In what ways are we thankful?! Write about anything you want under this theme! Do you have any family traditions that help you to be mindful of the blessings in your life?
I am a girl who loves stability and traditions. I decided to go to a Benedictine College because of the vow of stability that the monks make, and I'm always looking for how my life will be the same in a few years. Not that everything has to be the same, but it's hard for me to make decisions when everything is on shaky ground. When something (like a house for my living situation) is on solid ground, all of the other decisions are somehow easier to make and the change is easier to adapt to.
I've been in Charlotte for 7 Thanksgivings now - well, 6 and Thursday makes 7. The first year I was here my parents and baby brother came for Turkey Day. The following year I went home to PA (and it was WAY too much traveling for the November/December time frame, so I decided never to go home for Thanksgiving again.
Since then I've been invited to friend's houses for dinner a few times, and the last two years (and this year) made plans to spend it with MG. Having a best friend makes good things happen! We went to Savannah one year, last year we were dog sitting for another friend of mine (well, me the whole week, MG spent the 'vacation' days), and this year Thanksgiving is in my new house. We are also taking in a family, not a random family but the one who gave me a home when mine was throwing up on my earlier this Fall. So we will be 6, 4 adults and 2 toddlers.
For me the traditions of Thanksgiving are friends, new foods, Mass, and relaxing! I crave tradition/stability and even though every year Thanksgiving has been different, it has been the same as well - a good dinner, great friends and conversation, and a time to be grateful. I'm extremely blessed, I know this. I've always really been blessed. Nothing tragic has ever happened to me, and the Lord shines His face on me withe blessings every day. And not just the 'sun is shining' and 'I'm breathing blessings.' Those are great too - but I don't have to search deep to see where he's blessing me in a storm most of the time. He is more than generous to this daughter.
I have an amazing family, even when they drive me absolutely insane. I have a great job, even when I feel a little flabbergasted. I have a house, even if it threw up on me. I have fantastic friends, great coworkers, and my health.
Truly those are just a few of my blessings. I need to remind myself about them whenever I'm feeling down.
Happy Thanksgiving!!! If our adventurous dinner comes out good, look for a post this week with pics and recipes! I did make this turkey for my office and they LOVED it - so if you need a turkey recipe, this one is worth it!
Katie! You went to BC?!?!?! That's where I am now! How did I not realize this?!?!?! Oh my gosh, I'd love to hear about your experience sometime :-) Of course, the rest of this post was nice too. Love traditions!
ReplyDeleteOh, not the Benedictine College called BC, but "a" Benedictine college. I went to Saint Vincent in Latrobe, PA. The motherhouse for all of the Benedictines in the US.
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