Our 3rd Thanksgiving since Arlie’s diagnosis. What a crazy, emotional thing it has been. Our freedom to go & do things, health being taken for granted more than once, relationships have been challenged, not being able to show up for people we love and the list goes on. But how exhausting is it to focus on the bad?! I have to work HARD every.single.day to focus on the good stuff. I’ve held onto fear for so long that i’m just straight up exhausted. My list of Thankfulness is Full and long and extra fluffy.

• I’m thankful for my daughter being here with us. There were many moments this year, seeing her the sickest she has ever been and I let my thoughts get the best of me. I feared she wouldn’t be here with me this holiday season.

• I’m thankful for the trial study chemo Arlie got accepted to do. It is part of the many things that saved her life.

• I’m thankful that we got to hear the word REMISSION again! Although it took her much longer to get to that big day, she did it!

• Although I hated radiation, I am thankful it did exactly what it needed to do to prepare Arlie for her transplant and kill the last of the bad cells.

• I’M THANKFUL FOR THE 22 YEAR OLD MALE SOMEWHERE OUT THERE WHO GAVE MY CHILD ANOTHER CHANCE TO LIVE! The transplant is the most important part to keeping the leukemia away forever and giving Arlie her 2nd birthday 6/5/18. We love you like our own and can’t wait to meet you!

• I’m thankful for the amazing nurses and doctors who gave us love and comfort. To know what you have to see every day and love what you do… You are such a blessing.

• I’m thankful for my amazing friends and my mama who SHOWED UP for us this year. Washing our clothes, feeding us, coming and just sitting in that lonely hospital with us, rocking Arlie and comforting her so we could just take a shower or go for a walk, comforting and loving on me and Derek. The benefits, the shirts sold, the gofundme and the list goes on. You know who you are. I love you so much.

• I’m thankful for my husband. My rock, my safe place. He makes me feel safe and secure. He brings happiness on the hardest days. He loves me through my emotional, crazy mess that I can be. If we can get through this hard phase of life and be stronger then I know our life and love will get bigger and better.

• I OWN MY OWN SALON!

• LIVING FOR EVERYTHING, my non profit that I have put my WHOLE heart into. If I’ve been hard to reach lately know it’s for a good reason! We have been busy doing big things for our community!

• I’m thankful for my messy house. It’s a constant reminder that Arlie is feeling good and making alllll the messes!

• I’m thankful I am here sitting on the beach. Reflecting and holding on to hope. Giving myself grace for all that has happened this year. I’m thankful for each new day that gives me another chance to be my best, to make a difference, to show up for others that have done so much for me.