Thanksgiving Day

For what it's worth, Thanksgiving was a good day today. Honestly, the entire day I never like cognitively thought in my mind "I am thankful for this or that" but the entire day was spent with appreciation for my extended family. I played football with my cousin that is in his twenties, my second cousin who is two, and my other second cousin who is nine. The diversity of this day just moves me to love my family even more . I have always kind of felt left out from the table conversation because I am the second youngest cousin in the family, but my semester in college seemed to have catapulted me into the loop with my older cousins or perhaps I have done some growing up since I have seen them last. They have kids now and I am still a young buck, but as we sit there the conversation is all-inclusive and I love it. I feel a real connection with the cousins I have always grown up looking up to but now I have reached a sense of understanding or acceptance from them. It served as somewhat of a right of passage that I have never received but through this marvelous day, I see it through the conversation and love and joy and thankfulness of my family.

One Fine Day

For all that it's worth, I love my family. I am on Thanksgiving break right now and I have really spent it well. For the past few years, I haven't really been a part of the tree decorations for Christmas. I usually have found some other thing to do, some movie to watch, or some friend to go hang out with when that happens. This year, my sister was in Dallas with her fiance and my younger sister was out to lunch for the day with a friend from church, so I was at home with my parents for the afternoon. We were talking over lunch about Christmas and all that good stuff when we decided that we should just throw up the tree and the front porch decorations. Not only have I not been a part of the Christmas decorating festivities, it has never been just my parents and me. So, all afternoon we put up the tree, got the lights plugged in and working, got out the wreaths and the stuff that lines or railing and got it all situated. This may seem trivial but it is honestly the first time in a long time where I have just been wrapped up in the term 'home' and it truly was a blessing to this Thanksgiving break. I honestly think that is set the tone so to speak for the week ahead of me. It has me more concerned about family and what we are doing and spending time with each other, a concept that hasn't really been a factor in recent years.