a month of thanksgiving

today i am thankful for my friends from home. 

i am thankful for drew (the one who is on a mission and coming home a week after i get back!).  he made me read this quote again today... and it was exactly what i needed.

People are often unreasonable and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people will accuse you of ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you.
Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have
and it may never be enough.
Give your best anyway.

For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
It never was between you and them anyway.

Mother Teresa

this is from our trip to sweden a few years ago

i am thankful for paige and maggie.  we did a three-way skype call last night and it was so fun to see their faces and have a conversation with the three of us all together!

this is such a funny picture.. i didnt even realize that the screenshot had worked until after we had all hung up.  we were actually a lot happier to be talking to each other than we look here, i promise!

i am thankful for erin lee, my soul sister.  we don't see each other as much as we should, but i love that girl with every last part of me.

this is from london town.. shout out to my girls on the london study abroad program!! ;)

i am thankful for those of you who read this silly little blog of mine.  sometimes i wonder why i have it... but then i get a comment or two and there is something about having people on the other end, behind a computer screen somewhere, sharing in these adventures and thoughts of mine.  especially receiving emails from readers... i like it.  all of it.. please, never hesitate to say hi or ask questions.  i love hearing from you.


more italy stuff coming tomorrow.. ciao for now!