Thanksgiving Wishes

I hope everyone in the US had a good Thanksgiving. I know we all probably ate waaaaay too much, but as Americans, it is our God-given task to continue the egregious excesses that we have become known for the world over.

We had dinner at my mother's. It was a lovely meal, complete with just about everything yummy that I look forward to each year. There was a small turkey, standing rib roast, macaroni and cheese, squash casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, collard greens, creamed corn, Parmesan and broccoli casserole, and my Grandmother's sausage stuffing. (My southern mother changed her allegiance from traditional southern cornbread stuffing (awful stuff) to the more Yankee-influenced sausage version early on in her marriage to my father. They may have divorced after 20 years of marriage, but by damn -- the stuffing recipe stayed!

I am thankful for so many things. My health, my family, and all the blessings that God has chosen to shower upon me. I realize that there are MANY people out there who have it significantly worse than I do, and I want to take time to thank God for that which I *do* have, instead of constantly wailing about what I haven't. I made a conscious effort a few years ago to stop praying FOR things, and start praying in thanks. Sometimes, it's very hard for me not to beg God to make certain things happen, but instead to give praise for all that I do have.

The thing that I am most thankful for is my family. Sure, I complain about them, but they are all that I ever wanted. When I thought about my future family as I was growing up, I could have never guessed that I would be so lucky. I have a wonderful husband, and a beautiful daughter. I am thankful in more ways than I can count for both of them. Sure, we have our strife, just like any family, but they're worth the effort. Marriage and parenting is hard work. It's worthwhile work, to be sure, but it IS work. We work at it every day. I can't think of anything else I'd rather do, though.

To all of you, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. (To my Canadian readers, I wish you a very happy day as well, with plenty of blessings of your own. I know that I'm glad that you're here and I hope you'll continue to return.)