Mixed Nuts: giving thanks...

Saturday, November 28, 2020

giving thanks...

Well...it's been a while. Do you ever have those times in life when you just don't feel inspired? I haven't felt particularly inspired lately to take many photos, write, paint or draw. It's not that there is anything wrong, I just don't feel motivated.

Now as far as the blog is concerned, I don't like the new format & in my opinion the photo quality has gone way downhill. As someone who appreciates exceptional photo quality, this really bugs me. Again, just feeding my lack of motivation to make a blog post.

All that aside, I have taken some time during the holiday season to take inventory. To really think about all the things in my life for which I am thankful that the Lord has provided. In no particular order:

the health & safety of my family
Chris & how hard he works every day at the job God has provided for him, how he faithfully serves at the church & how much he does for our family every day
Ashlyn & Landon
the time that we have gotten to spend together as a family this year. Time that, without a pandemic & stay at home orders, we would not have had
How God gives & takes away for our good
How God has used this year with its trials & losses to reveal & grow true friendships & exposed ones that were lacking
technology & the advancements that allow us to be in contact with people, still do school & see people! If this pandemic had happened even 10 years ago we wouldn't be able to do any of those things with the same ease
for showing us things that we were all taking for granted such as; worshiping together at church, hugging those we love, getting together with friends, eating dinner at a restaurant, going to concerts, camping & vacations, trips to Disneyland, seeing friends every day at school, basketball games...the list goes on

I tried to take all of those things & remember them as we celebrated Thanksgiving this year. God is so good & we have so much to thank Him for every day.

Even with a pared down Thanksgiving, Chris's dinner was anything but pared down. First the appetizers...

Pepper approved...

We celebrated with Papa & Emay this year. They are in our social bubble & have been locked down as well so we knew that we would all be safe. As you can see, Landon towers over us all (with the exception of Chris...for now)

Originally, we were also going to have Memejo & Dominic here with us but with the tightened restrictions, lockdown & increases in COVID cases we decided it was safer if they just had Thanksgiving together. I'm not gonna lie, it was hard. It's sucks having to sacrifice time with family, especially when you know that so many people are still getting together, dismissing the virus & ignoring social distancing rules all together. But sacrificing is never easy.

We were able to do a Zoom call with them so at least we all got to see each other. Seriously, what would we have done this year without Zoom?