{announcement} Um, OK, this is probably my 2nd biggest announcement ever. (I think the “I had a baby” thing still is number 1. But I’m not sure.)

I love Eva and I want to enter for anything she’s giving away!!!! I am subscribed to daily emails.

Now, I’m going to follow you on Twitter, too.

like on facebook.

shared with a friend.

I am thankful for my parents who have saved my @$$ many times over.

This would be a lovely prize for me. Just starting to transition myself to a raw diet and can use all the help I can get to make my transition on a tight budget.

Anyways, to answer the question, I am very thankful for my very amazing nearly 2 year old son, that showers me with hugs and kisses every day.

It’s hard to quantify the things I’m thankful for in life, or how I came to “have” them, because they aren’t really “things”. I appreciate my car, having a place to live, etc, but mostly just because I recognize that I need them to survive, not because they provide me with more than that. I’m thankful for my job because it provides me with money, which fulfills my need for financial security, and provides me with means to have a car and a place to live. Then the car gets me to work so that I can keep my job and thus keep my car; a never ending cycle. As for how I came to have the job, I went to a good college and honestly didn’t work very hard, but did well. It all obviously started with me being born and raised, and supported (financially, emotionally, etc) by you. The “things” aren’t what I’m really thankful for though.

What I’m truly thankful for are the people I have in my life who love and support me unconditionally, and allow me to do the same for them. I’ve come to “have” them in several ways…some are family, like you, Missy, Aunt Jan, but most are friends, like Lexy and Michael. Family, I was lucky enough to be born into. Friends, I’ve “collected” along the way. I’ve stumbled into a surprisingly large group of amazing people being with Michael and have been able to forge friendships independently of Michael with some of them, like Ben (a man Michael went to school with in Eudora) and Faith (Jay’s girlfriend). Lexy and I happened on each other at Simmons because we were both friends with Desirae, my roommate (and still are). I’m thankful that when one of us screws up, no matter how large, the other is forgiving. I’m thankful to have people I don’t hesitate to call, even at 3 am, both in good times and bad. There are a lot of people you can call when things go wrong, and most of them will show up, and it says a lot about the people who do show up, but perhaps more about the people who don’t. I think the true friends are the ones that do show up when the shit inevitably hits the proverbial fan. I think the best true friends are the ones that you can call at 3 am, not because something is wrong, but because something is right. You wake up with some epiphany, or you’re just too happy about whatever to sleep, etc, and they aren’t upset that you woke them in the middle of the night even though nothing was wrong. They are the ones who are more excited for you than you are for yourself sometimes, because your happiness means so much to them.

I’m thankful to have enough joy in my life that I have reasons to call someone at 3 am because I can’t contain it myself any longer. I think, over all, I have an optimistic outlook, and that is part of the reason I have that much joy. As for how I got the optimistic outlook, its probably part “nature” and part “nurture”…I’m really not sure, but I’m thankful I do usually see the bright side of things. I’m thankful for my intelligence as I feel like it gives me the ability to appreciate more of what I encounter in the world, that goes back to the “nature” and “nurture”. I’m thankful that nearly everything I attempt is easy for me, that I’m a quick learner, that I don’t really ever have to “work” very hard at anything…though it is a double edged sword at times, since I tend to get easily frustrated when something isn’t easy. That goes back to the “nature” and “nurture” thing as well. I’m thankful that I’m very observant…I like that I notice things that other people miss…whether that be that the paint color match wasn’t exact, or that the secret ingredient in the recipe at the restaurant was tarragon. I have no idea how I came the be lucky enough to have that, but I feel like it helps me appreciate everything in life more, but especially the small things. I’m thankful for time…time to work, time to play, even time to waste. I’m thankful to have time to make memories. I think memories are the things that allow you to get through the bad times. They are the glue that hold relationships together. The actions are all over and done with, but the memories are still there. Right now, I’m sitting on the couch, in the living-room, with Peanut by me, and Michael outside, mowing the lawn…all the windows are open, and it’s PERFECT outside. I’m thankful for now…since yesterday is gone, and isn’t any more than a memory…and there is no promise of a tomorrow. I’m thankful for words…I know that sounds silly, but I am. I’m so thankful that I can express myself…not something I gave enough thought before working at DPI, and being a nurse in general. I am endlessly thankful that I can express myself, through words and actions, that I have both a sound mind and a healthy body to be able to do so. These aren’t things that I have an explanation for how I got them, but they are the things I’m most thankful for, them, and the people I have to share them with.

I am most thankful right now for my amazing daughter…she gives me strength, power, and the motivation to succeed!

most grateful for my family, home + health!

Already follow you on twitter!

Sent your banana recipe to multiple friends…!

For my daughter…for being lucky enough to live where I live and to have my little wonderful family…

I am thankful that I am feeling hope. <3

Having the opportunity to meet you, Eva! I was so glad to have attended your Raw Food Retreat at my favorite place, Martha’s Vineyard! I only wish I could have stayed longer. I love how you bare your soul about your life and raw food! This is what keeps be focused and looking to the next thing I want to do in the life of Raw Food. I look forward to your generosity of giving away some books, recipes, etc. for the 12 days as outlined above. Thank you so much for all your support and encouragement. It really brings such emotion and tears to my eyes!

