The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings! ~Henry Ward Beecher
Once the leaves start to fall it's easy to feel Thanksgiving coming around the corner. And after Thanksgiving starts my most favorite holiday season, Christmas. As much as I love it and I mean a crazy carol-singing-at-the-top-of-my-lungs-do-everything-Christmasy-that-I-can kind of love, I force myself not to rush over this day of thankfulness. No Christmas until the day AFTER the 4th Thursday in November, please.
2012 Thanksgiving was spent with my parents in good ol' Santa Rosa. I love the opportunity to be with my family. They are, after all, the number 2 thing I am most thankful for, second only to the God who gave as every blessing. They hosted a small gathering of folks this year, but small is relative when you have kids running around. It was filled with cooking. A lot of cooking, thank you Mom, thank you Dad. I'm spoiled, I am. Running (1st annual Turkey Trot, hosted by, yours truly), resting, laughing, movies, cards, conversation, and finished with a quick trip to the cabin.
I ask forgiveness for the terrible way I have chosen to document this day. Which is, basically, not at all. You will see either my iPhone photos or pictures I've snagged from Kelly, which she doesn't know I did. (I have my ways, people. But, I digress.) I missed documenting a whole lot of activity and a whole lot of people which should tell you that I was enjoying myself thoroughly.
My little boys have started to play a game where I get to play a princess with the magic sword, and they are the knights who are sworn to 'atect me. I <heart> these boys with every ounce of my being. I never knew what love was until I became a mother. I mean, I have loved, don't get me wrong. But everyone I have loved has done something that makes me love them. From their first breath I knew I would do anything for my children. Not only had they done nothing to earn my love, they did a lot of things that could cause someone to NOT love them (poopy diapers, sleepless nights, crying, oh the crying. Anyone with me on this one?) These children have given me the smallest glimpse into the love that Jesus Christ has for the world. A love that is never-stopping, fully-undeserved, and yet, always-there. For that I am forever grateful. Eternally thankful. And this family? I love, love, love each and every person in our ever expanding circle. We were not able to celebrate with all of them this year, but here's holding out hope for 2013!
Google search Turkey Trot Sonoma County. I dare you. Yeah, nothing. I couldn't find anything either. I decided to create my own little run with anyone who was interested. The kiddos and I purchased a few choice t-shirts from GoodWill, and after a hot wash and bleach, they were ready for decorating. Each of us painted a shirt that will forever be cherished and never, ever thrown into the trash. Or regifted to GoodWill. I'm sure of it.
Turns out the other 50% of people in town also decided to take a run this morning. Just a little dodging and skirting around little kids on bikes. No big deal. I ran with my brother Kent, for a bit. The looks, waves, smiles, flat out pointing and laughing he got while wearing his turkey feather headband were awesome. Well worth the effort, people.
Liam and Aaron ran for about 1/18 of a mile. Then they fed the ducks.
Oh. And made jet packs out of eucalyptus bark.
The meal was extraordinary. Thanks Mama for all the work. I have always hated stuffing. I take the obligatory scoop and shuffle it around my plate for the remainder of the meal. Not this Thanksgiving. It was delish. I even liked the cranberry sauce, which isn't my favorite thing either. Moist turkey. And shame on me that this is the only picture I got. Appetizing, Right?
On Friday night we drove to the cabin in the woods for Thanksgiving.2. If you are ever in need of a pick-me-up, this is the place to be. In the middle of the most incredible redwood forest along side a babbling creek. It's a calm to the senses: the sounds, the smells, the warmth, the chill. It's a happy place, for sure.
We filled our time there with a couple walks, a trek up the creek, a few feats of gymnastic prowess by Miss Kelly in said creek, and another full Thanksgiving meal complete with 10,000 different desserts. I don't need to eat for the next week.
I'm pretty sure that little blur of blue is Liam jumping from one rock to the next. He doesn't hold still for very long. Welcome to my world, people.
Don't you love to be snuggled up in Grandma's old sweatshirts? The one I'm wearing is a 1984 original. My only true disappointment of the weekend was not putting Kelly into Nannie's panda bear bathrobe. It would have been classic. Next time, Kelly. I don't forget these sorts of things.
And now.... We turn and wave goodbye to November and welcome with the bells of the season, 29 days until CHRISTMAS!
Comments
Mom