I can say completely and unequivocally, Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday. And November is my favorite month. It’s not an obvious choice, but the muted light and the turning leaves and the crispness in November can’t be beaten by any steamy day in July, at least in my book.
Did you know I was born on Thanksgiving? I think I probably mention that every year, sorry about that, but I really do feel like Thanksgiving is my holiday. It makes me practically burst with happiness to have a whole bunch of people I love sitting around a table, talking and eating cranberry sauce (the star of the feast, at least in my book). I’m tearing up just thinking about it now.
For the day that’s in it, this is the cliff notes version of my thankfulness list today. My cup runneth over, and this is only the tip of the iceberg.
- Two supportive, loving families in two different countries
- Two warm, welcoming homes 3,000 miles apart
- This blog, with the sweetest of readers, some of whom have turned into wonderful friends
- A job that I love, that stretches me and introduces me to interesting, creative, passionate people
- My health and the health of my family. The older I get, the more aware I am that it’s a giant blessing to be able to run and move and see, and to have at least one set of my grandparents who are as sharp as ever
- A tremendously kind husband who gives awesome pep talks, and who manages to crack me up and challenge me nearly every day
- Hope for growing our family in the future, after a season of hopelessness that gave me priceless empathy and compassion for friends and strangers who run into road blocks on their journey
- The freedom and the resources (and a built in planner!) to travel and see the world
- Cranberries and pumpkin bread and apple cider on repeat, and lattes and avocado toast and sushi and wine all the other times
- Friends who pick up where we left off six months ago and who will do it again in another six months, and who continue to hold out hope that I’ll one day stop leaving altogether
- And friends and family who want to be in our adventure with us, and that none of the journey is a burden to share
We have adopted a toast in our family, stolen from dear, dear friends, and it goes like this: To friends who are family, and family who are friends and it always makes us teary because who could really ask for much more than that. I hope tomorrow you are surrounded by friends who are family or family who are friends. I hope you are safe and warm and have an overwhelming feeling of peace in the holiday season to come. Giant grateful hugs from my corner of the universe to yours.
Unexpected Thanksgiving table from Coco + Kelley
No Comments