When I think of the things in my life that
I am grateful for there is so much
But one of the things that comes to mind
Is a person

When I think of what a best friend she is what comes to mind

People hurt you
They disappoint you
Make you disbelieve

When the truth is right in front of you
You have to see it for what it truly is

And that is gratefulness because to understand the importance of
a good person, good friend

Can be once in a lifetime

To find a soul mate in a friend
Is special

To create a bond of trust
To share honestly
Even when I don’t like it
But it always ended up needing it

A pair of misfits
A lifetime of laughter

Silliness
Sadness

The good and bad and everything in-between

Joyful
Thoughtful

Weirdly unique

No matter what always there

I love person and I will forever be thankful
To call my friend

Dear Unsealers,

Being grateful is something that I don’t do enough 
especially when life is rough
but when the grateful spirit enters the mind
A great wave of gratitude gives me joy inside  

There are so many things I’m grateful for 
and have me eager to see what more
 life has in store

I’m grateful every day to have another chance
and to start a new dance
I’m grateful for another day to choose
even when I have the blues

I’m grateful that I was given the blessing of life 
even though it’s filled with constant strive
I’m grateful for the life experiences that I’ve had
Some happy and some deeply sad

I’m grateful that I’m in a different place
when years ago, my head was in a different space
I’m grateful for the many connections I’ve made
some connections remained, while others faded away

I’m grateful for the achievements I’ve accomplished so far
they make me feel that it’s possible to reach the stars
And I’m grateful to be in a position to be able
to express feeling grateful

I’m grateful for blue skies, warm sunshine, and a breeze that kisses the nose.
I’m grateful for green grasses and rushing creeks and bare feet.
I’m grateful for friends and lovers that grab you by the hand and dance with you.
I’m grateful for their consistent reminders, “You’re safe here. I love you.”
I’m grateful for the forehead kisses my love gives me,
And that he bends down to let me kiss his forehead right back.
I’m grateful for the safety of my home, and I’m grateful for a newcomer’s compliments,
“It looks like a gallery in here!” Thank you, the art is my favorite, too.
I’m grateful, especially, for the rabbit posed in play, a floppy handstand,
That’s been in our home longer than my memories. It’s one of my first ones.
I’m grateful for the way the sun shines into my mother’s bedroom just before sunset in spring.
It bathes the house in gold and it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.
I’m grateful for the drums that echo in my chest at the concert in Alpharetta,
And the music that reverberates in my bones. I’m grateful to have a body that feels the music.
It’s exhilarating and soothing, an ecstasy I don’t need to swallow.
I’m grateful for cats with soft fur and who love love love ear scratches.
I’m grateful to my body and my brain for giving me the gift of sensation.
Even when it’s too much, or not enough, I’m grateful to be present to feel.

I sit up,
Look up,
Firing my appreciation
To God, in whose contemplation,
Veneration, I’m engrossed
In my thanks to all that
I’ve got, that’s on the spot:
Family to love and cherish,
Kin to pray and think of me as I perish,
Friends who’ll miss my presence,
As our discussions cover matters that hence
Ruminate over social changes
Trending through social media’s
Imposing pressure over all genders
And age groups who surrenders
Their freedom to bondage
Of our sovereignty over our charge:
Our immortal soul, whose barred
From its morality, replaced
By being led to sins that destroy
Your connection to the All Mighty. A ploy,
To reduce believers that rebel against sins of immorality.

I used to make a wish on 11:11. But now the time goes by and I don’t even bat an eye, because I used to wish for you and I. You are the shooting star I wished on when I was young , the birthday candles I blew out on my 23rd birthday, the penny I threw in the fountain, you are everything I asked for and more. How did I get so lucky ? Was it all the wishing and fishing in the sea of all the people I’ve ever met , I’d make a bet they’d think it’s luck. But the reality is I had to fight for you. Fight the demons at night that held me so tight. They told me I wasn’t worthy of love and that everyone else would be put above, that is until you showed up. Your green eyes and perfect smile just in time to drive me wild but somehow also make me feel calm and protected. All the times I went fishing in the sea of people when in reality you were the whole ocean and all I had to do was look up , and I guess that’s why they called it luck. I don’t know what to wish for on 11:11 because you already feel like heaven.

I always knew you were good

I tried and I tried to hold on
Till my fingers bled
And my soul all but drowned
I thought I would fall
I thought I would lose you
But something held me there
Something made me stick
There was a piece of thread that was stronger
Than the rest of the rope that had been ripped to shreds
It was you
You held on because I asked you to
Even when I was pissed at you and yelled at you
And pushed you to the edges of my mind
You held on because I asked you to
Even when I thought you didn’t love me and I
Forgot the ways you’ve shown me how well you know me
You held on because I asked you to
You’ve always had the strength that I lack
You’ve always had the patience I couldn’t wait for
You’ve always seen what I pretended to be blind to
I almost let the world convince me that you’re not good
But I could never fully believe them like I do you
I just needed someone to speak my language
To help me understand
To prove what I always knew in the depths of
My heart, mind and soul
Thank you for holding on

I always knew you were good

A somewhat troubled family,
disjointed and unusual-
sit in a lake house celebrating two birthdays,
my stepfather’s and mine.

Both days close together,
but emotions always miles a part.

This celebration is different-
unfamiliar notes and frequencies
fill the air-
Gut wrenching laughter!

Mom’s got a promotion,
Stepdad uncharacteristically soft and proud.
his combat armor off and weapon laid on the ground.
His battle against us is finally over.

He looks at me
and I see him for the first time,
the man he always could have been,
and I let my guard down.

