3 weeks till Christmas break...

So what does it say when I am already planning for Christmas break and the first day back from Thanksgiving break hasn't even started yet???

I will let you decide what it means. :)

I can't say that Thanksgiving break wasn't long enough...we had 5 1/2 days off...which is alot more than most people have. And honestly I was starting to get a little bored. Not that we didn't have plenty to do with family events and wedding receptions and other various things to do. I do feel well rested...but I don't feel ready to go back just yet.

As usual I have been meaning to blog for several days. I wanted to talk about Thanksgiving and being an adult. I have pictures of the house...or well the pipes to add...and various other topics that I wanted to post about. But there was football on TV and I wanted to spend time with Nathan and so that is what I did. Mixed in with our obligations it was a restful and wonderful holiday.

One of the most profound moments I had over the long weekend was on Thanksgiving morning. I was trying to locate an appropriate e-card for Carole. In the process I found one that said, "Thanksgiving is the feeling that your heart is home again." I almost cried. That one statement captatured the day and my feelings. In one year I had gone from completely miserable to overwhelmingly happy. My heart felt at home for the first time in my life. I have always gone to church on Thanksgiving morning. It is one of our traditions...one of my favorite ones I think. There is a time at the end of the service where you can stand and share what you are thankful for (it is a very very small church). I was going to stand...I had so much to be thankful for this year. As I was working out what I wanted to say and just how I wanted to word it my aunt stood to thank her family and in the process began to cry. At that moment I decided against standing. Mom was sitting next to me and I knew that what I wanted to say would have made her come close to crying before that moment...but after that moment...I knew we would all cry and I just wasn't prepared for that.

So I will say now what I was going to say then...

I am Thankful today. A year ago I was in Virginia...away from family...lonely...miserable...and generally doubting that God really did have good things planned for me. But now...here I am today with everything...no more than everything I have ever dreamed of before me. I am thankful that God is patient with me. I am thankful that he lead me home. I am thankful that I am home...for the first time in my life I am home. A few days ago I saw a church sign that said "Impatience is a form of unbelief." I am Thankful that God speaks to us in small moments when we aren't really even paying very good attention. I am Thankful that God has a plan even when we don't believe.