Grateful

As the girls and I made the 6 hour drive from Dallas to our temporary home in Amarillo yesterday, I periodically glanced to the back seat to see them, smiling to themselves, headphones on,  engrossed in their tablets and randomly laughing at some unknown funny moment in their shows.  As the sun slowly made its way across the sky, I sat in the hours of quiet and momentary chuckles from the back seat, and reviewed the last few months in my mind.  

If it's possible to feel an emotion in your bones, I literally feel gratitude in mine.  It's new, this overwhelming feeling of thanks.  Don't get me wrong, I've always felt thankful at Thanksgiving, because- good grief- we've always been incredibly blessed and there's certainly always something to be grateful for, but there's something about this year that feels very different.  

Knowing how many have lost loved ones or who will eat their Thanksgiving meal alone, with spouses or parents currently hospitalized, I AM THANKFUL FOR GOOD HEALTH.  

Having the privilege of guiding two little souls through the inevitable highs and lows of this life, I AM THANKFUL THAT GOD SAW FIT TO GIVE US THESE PRECIOUS (yet sometimes provoking) CHILDREN.  😊 

Taking up residence with my in-laws who've so kindly opened their home to us until the motorhome is finished, and chatting regularly with my mother who is still quarantined and doing her best to protect my medically fragile dad, I AM THANKFUL FOR THE GIFT OF FAMILY.  I'm grateful for our shared histories, to be known and unconditionally loved, to do our bests to return that love, and to learn patience with and through them. 

I AM THANKFUL FOR FRIENDS- NEW AND OLD- and am continually amazed at how God has perfectly woven the threads of our lives to cross at just the right time.  You've been surrogate parents to our children, mentors and unpaid counselors to us, and very frequently the breath of fresh air that we needed when life was stifling. 

FOR THE EVER-EVOLVING GIFT THAT IS MARRIAGE, I AM THANKFUL.  We married when were just young and naive enough to think we actually knew it all.  How much life has taught us and how grateful I am for all of it- highs and lows.  Even on days when you drive me nuts, J, I am so thankful to have you as a partner. 

It's pretty amazing to live in an era where careers can continue outside the confines of an office building.  To have the good fortune to both work for individuals who are progressive enough and have enough trust and confidence in us to allow us to work remotely, is even more astounding.   I AM THANKFUL FOR OUR EMPLOYERS.  They are the antithesis of the big, unfeeling corporate conglomerate and I am grateful that people like you still exist in the world. 

I am thankful for random Uber drivers who share about their lives.  For crazy cat ladies who foster unwanted animals for no discernible reason other than love. I am thankful for falling leaves, flowering trees, sunsets and sunrises. For grass between toes, babies, bubble baths that are way too long and belly laughs.  In this year of craziness, I am thankful for a million other things that I can't put into words.

Wishing you and your family all the joys of this holiday season and an all-consuming gratitude for the abundant lives we've been given.  

Love to you all, 

Jess