MerrinDonahue.com

It’s no secret that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday (in fact, I’m pretty sure I mention it every year). I love everything about it: the turkey, the pie, the food coma, the football game on the TV in the background as everybody tries to talk over everybody else. Mostly, though, I love that Thanksgiving brings people together, and that everything slows down long enough for us to all realize exactly what we’re thankful for.

I’m beyond lucky. I have more blessings than there are stars in the sky. I have awesome dogs (even the beagle, who I couldn’t love any more if I tried), my husband has a great new job that he absolutely loves, we live in an incredible neighborhood in a great little house (and when we moved, everything arrived in one piece), and we live near a great beach. These things are more than I could have ever dreamed of, but they’re just the icing on the cake.

I have a husband who loves me, and who is healthy and happy 18 months after something terrifying. I love him beyond reason, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have THE most amazing family on the planet, and I’m enjoying them more than I ever thought possible. I have a mother who loves me no matter what, a father who understands me and loves me anyway, a bonus mom (okay, a step-mom, but I like bonus mom better) who has always let me be myself, even when myself wasn’t very nice, a sister who I swear is an alien, because no teenager could possibly be as cool or composed as she is, and who I LOVE hanging out with.

This Thanksgiving, we decided to go to Guana with my family. Normally, I do Thanksgiving at my house. When we were in Texas, we had my Mom over. When we were in Orlando, Kevin’s family came to stay. I haven’t spent Thanksgiving with my Dad in 10 years. Sure, we’d see them around the holidays, but any kid who has divorced parents will tell you that it’s a juggling act to try and balance all of that, so something eventually gives. This year is a very rare treat for me, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the time I’ve gotten to spend here with them.