J Cooper Photography

I know Thanksgiving was a couple of weeks ago and most everyone has moved on to Christmas caroling and gift wrapping.  But the past few weeks have been a flurry of activity here and I haven’t had the proper time to come to this spot and express my thanks.  We moved into our new house 2 days before Thanksgiving.  We were living in complete chaos.  Boxes everywhere…dramatic and tired children…cranky parents.  But our parents here in town (boy, is it fun to say that) and our parents from out of town helped ease the pain.

My mom hosted Thanksgiving dinner so that I wouldn’t have to worry about cooking that ‘ol bird.  And while I tried to make sense of my silverware drawer, my mother in law whipped up the green bean casserole and other tasty treats to take to our feast.  Both sets of parents spent the better part of the week unpacking an endless supply of boxes and encouraging us to keep going.

So even though the Thanksgiving meal is history for most of us this year…the thanks here continues.

This Thanksgiving will likely go down in history as The World’s Craziest Holiday.  But even amidst the chaos my heart felt immense peace.

Last Thanksgiving I had just left my baby on the other side of the world.  I had looked straight into the eyes of another woman who loved him and said “love him for me while I’m gone”.  And then I had walked away, boarded a plane, and flew across the world…landing smack dab in the hustle and bustle of Black Friday shopping.  I cried into my pillow that morning at the sheer conflict emerging in my soul.  I learned a little bit more what it meant to be content in Him.

This year the contentment was easier to find.  That tiny baby boy is now a chunky {standing HALLELUIAH!!) toddler.  That baby boy I had to leave is HOME.

I’m making a promise to myself to carry contentment in my heart this season.  I know it will be hard.  The house prjects are piling up…the gifts aren’t going to wrap themselves…the committments….the lonliness of a new city…the missing of friends….

But we are FULL regardless of our situation.  FULL of God’s grace and mercy.  FULL this season of God’s love and I’m so very thankful for all He has done.

{We tried for some family photos after our Thanksgiving meal…probably should have gotten the cameras out BEFORE the feast!}

A few things I’m thank{full} for this year:

* God’s perfect gift of grace

* Family who loves us

* Little people to keep us grounded

* The safety net of good friends

* The provision of a new job and house

* Laughter and tears

* Chai tea

* The truth of God’s word

* mercury glass (I had to say it)

* you