Cake & Ice Creams

Today is such a great day to reflect and think about what we’re thankful for in our lives.  Thanksgiving is the unofficial start of the holiday season, where the warm fuzzies start to embrace you and simple things, like pumpkin pie and Christmas lights make us happy.  There’s something different about this time of year and I wonder why it can’t always be warm fuzzy land.  Then I’m slapped in the face by work and sadness and stress.  Life.

I was recently turned on to a book called Even Happier by Dentler.  I’m not far into the book, but so far I can absolutely, without a doubt say the first chapter was the best and will probably be the most influential to me.  It’s titled “On Being Grateful” and gives you an assignment at the end to list five things a day that you are grateful for.  It could be anything.  Of course I’m grateful for my family who is forced to love me no matter what.  For Kevin who does the same (by choice even!).  My friends who are the most amazing people I know.  But what else makes me smile? Husky basketball, Starbucks serving peppermint hot chocolate, couch time and keeping this blog are among the many.  I don’t know why it was such a revelation to me.  But it works.  When gratitude is a habit, we don’t need special events to keep us happy.

So, this Thanksgiving, I’m just as thankful today as I was yesterday and as I’ll be tomorrow.  Specifically, today, I’m thankful for all these things:

Jason, who continues to invite us up to Whistler, year after year.

Thinking about Kevin getting to snowboard today with Jason.  I know he’s having a blast his first time out this season.

Being lazy and not feeling guilty because I literally have nothing to do and nowhere to be.  I was going to snow shoe but there’s not enough snow on the ground…..so I’m still in pajamas, working on picture books.

Cousin’s pumpkin bread recipe, that I’m snacking on right now.

Still getting to eat turkey and pumpkin pie with Lauren and Co., despite being in Canada, where it’s not officially Thanksgiving.

Avoiding the “Black Friday” lunatics by shopping on “Black Wednesday.” (We hit the outlets yesterday on our way up to Whistler.  We got all the deals – so we were told – and missed all the crazed bargain shoppers.)

Part of me wishes I was in Spokane right now with my people, but knowing I’ll be there soon for Christmas and knowing they wish I was there too, makes it ok that I’m not.

Happy, Happy Thanksgiving!