Thanksgiving could not have been better. My children were home. Friends and family joined us for a Thanksgiving dinner. We continued our next-day ritual of a hike and leftovers; and we ended the weekend with a happy birthday celebration with friends and family. The house was warm and welcoming; people flowed in and out; and there was a spirit of cheer all around. I'm grateful for that.
Now, we turn the corner to the Christmas festivities. We'll host a few events and we've been invited to a few events. That will bring a joyful spirit to the weeks ahead. Of course, there are some missing pieces as no holiday season can include all that you hope for past and present. We've lost a few family members to aging, illness, and unexpected events, and because we have a large family people will spread out over the holidays meaning not everyone we would like to celebrate with will be nearby in person, but we know they'll be a text, email, or phone call away.
On the Monday after Thanksgiving, I thought about Thanksgiving Day and the celebrations and life events to come. It was a day of figuring out what really mattered, and what doesn't matter so much. It's good to do that now and then, and now I'll move ahead into our Christmas preparations and festivities--time with friends and family, gift wrapping and decorating, and a few extra special events. Onward.