I am most thankful for life itself and that each day is a new beginning… another start over… another chance to do better, to choose more wisely, to love more deeply and give more selflessly.

That my dog learned to walk again after his accident.

While I am thankful for many things, what I am thankful for first and foremost, now and always, is having my children in my life. My oldest, Ryan – dancer and empath, and the bravest person I know, Julian, my middle child, impossibly smart and terrible troublemaker, and the twins Nathan, cheeky and endearing, and Nolan, who deals with the struggles of autism with a perseverance that puts most adults to shame. All completely different, and yet each is absolutely perfect… and though I complain about them at times, I know I’ve got it good

Oh, and I already follow you on FB.

I’m most thankful for two very dear people in my life:
My husband who has been a big support while I have been recovering from a difficult series of events and My mom, who is my superhero and just recovered from a really rough hospital run-in post-op.

Oh, I didn’t see the mandatory entry when I was here earlier – thanks for mentioning it on fb. I’m most thankful for my dh. He has always supported me in being a stay at home mom, when it was feasible, when our girls were young. Now they are grown but live near so I’m thankful for that, and one of them has given us the most amazing granddaughter on the planet. LOTS to be thankful for! Thanks for the giveaway.

sharing is carrying.. Merry Chriistmas!!!

The thing that I am most thankful for is my life, not what it is filled with (which is wonderful), but that I am living and breathing this moment.

A little back story is in order for what I’m thankful for so here goes.for starters I’m a stay at home mom of 2 and night student in the Medical Coding and Billing program…..Mid October I had an breast ultrasound because of a pain and small ball lump on my left breast. A week later I meet with the Breast Care Surgeon during this appointment I was told my ultrasound revealed nothing abnormal but he wanted to examine my neck. This kinda puzzled me because I had no pain there and even though I occasionally experienced difficulties swallowing and sore throats my thyroid levels had been checked by 2 different doctor’s in the 3 weeks surrounding my appointment but he said it was enlarged and it was just an ultrasound no big deal no pain involved so I figured why not. Went to the ultrasound and was called by my doctor to set up the biopsy again I say to myself ok no big deal it’s just a needle in my neck not much pain but enough that I missed church that night and went to bed early. From this point I was called on Veteran’s day this time to come in first thing Monday morning. Ok so now I’m freaking a little but I still know God is gonna take care of me and heal me whatever happens. I go that Monday morning and listen to my doctor say it’s not determinable to be or not to be cancer by the biopsy but your nodules are so large either way it must come out it will then go to pathology and we can determine from there if it’s cancer. I had my entire thyroid removed on November 30, 2011 on December 6, 2011 my doctor called and both nodules were cancer. Ok so that’s my back story here it what I am in this moment thankful for…..

I know that I know that I know God made it for my doctor to check my thyroid when two other didn’t even check it when I had told them more then this one problems that he didn’t know about that added together are symptoms of thyroid disfunctions and/or thyroid cancer. I am researching options but I am exhausted…I’m thankful because tonight I went to class the first time since before Thanksgiving break and spoke with my teacher and program director and I knew my teacher planned to work with me (by the way I’m thankful for a Christian teacher that has walked that same walk as me!) I was unsure if the director was going to. I am thankful to say she told exactly what I needed to hear! I can finish school while doing just whatever I can via email with my teacher and partial independent studies. Praise the Lord he has done it again! He takes care of me Great is His faithfulness He is my provider!

I am most thankful for my kids, for being able to give them what they need and for living in a time and place where this kind of AMAZING information is available to us!

I’m subscribed to the emails too, and a fan on facebook

I am grateful at this very moment for forgiveness, compassion, and love.

Grateful for my health, my wonderful boyfriend, my dog who loves me bestest, my family & friends, old and new!

I’m thankful that everyone in my immediate family is still breathing and relatively happy after the past couple years of a myriad of health problems. And I’m OVERWHELMINGLY grateful that I’m finally about to have a kitchen with more than 4 SF of counter space so I can dive into raw and quit dabbling . Love all the information you share, Eva, and the energy you bring to it. You are a gift all by yourself! Merry Christmas!

I’m currently on my campus and I’ve been having a rough day, just want to indulge in bad food. When I come here and I see how happy and in good spirits Eva is, it inspires me to just hang strong and stick to the healthy foods (or at least make a valiant attempt). Thank you for the positive vibes, guys. It’s keeping me strong..

I’d love to win this…I have never had any formal training and would love to have an opportunity to learn to un-cook the right way. :~)

I am tremendously thankful for people like you that are there to support & provide tools & awesome recipes for people on this transition to raw eating. I have never felt better in my life. In turn that allows me to be at my best for friends & family!!

Already subscribed for emails and now a friend on Facebook.
What I am most thankful for is my beautiful family (3 gorgeous sons and husband).