Mix of emotion

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I have SO much to be thankful for:

* God. He has brought me through more than I can even begin to mention.

* Family. I love my family.

* Ethan. I thank God for trusting me and Scott to be his parents. We are the lucky ones.

* Being American. Complain all you want about government, but we still have the best country out there.

* Challenge Farm. I have witnessed the amazing work being done on Challenge Farm.

* Health. Scott and I went 9 months without health insurance and thankfully, our health stayed well enough to not worry about it too much.

* Friends. I have some of the best friends in the world. And, they are around the world. Not just around the country, but around the world.

* Church Family. Our church family has taken care of us more times than we can count. Most recently, by praying for Ethan around the clock during his surgery and bringing us meals now that we are home.

* Job. I may have lost my job in January, but I gained so much more. Scott has a great job and works for wonderful people. We are so blessed to have them as our friends too.

* Insurance. Scott and I now have insurance. :-)

* Home. I have a home. Nothing extravagant, but it's comfortable and it's home, which is more than so many others around this country and abroad have.

* Clothes/Shoes. Never take these items for granted.

* United Airlines. They will be flying Scott's mom to us tomorrow. :)

* Forgiveness. To forgive is a rewarding act. I am so thankful that I have been given the ability to forgive.

Through all of this, I am sad. I should not be considering everything that I have to be thankful for. Thanksgiving was always my favorite holiday. My mom makes an awesome turkey. My sisters and I would fight over who would get to make the whipped cream or the fruit salad. I used to hate sweet potatoes and now I love them because of how my mom would make them. Before dinner, we always munched on black olives. There was always a bowl of black olives. Olive fingers = yum.

Last year, my little sister Kamrin, came to visit me for Thanksgiving. I am not sure I have ever looked forward to a visit more. I counted the days for her to come. I would cook a turkey for the very first time. We had a real Thanksgiving. I cried and cried the day she left. I cry now thinking about it. I miss my family, especially around times like this. Missing traditions. Eating, eating, and games. Lots of games and yelling (something my mom always says she can't stand, but I beg to differ).

I know this is something that we did. We moved. I get that. But, that doesn't mean that I can't miss things from home.