Thanksgiving: My Favorite Holiday and A Whole Lot to Be Thankful For

Thanksgiving is the United States annual national holiday that includes a traditional meal including turkey and pie held on the fourth Thursday every November. It was the day celebrated for giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest of the preceding year. It has become more commercialized every year as less time has been spent gathered with family and friends, and more time spent planning holiday shopping on Thanksgiving and Friday-Monday. Over the years, the holiday itself has begin to lose its meaning just as Christmas has become more focused on presents, food, partying, and decorations.

My Thanksgiving every year has always been focused on family and what I am thankful for. That's why I have always enjoyed the holiday. What could be better than starting the day with a early run for a great cause and spending the rest of it with the people I love, on giving thanks, and eating?

Thanksgiving Eve was filled with excitement this year, as it greeted us with quite a bit of snow. WET and HEAVY snow.

Thanksgiving Day 2014

As a Thanksgiving tradition in my family, we run the Thanks-4-Giving 5K road race in Lowell. The race itself is one of my favorites to run just because of the great turn out every year and how festive people are. My family has shirts we wear every year and continue to add the years on the back after every race.

I was extremely happy and proud of my dad who walked the race this year. After having a hip replacement less than 2 months ago, he was out with us and was a complete champ!

This year, we added 2 turkeys to our clan, my aunt Joni and my boyfriend Jesse. I see our Turkey pack growing every year as we get older!

With a hamstring injury and with the wet slushy/icy conditions of the road, this year was not my year to PR in my 5K race. We still had a fantastic time and I crossed the finish line with Jesse and Brennan by my side. Jesse had us beat at the last second (actually .02 seconds to be exact....) and we collected our trophies (PIE OF COURSE) and were ready for the day by 9 am!

This year, I was lucky enough to spend Thanksgiving dinner with the Sykes family. With Brennan and I always being the youngest "kids" at family gatherings, it is always so heartwarming to be around small children.

The day was great, spent around fantastic and loving people and amazing food.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because the focus is on what we are thankful for.

I am extremely thankful for my family. My mom, dad, and brother have and always will be in my life and they are the greatest people I know. I owe them everything and I couldn't be more blessed to have such a great, fun, and loving support system.

I am thankful for my extended family, my aunts, cousins, uncles, grandparents, etc. We may not see each other often, but I've learned that sometimes the strongest relationships are those that are distant.

I am thankful for my boyfriend Jesse, who has been the most incredible addition in my life. He has always been a close friend (7 years!) and it's been an exciting and unexpected journey to where we are now. There isn't a day that passes I don't think about how lucky I am to have him and his wonderful family in my life.

I'm thankful for my friends, especially my close friends. I've been through a lot especially in the last few years. There's a lot I have to thank my close friends for. I don't deserve the love and beautiful friends I have, but I am so happy to have them.

Another great Thanksgiving is in the books. Hoping the next one will be just as great!

http://www.alternative-house.org/

https://www.facebook.com/Thanks4GivingRoadRace