Cornucopia of Blessings

I heard it for the first time in first grade. I was intrigued. From that moment on I tried to slip the word into daily conversations and pulled it out at any chance that I got (this was back in the day when I thought that an plethora of gargantuan locutions made me appear quite perspicacious). As I've matured, I've come to truly appreciate the word and only use it when it is most appropriate: during the Thanksgiving season.

Cornucopia. It means abundance, surplus and plenty. That's a word that I truly feel describes my life at this moment: a cornucopia of blessings.

This past year has been full of trials with far too many deaths, painful losses and seemingly constant struggles. But I still have plenty. I have a job that I love, a car that I can drive, and a house that I call home. I have plenty.  I have legs that can run (slowly), arms that can lift (small amounts) and eyes that can see (decently). I have plenty. I have a family that loves me, friends who care, and a Savior that guides me.  I have plenty. 

On the topic of plenty, I wanted to share some of the incredible things I am thankful for this Holiday season. Just like everything in my life, it's sure to give you a few laughs, but through the tears of laughter, I challenge you to think about just how much we have to be thankful for!

Taylor Hobbs' Cornucopia of Blessings: 

1) I'm thankful for my friends. I'm thankful for the ones who gladly sing at the top of their lungs with me in the car. I'm not sure if they actually want to sing, or they simply want to drown out my voice... but nonetheless I'm thankful for singing friends. I'm thankful for the friends that push me to excel academically, and do anything in their power to help me succeed. I'm thankful for the friends that help me with assignments even when I am dead weight. I'm thankful for smart friends. I'm thankful for the friends that give me their extra fries and share their homemade cookies with me. I'm thankful for generous friends. Overall, I'm just thankful for my friends.

2) I'm thankful for my family. I'm thankful for the dorky pictures and texts my parents constantly send me just to remind me that they still love me. I'm thankful for the conversations that I can have with my sisters about snowball fights, cookie making and sleep-overs. I'm thankful for cousins who are choosing to dedicate their life to follow Christ. I'm thankful for the embarrassing stories that my family is WAAAAAAY too quick to share with my friends. I'm thankful for my quirky, funny and loving family. 

An actual text from my parents... No wonder why I'm so weird

3) I'm thankful for my roommate. At this point I'm not sure how she hasn't gone crazy (Note: I think there is potential for a psychological study here...) In all seriousness I'm so blessed to share a room with someone who cares about me, prays for me and does life with me. As much as I tease her (EVERY single chance I get), I truly would be lost (and hungry, and messy, and stressed) without her!

4) I'm thankful for my job. I love Cedarville (if you didn't know that read my previous post) and I love the jobs that I have there. Being a tour guide is an incredible opportunity, and no matter how stressful the day, spending time with future students and their families is an instant boost. I love the bosses that care about me (so many questions) and care for me (food, tons and tons of food). I love my job. 

5) I'm thankful for technology. Being far from home (1,177 miles to be exact) is hard, but technology makes it easier. I'm thankful that even though I can't physically tuck my sisters in at night, I can still blow them virtual kisses and pray with them. I'm thankful that my mom is only a phone call or a text away, and I'm VERY thankful that we have unlimited plans. "Mom, what's my social security number." "Mom, how illegal is it to pass on the right side... what if they are from Massachusetts though..." I"m thankful for the technology that connects me with my loved ones. 

6) Finally, I'm thankful for the breath in my lungs. I'm thankful that I have the ability to hold my breath (when it smells funky) and the ability to breathe harder (like when I work out). I'm thankful for my muscles that get sore, because it means that they work extra hard for me. I'm thankful for my health.

So can you see why I love the word Cornucopia? It describes my life so perfectly: plenty, overflowing and abundant. I'm so thankful for everything in my life. I'm thankful for this Cornucopia of blessings that I am privileged enough to call my life.