Happy Thanksgiving.

For us, today is about starting new traditions, being thankful for the painful memories and the growth they provide and for celebrating each other. I want the kids to understand (and embrace) that we can't predict the curve balls that life throws at us, but we can let God teach us how to duck and dodge and move forward. I want them to understand that we're in this together. And TOGETHER, we will not only survive but we'll thrive. God doesn't want us to merely exist (wouldn't doing that be an insult to the Artist that created us in great, complex detail?) but rather He wants us to have ABUNDANT LIFE...."good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over".

Well, that's all for now. I'm sure I'll have more to say later. We're on our way out the door again to have a lovely Thanksgiving dinner with good friends. This morning, we went to church downtown (the place was HUGE) to be a part of their Thanksgiving dinners for the homeless. There were about 300 volunteers set up to put together 2,200 full meals. It was amazing seeing the teamwork, the precision and the compassion. Everything was set up, assembly-line fashion and we would go through, get the styrofoam cartons filled with a full meal and they would load them in boxes and take them to the missions. The kids participated, going right down the line with everyone. They were happy to be a part of it, counting how many meals that they personally put together and how many it fed. I had a long talk with them beforehand so that they would understand the privilege and solemnity of serving God and humanity this way. I was so proud of each one of them. We were tired, having rolled out of bed early, but it was worth it. God has done so much for us. It's hard to be a "taker" so often. It's hard for me to be in that position. Any opportunity that I have to be a "giver", well, I'm on it. Although, I do have to use discernment (as was the case yesterday, thank you Angela (S.) for helping me to "tame my zeal". lol)

Wow, we look so tired. lol But it was a good kind of tired. :-) Have a great day, y'all! :-)


EDITED TO ADD: Turned out to be thee BEST THANKSGIVING that I've had in YEARS. I have awesome friends! And made some pretty sweet new ones, too. ;-) I was relaxed and had a lot of fun. Thank you so much, Angela and Brian, for opening your home up on Thanksgiving....and all of the other days, too. :-) Such a haven of rest for me and the kids so often (and for others, too, I'm sure).