Guest Blogger: Stephanie's Thanks

I have been a faithful follower of this blog since its inception - way back on January 1, 2011.  It has done many things for me, not the least of which has been bringing to my attention that one of my best friends is an incredible writer!  When she describes food - I get hungry.  When she talks about our home (Truckee) I am transported.  But what it has really done for me is really what the blog is all about - I have been more aware of what I am thankful for in my life.  Not a day goes by that I don't think to myself, if I were Emily, and I had to write a thankful post today, I would write it about...  What a gift that has been.  To spend at least a moment, each day, to think about what you are most thankful for.  And most of the time - it's much more than a moment.  There are many moments, many things to be thankful for.

Around this time of year, I find myself to be exceptionally thankful.  I am a teacher, and this is the time of year where students are gearing up to walk across the stage, and into the next phase of their lives.  It is such a special thing to be a part of that, year after year.  But every year, it also presents somewhat of a mind trip for me, since it feels like just yesterday my best girlfriends and I were making that same walk, gearing up for that same thing.  

But, alas, it has already been over a decade.  Which is why today, 

I am thankful for full circle moments.

I've always thought that the universe presents you with full circle moments in order to help you celebrate where you are in your life, and how far you've come.  I feel like every June, I am presented with one of these. And every June, I am reminded of how time is flying by, and I get further and further from my own graduation.  I encounter these full circle moments right around now, every single year.  And though it is sometime emotional, and I feel old, I know that it is the universe's way of telling me to celebrate, take stock, and be thankful.

Eighth Grade Graduation- June 1996

    

High School Graduation- June 2000

Fremont High School Graduation