in as though nothing was wrong, he wasn’t scared and had everything under control. Even when he was halfway across the country traveling with the Washington Capitals he still somehow managed to make it back to me in time to be there for a good chunk of recovery in the hospital. Believe me I do not think I would have been nearly as strong had he not been there in some form or another.

But I am most thankful for his ability to accept me for who I am. And he encourages me to be the very best that I can be, even when I am struggling to find the courage to do so myself.  He stands by me in every challenge I take on. He encourages me to continue to believe in me, to be the best me no matter what. He puts up with my endless pursuit of becoming a Disney Parks Moms Panel, and  sits in silence as he listens to me go on and on about it.

Yes he is a good guy.

And for that I am forever thankful for him.

I am thankful for: Day Two.

I have written several posts about the special bond I have with my son, so it should come to no surprise that he is by far one of the things I am most grateful for.

One of my greatest achievements is being a mom. Growing up I was one of those girls that dreamed about having a kid, it was part of the reason at that time I wanted to be a teacher. I didn't care if it was a girl or boy just that it was a healthy. I suppose we all want the same thing.

I have to say when it comes to the kid department, I definitely lucked out. I have the worlds greatest kid. No joke. And he is my pride and joy. There isn't a day that goes by that I marvel at his achievements, his inner ability to be empathetic to anyone he comes across, including his teacher this past week. His attention to everyone's else baffles me and makes me proud to be the mom of the man he is becoming.

It takes a special kind of kid to hug his mom and ponder how you can play something with one hand because he wants his mom to experience the same sort of magic and fun that he gets to experience.

Special indeed.
And yes he is love.

No matter what kind of day I have had, he is there. He keeps me going. I can have the most craptastic of a day and the moment he comes running through the door displaying that gorgeous little grin, the craptastic day just vanished. It is moments like that when I find myself forever grateful for him. 

And I am grateful for the opportunity to be a mom. It is not something I take lightly as I know so  many who would love to be in my position.

Being a mom?

Well that, I am grateful every day for it.

Day One: I am thankful for the ability to walk.

So what am I thankful for? The ability to walk to begin with. I know what your thinking, what about family and friends. I assure they will be there. They are not forgotten but lets start here shall we.

And why am I grateful for walking? It was the reason I got the idea behind the month of what I am thankful for as a woman came in to a store the other day complaining because she had to spent the next six to eight weeks in the cast on her foot. She started complaining about everything she couldn't do. I sat there listening in line as she went on and on to her friend, and my first thought was, she is lucky to walk.

Me? I wasn't supposed to ever walk. In fact they told my parents I wouldn't. Thankfully my parents were pretty stubborn and determined to get me to and so they worked with me for months behind the doctors back, and slowly I did. Believe me I realize how close I was to having my life spent in a wheelchair.

I remember wearing those braces on my leg as a kid, getting fit for them on my foot. I remember the struggle.  And there is not a day that goes by that I don't look down at my feet, sure I may walk with a slight limp  and I can't wiggle my right toes, but you know I am walking. I have two feet that work. And most never know the struggle I went through as a kid.

Yes, I have had friends who have lived in wheelchairs, and wear braces on their legs as an adult. I know of the struggles they go through. I know just how much they wish they could walk. Even if for one day.  For them spending  8 weeks in a cast seems pretty good.

That woman eventually went on about her day, and I said nothing. I didn't need to. I doubt she would have gotten the message anyway.

But I walked out of there, and practically skipped with my son to my car.

Thankful I could.