Things I am thankful Thursday #3

And so it's Thursday again! Which means, Things I am thankful Thursday! I think I might have mentioned this before, but I am SOOOOO glad I decided to do this every Thursday. I can be quite the negative person and I get so worked up and pissed off so easily sometimes, that it's easy to forget that I do have things to be thankful for! Anyway! Here goes!!

1)I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to go to school and further my education. I know that I get bored with school easily, there are some days that I just don't want to go anymore, and it's not exactly cheap. But to be honest, I am glad that I live in a country where I CAN get financial aide, that I CAN get loans (if I need them), and where I am ALOUD to go to school. I know some countries don't have those options, and sometimes no option of school at all due to none near by, can't afford it at all, different laws stating that they can't, etc. So even though I definitely get tired of going really quick, I am glad that I have the opportunity to go at all.

2) I am thankful that I have means of transportation. It may not be mine, it is under Brad and his moms name, and we may still be making payments on it, but I am thankful that I have it, that it is in great, working condition, and that it gets me where I need to go. If I lived somewhere where public transportation was easily available, and it was such a crazy city (Las Vegas, New York...) I may not need or want a car. But even in CA, when I was there, sure some places were in walking distance, and sure there was buses available, and the train, but with my school and work schedule there, none of those were very helpful. And now in TX even WORSE! So I am thankful that I do have a good working car.

3) This one is gonna sound funny, but I am thankful that my mother works for AAA. Because she works there, she is able to get us a membership to AAA services. And even though I haven't needed those services often, I have definitely had to use them once or twice before. I see people on the side of the road with car problems, or trying to fix their own flat tire (no I don't stop to help, as a female, unfortunately, I'm scared to death to stop), and I do feel bad for them, but I am thankful that I have that resource available to me so I don't have to worry (too much anyway).

4) I am thankful for my grandparents. Both sets. And yes, I am fortunate enough for both sets of grandparents to still be alive, and semi-well. I say semi-well because one of my grandmother's memory seems to be slowly but surely deteriorating, and she has had breast cancer as well, and one grandfather has macular degeneration in both eyes, which he is currently getting treated for, and he has also had prostate cancer. So I am very lucky for both of them, and for my other grandmother and grandfather to still be alive. I am also thankful that both sets are willing to help my husband and I when they can. Which in the past couple of years has been really really helpful.

5) Another strange one, but I am thankful to have come across a young author, law maker, and sexual abuse survivor herself, Erin Merryn. Last year, while I was still just engaged, for some reason a lot of my past abuse was becoming an issue. Not to my relationship, but just in general. I felt like i needed more healing of sorts, I guess you could say. So I searched the web looking for some kind of self help, how do I keep the past in the past, kind of books. I came across a lot of books that were more of devotionals to be done with a partner or family member. And that's not really what I was looking for. I finally came across a book with the title of, Stolen Innocence. I read more on what it was about, and realized it was more of an autobiography, or more of a published journal even, from the author. I found it on Amazon, and ordered a used copy for around $7. I read it in 2 days. I cried, I laughed, I shook my head in agreement, I wanted to hug someone, I wanted to punch someone. It was just one of those kinds of books where I could REALLY relate to the author. I looked her up on Facebook and friended her, and also found the law she is trying to get passed in every state and "liked" it on Facebook as well. I've been able to send her emails, and she responds. Maybe not right away, but she still takes the time to do so. I feel that reading her books helped me get that little bit of assurance that I was not alone, that I still felt like I needed. LOL now that I've written a novel, almost, on just Ms. Merryn, here is a link to her website. http://www.erinmerryn.net/erins-law.html
I suggest everyone take a look. She is an amazing young woman, and I cannot wait to, hopefully, see this law passed in every state!! Take a look at her website and you can find out more about what the law is. :)

And that's that for this weeks Thankful Thursday!!! Have a lovely evening!