ThanksGiving... and Receiving...

OK, first, would this not be the COOLest place to have Thanksgiving dinner??

I saw this photo online last spring, when we were coming up with ideas for our booths at shows for the year... and saved it for reference. Though I loved the idea, we didn't use it. However, I committed the cardinal sin of bloggers: when I saved it, I didn't change the name to include the attribution so that I could properly credit the source. And now I can't find it online again. So, if you know who took this photo, or where it was published (I swore it was Country Living but can't find it there...maybe Martha?), please leave a comment after this post and share the info! I'll add it immediately.

Wherever you are having your turkey dinner, I hope your Thanksgiving Day plans include friends, family, fun, and food...and a moment or two to reflect on all of the things in life that make it so special. That's where I am right now - reflecting. 

Over the past year, we have had the most remarkable things happen around us and to us - and once in awhile, because of us. It's rewarding to be able to help others. When you are used to being on that end of the equation, however, it is humbling to have to ask for help, and to receive it.

But the truth is, without receiving, there is no giving. 

What we learned was that we had a lot to learn about letting people get close to us. We needed to drop our guard and get real, risk looking like we didn't have it all together after all. {Which kinda' just cracks me up, 'cause I've never felt like we looked 'in control' anyway! Our life is far from perfect}. In doing that very scary and humbling thing, we found our empty arms filled with friends who really cared and our burdens lightened a LOT. Now paying it forward is an absolute blessing for us, every single day.

It is with very grateful hearts that we approach this Thanksgiving... 

gratefulness for our family and friends, for our community, for our ability to grow, change, evolve, and learn every day. For blessings and miracles that come in small and BIG packages. For God's grace, abundance, and love. And for the faith that brings everything into perspective: Bob's body is healing, our faith has been restored & strengthened, we have a new home to move to, a business to 'revive', a growing family to cherish, and friends to enjoy. We've received so much, and now we have quite a few things to give this season - apologies, forgiveness, gratitude, gifts, time, talents, and our hearts.

Have a blessed day, my friends... I am so thankful for you!