On this Thanksgiving day, it’s easy (normal? customary?) to consider what you are thankful for. I could spend pages waxing philosophical on then many aspects of my life for which I should give thanks. I shall instead state that I have always held that God has graced us with more blessings than we likely deserve.  This is most often the motivation behind our charitable giving and otherwise generous approach to life.

We have recently had the opportunity to have new start in life: new location, new jobs, new acquaintances.  We are working to make new friends in a new place.  It hasn’t always been easy and there have been road bumps and other challenges along with the many joys.  Today we had a Thanksgiving for the scrapbooks.  Nothing Facebook or reality TV worthy but a memorable day nonetheless.

The adult children “came home” to a place they have never lived yet have done all they can to enjoy the place and the atmosphere the holidays engender.  We spent the day cooking, watching football, drinking (a benefit of having older kids!) and then enjoyed a lovely afternoon/evening having dinner with the neighbors.  It was fabulous to have our new neighborhood family meet our existing family.  There were no fireworks, nothing that merited exceptional mention.  Yet a fabulous meal and many entertaining stories were enjoyed by all.

And for that, friends and family, we are most profoundly thankful.