Happy Thanksgiving! Tis’ the season to be THANKFUL!
I can’t stop thinking about how different the holidays are going to be this year. And honestly, how hard it is going to be so far away from home. I didn’t put very much thought into this before leaving for the Race but now Thanksgiving is here and I’m feeling a lot of different emotions. Both sad and joyful… but most of all, I’m really missing my family and my boyfriend Josiah. I am missing my home.
Even though it is tough to be away from loved ones during the holiday season, Thanksgiving is STILL my favorite holiday! I love the traditions I have made throughout my life at home and with Josiah in college.
Thanksgiving at home was surrounded by family and lots of homemade rolls. My parents and I would drive to Indiana to spend the holiday with my cousins. We would watch movies, play games, and go walking in the freezing cold Indiana November weather. One of my favorite memories was watching the entire second season of the Walking Dead with my cousin Silas when I was in High School. We ate turkey and talked about zombies all day! Thanksgiving in Indiana isn’t complete without some homemade chocolate pie and making plans for Black Friday shopping.
Since I chose to go to school in California, going home for Thanksgiving never worked out. I spent my first Thanksgiving away from home at my sisters baby shower eating turkey and pumpkin pie. She dropped me off at Vanguard and Josiah introduced me to the movie Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. We have been watching that movie (parental guidance is advised) every Thanksgiving since! We also started to go hiking and camping in Joshua Tree National park with friends every year and drive back to Costa Mesa at 4:00AM on Thanksgiving Day. The day was always ended watching movies and eating an entire Costco size pumpkin pie.
As my team and I make this holiday our own, I am overcome with gratitude. Its perfect timing to be so thankful too! Reflecting on old traditions and memories from holidays in the past have given me so much hope for the holidays this year and the ones to come as well.
I’m thankful for all of the memories and traditions my parents carried on for our family.
I’m thankful that Josiah always made it seem like I wasn’t on the other side of the country from them during the holidays.
I’m thankful that I have traditions to continue after my time on the mission field this year.
And lastly, I’m thankful for my team. I’m thankful for their comfort and the joy they show every day.
They are my home away from home during this holiday season.
What I’ve been reading lately :
Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers
