Five...ahem TEN....Minute Friday :: Thank You

Thank You!

I woke up yesterday, looked out the window to Thanksgiving world, and felt a burst of gratitude well up in my soul.

It surprised me really because thanks in the hard seasons, the hard journeys that have no easy answers and no quick outcomes, finds me more often breathless than thankful.

So I am learning to choose.
It has been a-several-year-pilgramage.
One in which I am still traveling.
Probably always will.

But on this day where we remember the day our ancestors broke bread with the original Americans, I pause in my heart and draw thanks, bubbling up like a well in my soul.

Thank You!

....Sis, for spending this Thanksgiving with me. It has been so long and I forgot how much fun it is when you are around. I had learned to accept "the way it was" and thankful this year for the gift of you.

Thank You!

....Family, for an amazingly, beautiful, NO-DRAMA day. The pleasant vibe throughout the meal, the easy conversations, the feeling of REAL connections...wow...just blessed my heart so much! I left thinking, "That was really lovely!"

Thank You!

.....Cousin, for hacking into my Facebook page as we planned our Black Friday shopping outings. I do think you are "the best." At least one of the best in my world anyway. And I love that you "include" me in the planning of the shopping day, even though I have never actually attended before today.

Thank You!

.....again, Sis, for being there, because going Black Friday shopping without you would not have been the same. C'mon, let's face it. I would probably never have gone. I love that I got to share that first experience with you and auntie and cuzzie and cuzzie's girl. The NFL corner of Wal*Mart may never look the same again. Hopefully the people that shopped with us were too delirious at 3 a.m. to even remember our turkey-druken stupor of nonsense and loudness...okay, okay...MY loudness!

Basically....it was one of my favorite Thanksgivings ever.
And that was a treat, a gift, a surprise.

So, Jesus, thanks for that gift.
It was super special.