He asks if I could write a poem about this weekend.
I know exactly what to say:

It’s those quiet moments,
when an outer body experience
drowns out the raucous
times we typically spend together.
those moments when full glasses of
champagne- complimented
by the pitter patter of
jovial children
and tipsy adults-
fill your home.

And you take a moment,
to look at it all,
a still image
saved in your mind like a photograph,
capturing the essence of why
you are you,
and how fortunate you are
to have who you have in your life.

And you are thankful.
For at least in this moment in time,
you were able to capture and place this photo
at the front of your picture book.

You hear so many stories that end with
“that could of been me”
“That could of been my reality”

You hear so many stories
That end opposite
Of what happened to you

I was born 1 pound 9 ounces at 26 weeks
With my twin sister who didn’t make it unfortunately
Yet I am sitting here as a 30 year old woman
With a family of my own

You hear so many stories
of a predator being around a kid
taking advantage of them in there youth
when they feel they are being cornered
they do something to cover there tracks
leaving that child without breath

yet I’m sitting in front of you
a product of child abuse
not only physically
sexually at a young age
yet, I’m still here to say
I survived, I am willing to speak for them
who didn’t make it out of the abuse the predator inflicted

you hear so many stories
as the young girl gets older
she digs deeper to fill an emptiness inside
that she tries to fill that void with a guy
since she never knew the right way to love
she thought that abuse was a sign he cared

I sit here and think
despite the abuse I received
despite my mental woes
I was able to marry a man who cares
who treats me like a queen
gives me everything I need
was willing to be patient
from 19 years old he held me in his arms
wouldn’t let go
now 30, with 3 beautiful kids
laughter ringing in our ears
from the moment we wake
until we go to sleep
rising back up the next day
to do it all again

you hear so many stories
of a couple living with there parents
struggling to make it out of there families house

yet after a few years
we were able to pay off our debt
being accepted, like I was there own daughter
they gave me a place to lay my head
we rode the bus and walked carrying groceries
they never judged in any way
they planned our wedding
shared so much love
until one day we are able to say
we moved out our parents home
into our own space

I am able to pull up to our apartment
we have called home for 3 years
accumulated 4 reliable vehicles in those years
a house we can call our own
stability at jobs we’ve had for years
accumulating so many skills
moving from hourly to salary
able to give our kids everything they need
so they can thrive inside our home
sharing there light everywhere they go

you hear so many stories
many being called by the Lord
yet they do not answer the door

despite what felt like a crumbling foundation
my husband going to the military
I heard the call The Lord spoke to me
I answered and He began working with me
although my husband was miles away
he was also being worked on by The Lord
I began writing again
finding a gift I left a long time ago
I began writing for The Lord
I prayed to Him and asked
what am I suppose to do with this gift of my hands?

He spoke through my mom who called
right after I said amen
told me that I was suppose to write a poetry Autobiography about my life
we hung up and tears poured down my face
I asked him to help me tell my story
it won’t be easy but I’m willing to do it
if He gives me the words to write
I read my Bible and fasted
for months poems came to me on my drive to work
I wrote them down once I parked
writing a poetry Autobiography that personal to me
has always been my lifelong dream

by then my husband came home
he helped me find a way to publish through Amazon
break free was the title that ranged in my ears
I was able to heal from so much baggage at hand
now my family together again
we began to melt as one
finding peace in each other’s arms
with support in our families bubble
growing day by day as we shared our stories
on our individual journeys

baseball games and championship wins
going to a airshow my husband showed the Chinook
proud family smiles we all shared
as I look back and think
I have so much growth to be thankful for
so much life I’ve got to live
finding my purpose along the way
discovering my voice inside the rain

it’s not one thing I’m grateful for
it’s not one person I want to give thanks to
I feel grateful to be standing here
despite what the day brings
I am living life abundantly
with love that flows in every vein
lineage and wealth from the depth of our souls

laughter and personalities that light up rooms
testimonies that will cause tears to stream
divine protection in every season
tests and lessons that break the mold
creating a new path for the next generations to go

I am so grateful for many things
a list that can go on for days
before my head hits my bed
I pray a prayer of gratitude
it all started as a thought on your head
that you know every hair that lies upon my head
the path that I was always meant to go
the bumps upon the road
you knew it all and went ahead
I am eternally grateful for your divine timing and presence you bring
I will walk down the straight and narrow path
following your light that shines so bright

I thank you for the love I give
the lessons I learn from my kids
the love and protection my husband gives
the bright smiles I receive
the affirming words they bring
I am in awe when it comes to my life at hand
I wake up happy despite what plays in my head
there is no other place I’d rather be
then here at home with my family
praising you in every moment
building a relationship while you’re molding
me into the vessel you always called me to be
I am at peace you have bought my being

I’m grateful for the breath in my lungs
I’m thankful for good morning hugs
I’m grateful for my community of family and friends
I’m thankful for God’s love that never ends
I’m grateful for a roof over my head
And a comfy, cozy, nice warm bed.
I’m grateful that I have food on my plate
I’m even thankful when I have to wait.
I’m grateful for the clothes on my back
But if I’m being honest sometimes I’m like an amnesiac
Because I forget to count the blessings that I’m grateful for
And sometimes I lose sight of what I have been given and ask for more
But the Lord is good, generous and kind
And brings each one back to my mind
I cannot begin to fathom the many ways
So I sing Him a song of thanks and praise
He has been so good to me
Even working in ways that I cannot see
I’m sure I’m not the only one to be blessed beyond measure
So to you I say cherish each blessing as you would a treasure
Make Thanksgiving more than one day long
Let it be a way of life—a beautiful song
Emanating from heart to your lips
Gratitude rising to the Giver of every perfect gift.
Today I thank the Lord for all He has given
And most importantly for His unending love and provision.