FFF - Give Thanks

I have so much to be thankful for this year. This has been a really transformational year for me, which required a lot of soul searching. The year started out with plans to move away, start a new life in a new city, and change careers. Something I thought I REALLY wanted to do for a very long time. For several years, I just couldn't wait for the perfect opportunity to make such a huge change. Then...the opportunity came. It was right in my fingertips...I was so excited and swept away with all of these new possibilities. A new beginning. It's what I wanted, right?

But, I walked away. It was an extremely difficult decision and I really cried my eyes out in the midst of letting it go...letting go of the dream that I had been holding so tightly for so long. I was scared of what that meant, what I was losing, wondering what would happen now, and having this fear of being "trapped."

But, as the dust started to settle, I felt a weight slowly start to lift and I started to see my life with a new vision, a bit cloudy, but still new. I started to realize that I was not ready to walk away from the life I have. I started to open up my heart and mind to setting roots and really building a life right here. It was not at all what I expected. But, that seems to be the story of my life!

It took having the real opportunity to walk away to realize what I already have and to really envision creating a new beginning right here. Once that decision was made, everything seemed to start falling into place and, for the first time since moving back to my hometown 10 years ago, I finally feel like I belong here. I finally feel like this is home.

Finally feeling settled and knowing this is where we are going to be for a long time is a pretty amazing after feeling so restless for so long. I can finally let go and allow myself to find my place here.

So, this year, I am so grateful to finally feel at home and I am so in love with our life, the life that we completely unexpected!

( I am also so in love with this beautiful Japanese Maple!)

Check out more FFF on Hannah's blog HERE.

UPDATE!!!!!! AMAZING NEWS and perfect for Giving Thanks!!! Remember my dear friends, Brittney & Daniel?? They have been fighting like mad for THREE years to bring their daughter home from Guatemala and they recently find out that they FINALLY have PGN approval!!!! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE go give them lots of bloggy love. They are sooooo ready for their sweet girl to come home. Click HERE.