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Happy Thanksgiving


Photo credit | Memory Lane Photography
Blessed, loved, grateful.  My heart is full as I write this Thanksgiving note to you all.  Life takes many ups and downs and we've been on a roller coaster ride these past few weeks. Mark has been terribly sick with pneumonia. The boys and I have been {less} terribly sick with bronchitis and sinus infections. The sickness is lingering (on and on and on) for us all and the boys (and us) have been irritable, to put it mildly. News came yesterday that our rental property has some extensive damage that is complicated and expensive to fix.  Life always seems to have perfectly timed extra helpings of stress just in time for the busy-ness of the holidays.

And yet.  

I choose to see the greatness of our blessings today.  Blessings of love and strangle-hold hugs and surprising eruptions of uncontrollable giggling amidst the warrior dance of a Class 5 Tantrum. Quiet cuddles and oodles of books with both boys on my lap as we do yet another round of breathing treatments. Examples of enduring love from both sets of parents, who both celebrated 50 years together this year and will be feasting with us today. Sprinklings of family all around - so much that we get to enjoy two turkey dinners (and twice the pie)! It's a pretty beautiful life when you step out of your little puzzle piece and get a glimpse at how it fits into the bigger picture.

And this big picture I've posted today makes my heart happy.  It's not perfect by any means, but it's my family. It was taken near the end of our photo shoot and Kellan has lost pretty much all interest in smiling on command and is practically choking Mark. Trevor is gleefully kicking me in the back and the sun is so bright you can see all my squinty laugh lines. But the moment is real and this photo shoot was that one thing that went right on a day that was going all wrong.  The twin terrors were in full force that morning (and immediately following), and yet for one magical hour on a sunny October afternoon, the boys posed and smiled and were patient and didn't fight and shouted "hooray for Christmas cards", because they knew it was important to me. It was the best gift. And it had nothing to do with "things" and everything to do with actions.

May our hearts and hands be filled with gifts of action this holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving from my little family to yours!

9 comments

Beth Norman-Roberts said...

What a beautiful family photo. I hope everyone feels better soon.

Maureen said...

this brings tears to my eyes, Julee…your eloquent description of "life." It's real and beautiful and difficult and if we can see joy and blessings through it all how lucky are we! Sending you all Thanksgiving wishes and hugs. Enjoy! ox

Davi said...

A beautiful moment preserved for all time in you precious family photo! I love your beautiful description of life today! We all have bumps some bigger than others but our blessing always out weigh! Thanks for the lovely reminder :) Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Marisa said...

What a beautifully written and heart felt post, Julee. Love the photo of you and the boys. Eucharistio, beautiful ugly and yet an opportunity to give thanks, as Ann Voskamp would say :) You nailed it - best things in life are things money can't buy. Hugest of hugs to you and prayers for healing. Love ya to bits :)

Mimi said...

Just stopped by to check in on VerveGirl, and saw your adorable family photo-- of course I had to read about your littles! What a wonderful post. Yep: life throws lots of special things at us at once, but it's those moments where the kids smile and the hubs goes along with it all... beautiful. Happy holidays, this will get better!

Vickie Z said...

Fabulous pic and wonderful sentiments!! Hope you had a fabulous Thanskgiving!!

Monika/Buzsy said...

You have a beautiful family Julee... with the ups and downs... giggles and cries. Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

CherylQuilts said...

Oh, Julee, I saw this and read it and was so struck at how perfectly you've said it! Yes, God is always with us through the ups and downs of life. Praise Him for that, and what a beautiful photo of you and your "boys." Precious in His sight! Wishing you all a belated Thanksgiving and praying that Mark will be feeling well soon! Warm hugs!

Lisa Lynn said...

Gorgeous family picture - cherish it always!