Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that everyone is enjoying this special day with the people that you love most.

This year, I have learned a lot about cultivating gratitude everyday and wanted to share some of the things that I am especially thankful for this year. When thinking of things in my life I am grateful for, I tend to go straight for the things that make me happy, which is not a bad thing, but I’m learning (read: trying) to also be grateful for some of the hard things.

A year ago, I took a fairly large step away from my “grown-up” career and into something new and unknown and frankly, very scary. I started pastry classes and began building a career and business centered in the kitchen, completely blind to what exactly this might look like. I wish that a year later, I could say that I know what I am working towards, but if I am honest, the path ahead looks just about as hazy as it did at the beginning of this journey, but that’s ok. I am thankful for that.

I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to spend this year making cakes and rolling out doughs, using my hands to create things that I am proud of. I am thankful for the ability to bring a smile to someone’s face by dropping brownies or leftover cookies off at a neighbor’s house. I am thankful for the extra time that I have had to try new things, to spend time getting to know and building relationships with people in the community that are often marginalized and forgotten about, and thankful for stories that they have trusted me enough to share with me. I am thankful for the ability to bridge culture and language through good food and conversation. I am thankful for a husband who encourages me to step into scary things and who reminds me that he loves me regardless of whether I fail or succeed. I am thankful for my parents who instilled boldness and confidence in me, and who still cheer me on in any field that I pursue. I am thankful for my family and friends who have listened to me worry or complain, offered wisdom, advice, and friendship on good days and on bad days. And mostly, I am thankful that I am not walking this unknown trail alone. Even though I don’t exactly know where I am headed or what step I am taking next, I am thankful that I know Jesus, the one who has authored the desires of my heart, who knows each and every step long before I take it, and who is holding me tightly as I walk the road before me.

I am praying that you too, enjoy the friends and family around you today, remembering all of the blessings that we have been given, even those that may not look like blessings on the outside. I also hope that you enjoy great wine and lots of extra pie!