Happy Thanksgiving

I love living in Canada and I don't want to move, but every year this weekend comes around and I really, really miss home. Thanksgiving American-style just can't be beat. Even many of my friends up here have said that it simply seems to be a different sort of holiday for Americans, and I agree.

It's a big holiday. It's a weekend of fun, family, eating, spending time together shopping or whatever else comes along the way. It's a big core family all in one house laughing, playing games, watching football. It's the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade-which I STILL watch! It's football in the crisp autumn air in the back yard. It's mac and cheese and turkey and gravy and sweet potatoes and Aunt Charita's cheesecake. It's Grandpa and all of my uncles falling asleep in the reclining chairs after a delicious dinner. Thanksgiving in the States is sometimes waking up early the next day and jumping in the car with your favorite women to crash the stores at inhumane hours in hopes of the best deal for that Christmas present you are looking for! Thanksgiving is the anticipation of the work and school week ending on that Wednesday afternoon and looking forward to spending the entire weekend with your family.

I'm so thankful for many wonderful things in my life. I like to do a Thanksgiving wish list, and although it could always go on forever, I'll limit it to ten things!

1. I'm so thankful for my God. My faith in Him is what keeps me going! I am so grateful that I am not on my own and that He is always with me, even in difficult times.
2. I could never express how thankful I am for my husband. The way God brought us together is a true miracle...a farm girl from South Dakota and a city boy from BC? How else could that happen except for God having a hand in it? Kevin is an amazing man. I am so thankful for our relationship. I am thankful that we laugh together, cry together, share so many things. We encourage one another, we are each other's helpmates. I never feel like I am in things alone, because he is always there right beside me, whether it is doing the dishes, running errands, going on a fun vacation, or figuring out exactly how we are supposed to respond to this new twist of parenthood!
3. I am exceedingly thankful for my son. Wow. I know that it is cliche and that everyone says it, but being a parent truly does change your entire life. To have such joy and love for this little man in your life is something that surprises me daily. I am amazed at his growth-emotionally, physically, verbally, just in every way! He daily learns new things. He is so full of joy. I love that moment when I get home from work or yoga or whatever and walk up to the window and tap on it and the excitement that he has at seeing me is so great that he can't contain it. He runs around the room in excitement and joy and bangs on the window and kisses it. His laugh lights up an entire room. His smile ranges from shy to jubilant. Kevin and I were alone the other day for awhile-I can't remember why-and Kevin commented on how he always laughs so much more when Rusty is around. It's true! He makes us laugh all of the time. His hugs and his kisses! Oh, if you get to experience them you are so blessed! He pats your arm with his little hand and gives you a big kiss on the cheek or mouth and you feel like the most loved person in the world! I am definitely thankful for my sweet boy!
4. I am thankful for my family. They are and always have been my foundation. They check in with me, they send me letters, pictures, videos. They come to visit. They listen from afar. We support each other, even though we aren't always together. They make me laugh. A lot. They have silly traditions that make life fun. They love God and live for Him. My extended family is included in this! I was one of those people that was blessed enough to grow up feeling like I knew my aunts and uncles and cousins as well as my own mom, dad, and siblings. I am still as that close to them!
   
5. I am thankful for my mother and father-in-law! I love them and we are so thankful for the relationship that they have with Rusty. His eyes simply light up any time he sees them and he spends half of the day-every day-walking around the house calling for his "Nana" and "Buppa." They are great grandparents, they dote on him just enough, but not enough to totally spoil him. They hug him and love on him. Nana is the one that taught him that a sheep says "Baa baa" and Buppa is determined to teach Rusty his colors by using various seeds. He is so blessed to have them in his life, and we are blessed as well. They are always there for us, they pray for us, they provide wisdom when we need it and give us the opportunity to learn on our own when we want that.
   
6. I am incredibly thankful for TECHNOLOGY! Techonology has truly changed my life. Facebook allows me to peek into the lives of my friends and family that are far away on a daily basis. Skype lets my family SEE Rusty live and in action for free! My blog gives me the opportunity to express myself and write. Technology has even recently created a new job opportunity for me that allows me to be home with my sweet boy and hubby more! Technology is amazing and I am so thankful for all of the opportunities it provides in our world today!
7. I am really thankful for the many good friends that I have. God has put a lot of wonderful people in my life that round it out and fill it up. I can't list them all, because I'll forget some, but you guys know who you are! You are there for a good cup of coffee, you're there for going to movies, pouring out my heart, sharing your heart with me, watching plays and going on adventures! You are wonderful!
8. I am thankful for coffee! Yes, I am one of "those" people. I love coffee. I love to start my day with a nice hot cup of joe with my favorite creamer in it. I also love a nice, hot latte from Starbucks, or a half coffee/half hot chocolate from Tim Horton's. Another delicious drink is a peppermint mocha...I just love coffee!
   
9. I am thankful for the area that I live in. Talk about natural beauty and living in the middle of God's wonder! BC is that place! We see beauty surrounding us on a daily basis. The view from the backyard we live in is breathtaking. The mountains and the ocean are both within a short drive. It's amazing to live in such a place!
10. I'm thankful for my new Kitchen Aid mixer! I love how easy it makes life. I love baking up simple things on a whim because the mixer takes all of the work out of it. I'm daily finding new uses for my mixer.
    

Thanksgiving 2008-Little Rusty was three months old!