Just thankful

It's getting late. I am stuffed full of turkey, pie and all the trimmings. Pumpkin needs to get to bed and so do I. The boys have already retired to their quarters and soon the house will be quiet.

We are spending this Thanksgiving on The Other Side of the Mountains, in our country home. It's our first Thanksgiving here with our own little sanctuary. It is positively wonderful. I spent the morning baking pies and trimming green beans in my own kitchen. In the early afternoon we went up to my Mom's and had a wonderful Thanksgiving with all of the family that could be in town. And now we have the blessing of being able to retreat back to our own space and end the day on our own terms. It's perfect.

My Mom seemed happy today which also makes me very thankful. I don't forget for one minute how stark and empty the holidays must feel for her without my father here- even though she doesn't show it. This is also her first Thanksgiving without her mom, my Nana, which must also feel strangely hollow.

I admire my Mom. She does an amazing job of focusing on the blessings in the present while allowing herself to remain mindful, even wistful, for those things she wishes were different. Those things we all wish were different.

So, I shall head up to bed thankful. Thankful for family, for home, for my children, my parents, my siblings... just thankful.

Good night. Happy Thanksgiving.