Thankful Thursday

Linking up with Joanna this Thanksgiving for Thankful Thursday, but with a little bit of a twist. 

If you read my weekly Thankful Thursdays, I write about what I was thankful for that past week.  The other day I read a post from Nirasha (also known as Mommy Niri) about her village ... how we can't do everything in our life alone and about the people who make a difference in our lives. I thought I would take a page from her and talk about a few people that I am thankful for.


Lianne: My partner in crime and girls nights out.

I am so thankful that Michael brought her into our lives back in college. It didn't take us long to bond and she gets me - always has. Teary eyed calls, vent sessions ... we may not officially be family, but she's family none the less. Godmother to my boys. Witness to most of my klutzy spills from my high heels. She takes me to palm readings and I have made her my permanent date to blogging stuff. Did I mention she got me to drink Gin and Tonics?


Jen: My blogging and all things social media BFF.

What would I have done without any of my Rhody bloggers... I am so thankful for all of them... and in them, I found Jen. We got to know each other when we were on the Santa's Hideout mom advisory panel and got closer from there. I can bounce anything off of her and get an honest opinion. She shares my love of sometimes snark. Road trip to NYC and roomies at BlogHer. She got me to go to a Hookah bar and shares my love of red wine. Love that I found her through this great group of girls. 


Julie: My multiple mama sidekick.

We may see each other nearly every day for weeks on end and talk on the phone five times a day, only to hit a few months where we barely have time to catch up for a few moments or get the kids together... but it doesn't matter. No one else gets what it is like to have 3 little ones in the span of a year and a half. Our oldest now both 6 and our twins are all 5. Three girls for her, three boys for me.  Instant bond no matter how much time passes.


Kerri: My sassy tell it like it is cousin.

And I mean that in a nice way. I can always count on her to give it to me straight. And she is so much more than my cousin really, because I consider her a close friend too. We may have had years when we were little that we didn't grow up together, but I think we have more than made up for that since we were teenagers. And it is because of her that I met Julie. We go weeks without talking when life gets busy, months without seeing each other from time to time, but I would be there for her in a heartbeat.


Al: My Rock.

I am beyond blessed to have him in my life.  Not only because he gave me my 3 beautiful boys (making our house a little unofficial frat house as we say), but because he has been more than my best friend since we were teenagers.  16 feels like a lifetime ago and while I thought I was oh so grown up then, I can now look back and realize we sort of grew up together.  The way he supports my writing career ... tells me without hesitation to go on that next press trip while he takes care of the boys ... and reminds me how far I have come when I am doubting myself... I love this man more each and every day.


So tell me... who is in your village?  Who are you thankful for?