Friends help support when family is far away

To me, Thanksgiving is about gratitude and well, thanksgiving! This Thanksgiving season, I am extremely thankful for my friends. My friends have played a big part in helping me through tough spots and times in my life.

Right now my dad, Jeff Brandsma a CW3 in the Army, is in Alabama for some school work until around Jan. 27. Even though he will be back for Christmas, this is really hard for me. My dad and I have grown really close over the years, so when he goes away or gets deployed I really miss him.

My friends are playing a really big role in getting me through this hard time by always being there for me with a smile, a small hug, or even just some encouraging words. I know that they have always got my back and will always love me no matter what. I don’t know where I would be without my friends right behind me supporting me the way they do.

Sometimes, you don’t know how good something is until it’s gone. I know that my friends will always be there for me, so I can be strong and never look back. And that is why I am so very thankful and grateful for my friends this and every Thanksgiving season.

This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 2:53 PM with the headline "Friends help support when family is far away."