A Lot To Be Thankful For

Today is Thanksgiving in the U.S. (for my non-American readers. I know you're out there. Hahaha) and I have a lot to be thankful for:
I am SO SO thankful for my Catholic faith, Franciscan Universtiy, my semester in Austria, the gift of laughter, my family, my absolutely incredible friends (my second family), Fr. Brad, Fr. Rick, Fr. Greg, and all the friars at school, my household, my house off campus and my crazy housemates, the ability to go back to Romania after graduation, my best friend and her new baby, and the fact that I'm not who I used to be.

My best friend had a baby a little over 2 weeks ago. Her name is Ashlynn Sophia and I had no idea I could love a little baby so much. I met her for the first time on Tuesday night and cried the second I saw her. She is so beautiful and I'm not just saying that because she's my best friend's daughter. She is genuinely a beautiful baby :) She has brought so much joy to my life the last few days.

I was really thinking today about how I'm not who I used to be and thank God for that. I used to be such a horrible person. I'm not even kidding. While I was at Xavier, I was a bitch. Praise the Lord for the way he changed me. I recently re-read some messages I'd received and sent on Facebook while I was there and holy crap...I don't even know the person who sent those messages. I just can't even believe I was ever that person or that I ever even had any friends. I was floored. I really can't even put it into words...

This is short, sweet, and to the point. With the cutting, 2 1/2 weeks clean. I'm talking to my counselor again. I talked to Fr. Brad the other day and went to Confession with Fr. Rick. My prayer life's getting better and I'm starting to get my shit together. So, I ask for your prayers that I can stay on the right track.

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. -Galatians 2:20