Thanksgiving 2017

Thanksgiving is an amazing holiday. While we should certainly be thankful every day, Thanksgiving asks us to look back on the past year and recognize those people and events that helped make that year better. It is a holiday born from adversity. Thanksgiving was made a national holiday by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. During the time of America's bloodiest war, we were asked as a nation to reflect and give thanks.

These are some of the things from this year for which I am thankful:

• The continued love and support of my family whom I love so much.
• Our growing connections with friends as well as the opportunities we have had to make new friends.
• My new position at Soldotna High School as an English and history teacher.
• The new friends I made at my Walden Residency.
• Getting to see my friends at the AP World History test reading.
• The friends and family who have helped my daughters as they pursue their degrees in Michigan.
• Getting to see, and camp on, the Homer Spit for the first time.
• That this autumn has been a snow-fall.

I am certain that there are more, but I am tired and I plan on getting up early tomorrow to wallow in hedonistic consumerism ... an opportunity for which I am also thankful.