Thankfulness: grace

So it looks like the end of November didn’t get as much recognized thankfulness as I would have liked. I can assure you that I had a really lovely Thanksgiving with family and friends, and there was thanks abound around our table this year. We had family in from across the state, new puppies, old friends, late nights in Oakland and family members sleeping on every available surface of my parents house. It was just the kind of cozy loveliness that I’m so thankful for this season.

But I didn’t really feel like writing about it. Because in the midst of all the beautifulness, we had some really, really sad news. My uncle passed away on Thanksgiving morning after a long and tiring battle with cancer. His loss came suddenly to me, even though he had been sick for several years. His family hasn’t had it easy this year, and I know that his daughter was really hoping he would live to see the birth of his first grandchild, her son, who is due in January. So the tone of my thankfulness changed. I was thankful for family, for spending time together, for every little moment. I was thankful for the grace of God who guided my uncle up to heaven to meet his grandson before he was delivered down to earth.

And then in the beginning of December, M and I moved into our new house. We’re still getting settled in, but tonight I’m curled up on the couch watching the twinkly lights of the Christmas tree from my brand new sectional. I admit that I was a little resistant to getting a real tree for our living room. I was being grinchy and worried about needles and bugs and dirt on the new carpet. But it turns out that this tree is a big part of what makes our house feel like home this season. It’s reminding me of all the beautiful firs we had growing up, and I was so happy today as I snugly wrapped presents under the tree.

If November was a month of thankfulness, December is a month of happiness. Taking time to revel in happy moments. Smiling more often. Being more patient. Appreciating the love of others and loving more openly. In the middle of the mess of moving, the stress of the new job, the business of holiday shopping, I’m aiming to be happy. And to share happiness. And to induce happiness in others. This is the season of joy, after all.

To happiness and joy,

Lia