Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I’m taking a break from preparation to think a little bit about the things I’m thankful for.

First of course is my family, though except for my husband, they are all far away celebrating the holiday in the South.  I’m so glad my parents decided to have four of us!  It’s such a comfort to know that no matter what there’s a whole passel of us that have each others’ backs.

And of course I’m thankful for my husband who cleaned house this week while I worked, does the grocery shopping for me and runs all the errands now days.  He has my back too.

Then there’s the Katie-girl whose main job is to annoy and delight me in equal measures.  Sometimes at the same time.

I’m thankful that I have a job, as much as I wish it had all turned out differently.  I know many people are still searching for work and I know I was lucky to be able to go back to my former employer.  But today I’m also thankful for having the day off!

I’m thankful for my warm home with it’s beautiful yard that I get to come home to every day.  So many people are homeless or living in squalor across the world.

I’m thankful for the  hot tasty meal that we’ll have later today, and the fact that I never have to worry about where the next meal will come from.  Around the world I’d be in the minority; too many people struggle from day to day to feed their families.

And I’m thankful that, though I had to go back to work this year, it’s not so many years until I’ll be able to retire for good without the fear of having to become a WalMart greeter at age 95.

I hope you all have long lists of things to be thankful for as well.  And though it was a difficult year, and for some of you a year filled with tragedy and illness and loss, I’m thankful you all made it this far.

Enjoy your friends and families and enjoy your meal.   Take some time to reflect.  Take a moment to sit back and observe everything the day means to you.  Memorize the good parts, let the little squabbles that inevitably arise slide away.  Embrace the moment.

And for those of you traveling this weekend – be safe.