November 29, 2008

• Still Thankful

  The boys and I have had another quiet day.  I’ve done a load of dishes, we’ve done a couple loads of laundry, none of us have volunteered to vacuum with the cool new bright pink Bissell.  (Maybe I should have gone with blue or green … but the thrifty side of me is still chortling over the low low price I paid for it, and I like it pink.)

  I made another “fancy” dinner.  We aren’t eating huge but we are eating unusual for us.  We had our Thanksgiving out at Miss Eva’s house in the mountains on Thursday.  Last night I broiled small steaks and served them with rice and green beans.  This afternoon we had a late lunch/early supper of cornish game hens with rich mashed potatoes and broccoli.  We’ve had multiple conversations over the past three days about what we’re thankful for.  Mostly, we’re thankful for each other. 

  I haven’t had a nap today, although I leaned in that direction for a while.  I got comfortable on the couch and the cat got comfortable on me.  The boys had never seen Karate Kid so we watched that this afternoon.  It’s amazing that 20 years down the road I still get all mushy over Mr. Miyagi and Danielsan.  Classic.

  Looking around at the cheerful clutter of my apartment usually makes me grind my teeth in frustration.  I hate the mess and the lack of space here.  But, we are warm, dry and happy.  With the aroma of good food from the kitchen and the sound of the log crackling in the fireplace it’s hard to complain.  For two years after the divorce when I wasn’t sure from month to month that I’d have enough for covering utility bills, much less a Thanksgiving feast, we were adopted by people we didn’t know,  people who didn’t know us.  About a week before Thanksgiving, we got a knock on the door, and when I answered it, there was a box with everything we could have dreamt of not only for our Thanksgiving meal but for a couple of weeks after as well.  

  I’ve been thinking about that a lot this year.  By many standards, our food is pretty simple for holiday fare.   Still, four years ago, the celebration we’ve enjoyed this weekend would have been far out of my reach.  I know that many of you have been my readers from before and then through that time.  Some of you, were involved a couple of years ago when some kind-hearted Xangans went far above and beyond to make my family’s Christmas the merriest ever.  (And whichever one of you sent that blue sweatshirt and pants to Tucker, I want you to know that he loved that outfit and wore it until it was literally falling apart.)

  This year, we have the opportunity to be on the giving side.  It’s not quite the same as what we experienced.  We are planning for a family who may not even know yet that they will have a need this year.  The bank where I work is adopting a family through the Ronald McDonald house.  Maybe the family we’ll shower with gifts is already there.  Maybe they don’t yet know that there is a diagnosis, or an accident, or a transplant that will be scheduled at the last minute and bring them to live in a hospital with a child receiving treatment through the holidays.  We have some generic items we’re gathering now, and then when we find out more about who will be receiving our gifts, we’ll fill in the gaps with specific things needed or requested. 

  The boys and I are excited to take part in this.  We don’t know the names or faces of the people who helped us and gave me hope when things didn’t look very hopeful.  The family we come alongside this year won’t ever know who we were.  I pray that they will be as encouraged and strengthened as we were.  We are excited to do this because it’s the best way we know to say “thank you” to people who chose to be angels to us.

  Thank you. 

  • 7:52 pm
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