Giving of Thanks

I have a lot to recap from the past few weeks.  I have been busy and I've had one special Southerner that came to visit.  I've been studying and I've been gearing up for a week of tests (not to be confused with finals...they've piled those on for the following week) that will surely reign down on me when I get back.  Enough with my belly-achin'.

These last few days have been fabulous.  I've been HOME...as well as in my second home.  We had the best Thanksgiving...with nearly all of our family there.  Let me tell you, when our extended family gets together...it's a constant party.

Our family has had a great year: new babies, successful surgeries, an upcoming marriage, new jobs, new schools, big moves, good health...I've said this before...but the list goes on.  It really has been great.  I especially loved this visit because I got to see some of my favorite babies...who are, unfortunately, not babies anymore.  It is almost surreal to see these little people with spiked hair, having opinions, and saying things that grown-ups say...because I was JUST giving them baths, tucking them in with their favorite blankets, and fixing chocolate milk when they got up from their naps.  It was just weird but exciting to see them in this new season of life.

I would never want to be anywhere else than Mimi's house for a holiday.  It is truly the place where calories don't count and the laughter is always multiplied.  EVERY meal is followed with desert...be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  This trip was no different.  We laughed and cried.  And laughed until we cried.  I love my family.  I love that we support each other...right or wrong.  We are united.  We are family.

The love abounded this Thanksgiving.  It was everywhere.  In the little jokes we cracked.  The little smirks we shared across the table.  The hugs we gave.  The make-up applications.  In the millions of question and answer sessions from our littles.  In the baby snuggling.  In our blessings.  In our visiting.  It was everywhere.

And it was exactly what I needed.