Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all! This year has been so very full. I don't really know how to adequately express appropriate gratitude for all our blessings, but we do know we feel very, very lucky. The things at the top of our list this year (and every year):

- Our family, particularly Chris and Eleanor (for me), our parents, our wonderful and ever thoughtful siblings (each and every one of them), and our extended family - grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and every one who we hold close to our hearts. We had the opportunity this year to see most of both of our families during various visits and extended family reunions. What a huge blessing.

- Our friends (which should be more aptly referred to as our local family), both those that are ever present and available for any needs (even if they are not physically here) and those that are here in Williamsburg and create such an amazing community for both Chris and me, as well as for Eleanor. We have relied on so many of these people and truly feel like our community here is unique and special.

- Our jobs, particularly the flexibility of mine, the ways Chris' job has changed over this past year to make our home life a little easier on both of us, and for the current opportunities he is engaging in at work.

- Our health, though we are all a little down with colds right now, overall, we are healthy and able-bodied people. This is something for which I can never be thankful enough.

- Our home, which at the time of writing this, is the place we have lived together longest in our 6+ years of marriage. The longest place we had lived prior to this was 16 months, and we have now been in our house 17 months. I can't believe it's already been that long - it feels much shorter - and though I have the urge to purge (didn't mean to rhyme there) like we were in the habit of doing each year when we moved, I have no desire to change locations. I love our home.

- Our town, which we have now been living in again for three years, and of which I grow fonder each and every year. We had tried to get back here for awhile, and as we drove into town with our moving truck three years ago, we both said we felt home.

- Perhaps most importantly, our good and beautiful God. He provides, gives us the strength, compassion, and JOY to love each other and survive with grace in a broken world filled with broken things, broken relationships, and broken emotions. Hallelujah. 

And speaking of thankful, I was put on call at work today, so we are hanging around town in case I get called in, but since we had a last minute change of plans, some of our wonderful friend/family community has invited us into their home to share their Thanksgiving. Our hearts are full and grateful!

Happy Thanksgiving!