Thankful

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays--if not my favorite. I know, as a Christian I have people ask me how is it that Christmas is not your favorite holiday or Easter. I love Christmas. Really, I LOVE Christmas, but Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all we've received and be grateful. Every Thanksgiving when I look back at all the Lord has provided throughout the year I am amazed. I think "wow! God REALLY loves me."

This year was no exception. The thankfulness started on Tuesday afternoon. I had three very excited boys glad that there was a break, but as excited as they were, I think I was even more excited! Knowing we now had a small break was, well, a much needed break.

Then on Wednesday someone who has become much more than a weekly visitor into our lives took my children and gave me and Chris some time to ourselves. It's so rare that we get time alone (especially in the evening hours) that we did not know what to do with ourselves. We ended up enjoying dinner together and then went Christmas shopping. All the while my kids were (in their opinions and mine too) with a really cool adult eating pizza, watching movies, and playing with her dog. Of course her dog probably thought it was torture having three loud boys invading her space and time with her owner. But I was reminded on Wednesday of how lucky we are to have Sarah in our lives.

Thursday we enjoyed thanksgiving dinner. I ate more than I needed to, but it was so nice to have our family around the table all healthy and hungry. It was nice knowing we had the resources to fill those hungry bellies. After lunch we continued our yearly tradition by going to the movies. We laughed and cried as we pondered the meaning of life and death (literally) through the movie "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium". I was reminded of how we are making every moment a memory, but the question is what kind of memory? I pray that my boys will have more good than bad.

Friday we put up our tree. I was even thankful for our small artificial tree. And putting out every ornament and keepsake brought back so many memories. The boys are getting older, but each loves to have their "own" ornaments to put out on the tree. I hate stringing the lights, but realize that I am lucky to even have a tree to decorate. Then that evening we got to spend time with some dear friends. I laughed and enjoyed my victory in Trivial Pursuit (80's edition mind you)! But more than winning a game, it was a gift to be able to spend time with friends that we sometimes take for granted. As I look back over the past year many of our memories have these special people as a part of them. How blessed I am to be able to say that.

Then the weekend brought us some down time and all day pj time. Who doesn't love that?! Chris was off from Tuesday through Friday and it was WONDERFUL! The restaurant industry can sometimes be a cut throat one, but I feel blessed that Chris has this job. He has had more time off in the past year than he has had all previous 12 years of our marriage combined. It's a gift to have him here to make memories with us.

I could go on and on about all I am thankful for, and I think I will (only not in this post). But I am a reader of another blog that talks about 1000 Thanks. The author has challenged her readers to find 1000 things to be thankful for. Over the coming months I will be posting everyday things I am thankful for. I encourage you to do the same. What are you thankful for? Let me know...let HIM know.

And I wish you many more full holidays.