Color Me Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving, Babes!


I’m one of those people who make gratitude lists on a fairly regular basis, but I felt it was essential to write and post one today. So here goes…

The big beautiful blogosphere. Blogging has become one of my favorite things in life. Seriously. And I love reading other women’s blogs just as much as (if not more than) I enjoy creating my own. Sites like A Beautiful Mess, Nik Star Was Here, Sometimes Sweet, and Pink of Perfection must be visited daily and they always give me the inspiration I need. 

Hubs. I’ll be honest, I’ve been having a very rough time the past few months. It’s sad that whenever I mention this to a close friend or when an acquaintance makes a comment about all the white hairs I have sprouting from my head there’s an assumption that my man is stressing me out, that there’s trouble on the home front. That couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, some days I feel like my marriage is the only thing I’m getting right. My husband has been the rock that is getting me through these tough times. I am so thankful to be married to my very best friend and I feel blessed to share my life with someone who always has my back. 


My small group. Despite the fact that I’ve been a mess this fall, I have still managed to lead a small group for my church. Each Monday night a group of 8 young women and I get together at my apartment for a bible study that’s meant to help us get more out of our relationships with God, our friends and family, and even ourselves. I’ve watched these girls grow closer to God and form genuine friendships and I’m amazed. God really can use us to create something beautiful even when we’re broken. 

Here are a few girls from Black Girls Run-Birmingham and I  volunteering at the Ruben Studdard Half-Marathon

My running group. There was a time when I couldn’t run for 60 seconds. Now I’m training for a half-marathon. And it’s all thanks to my running group, Black Girls Run – Birmingham. Those women have been such an inspiration and running has become something I love as much as blogging. Can you believe that?!


The bad times. One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned during my 30 years on this third rock from the sun is that we should be grateful for the bad times. Not only do they make the good times even sweeter, but they teach us things about ourselves and oftentimes in retrospect we realize that something wonderful came from that trial or ordeal. In fact, I just wrote a little tongue-in-cheek piece about this for the latest issue of Weld. (To check it out click here and scroll down to the entry titled For the real-life demolition derby.) 


The little things: Pinterest, cupcakes, my haute chocalate nail polish, my favorite blazer, fresh flowers, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl…


My family. I have two parents who shower me with love, a little brother (who’s now a grown man and bigger than I) who makes me laugh and encourages me to chase my dreams, and a cousin who’s like the sister I never had and gets all my little quirks. And I am so grateful that I’m going to get to spend this day with all of them, while stuffing myself with delicious food.


What are you thankful for today? 


*Crossposted at The Writeous Babe Project