Today is Thanksgiving Day and I am grateful for many things–namely, the gospel, my family, my home, my freedom, my friends…. I am grateful for sweaters and warm rolls, wireless internet and Home Alone marathons, good health and cake bites. These things are some of the sources of pleasure in my life.
I am grateful for my husband, who, four years ago, invited me to have Thanksgiving with his family because I had no where else to go. We had recently had our first date. Though I was worried about meeting the whole family and staying with people I didn’t know, I was welcomed warmly and accepted. And through the ups and downs of the time James and I dated, his family was always supportive and treated me like one of them.
The holidays are often known for creating stress among family. Each set of in-laws fighting over time spent together. Where to spend Thanksgiving, where to spend Christmas. However, I was blessed with a wonderful family, both those who are related by blood and those who are related by law. I am lucky to spend time with either and happy to share the love.
This year, we are at James’s parents’ house for Thanksgiving. I am currently sitting in their living room, listening to and watching the hustle and bustle of the preparations for dinner. Eden is napping downstairs and McCauly Culkin is singing in the mirror to “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.”
In three weeks, we’ll be back, celebrating Christmas with his family early, before heading off to Hawaii on an air plane. I am excited to be back home, in paradise, to swim in the ocean and walk on the beach. It’s been too long since I went bodysurfing.
Life is good.