Thanksgiving 2014

We had a full house for Thanksgiving again this year.  Which is exactly how we like it.

 

  We are all about simple, but delicious.  No fancy shmancy dishes or new recipes to try.  Tried and true favorites that we literally have once, maybe twice a year.  The brined turkey was a hit once again, the stuffing was perfect, the cranberry sauce was sweetened with persimmons this year, the veggies and salad were aplenty, and nothing beats gravy over rice.  Yum.

 

 Thanksgiving was one week ago, but I wanted to still share our day.  I also figured that I couldn't write a Thanksgiving post without saying what I am thankful for.

 

  Besides the obvious external things for which I am overflowing with gratitude.  I mean Ava is the cutest ever and I haven't even shown you her new nodding trick, and the rest of the kids of course are the joy of my heart.  Cheering for the Seahawks with our favorite peeps and them winning on Thanksgiving was amazing.  And then of course, my shop, which is the perfect thing for me right now.  No time away from the kids and a way to have my creative outlet be shared, perfect.  Last but not least, spending a whole week off with my husband and kids and having family and friends in town too.  Amazing.  But how do I put into words the internal things that makes my heart truly sing?

 

  My heart is full as I sense the God working in my heart and the hearts of those I love.  From the books I have been reading, the studies I have been doing, and the messages I hear, all of it has had a theme that ties together in this perfect way that I know it is not a coincidence thing, but a God thing.  I am just in awe and it leaves the internal things, the things of my heart, with transcendent peace.  And for that I am so thankful.

 

  I must share what I've been learning, what keeps coming up, it is about having the right attitude or perception.  (Please note that by 'your' I mean 'my,' but 'your' just flows better.)  Your perception can leave you with a thankful heart for what you do have and not be disappointed by what you don't.  We were teaching this in sunday school and it has overflowed into so many aspects of my life.

 

  I'm reading this book to help me in my parenting and it has been so good.  My perception of a difficult or bad personality trait can be looked at another way and perceived instead as a strength.  Persistent instead of stubborn, passionate instead of angry.  My attitude has also been changed so that it might not be the "spirited" personality that is so hard as much as the clash of the different personalities that is the problem.

 

  Lastly, our church is going through a series on generosity which also was the subject at my MOPS meeting and of course both had lots of connections.  However, the big take away was your perception.  If you live your life with an attitude of scarcity in everything, you will have less to give.  If you live your life with an attitude of abundance of that which you do have, you will have more to give.  That gave me the freedom to not feel like I have to change the whole world with my generosity, but I can do what I can to change someone's world, even if for only a moment.  Like doubling dinner one day and having a whole dinner to gift someone with.  I can do that.

 

  To me, this is what I am so thankful for this year.  To see that he is real, down here with us, helping and present.  It is the perfect segway into the Christmas season, celebrating the birth of Jesus, also called Immanuel, which means God with us.

 

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Matthew 1:23

 

  I have more Thanksgiving weekend to share, but am fully aware it is the Christmas season.  Hoping to get caught up and in the Christmas spirit this weekend!