Ten Things of Thanks ~ Thanksgiving addition.
Just left church and our preacher’s message about gratitude.
One of the benefits of going to church is listening for an hour to your thoughts. When the sermon starts, it gets really quiet and your thoughts get really loud.
So after sitting nestled in a comfy chair with my hands wrapped around a warm coffee mug. Immersed in my thoughts filtered through the pastor’s words, I’m . . .
Joining up with Ten Things of Thankful. Sunday before Thanksgiving addition.
10. Thankful that even great writers — one’s that go down in literary history — pray to God to get another submission.
Some very early writings of Flannery O’Connor have been found. Her prayer journal of sorts. I love her for so many reasons — number one being she wrote most of her most famous work 30 minutes down the road. An excerpt:
“Please help me, Dear God, to be a good writer and to get something else accepted.”
9. That we have heat.
I have written this week on our heater woes. And that we might have to buy a new furnace. But thanks be to God we do have heat today in our little apartment and we can afford to pay our heating bill.
8. My children.
Raising children can be the most challenging and most utterly confusing thing I have ever done — the Lord has given me three to rear. Through natural birth and adoption. Though some days I fear that I am utterly incapable of handling all that comes, I still have three beautiful warm bodies to hug on.
7. My church.
It’s great when you can go to a place and have the preacher’s sermon step on your toes a bit and still feel happy to be sitting in your chair, grasping your cooling coffee mug.
6. Rocks. Gathered on a walk with my son.
Granite from Georgia is used in Washington’s monuments and buildings. And a heck of a lot of tombstones in the Southeast.
5. My defrosting turkey.
There she is. All 22 pounds of her. A gift from my friend Annie.
When Annie found out that I didn’t have my turkey yet, she gave me the one she got from the local grocer. She already had her hen from her Thanksgiving stash from the local food bank. I said I’d love it — if someone didn’t want it. She said she wanted me to have it.
I love my Annie and I love this bird.
4. For my husband.
Though he does make me crazy and vice versa. We really do have a good time.
3. Running slow half marathons.
On Thursday, I’ll run the Atlanta Thanksgiving Half marathon for the umpth time. I’m much slower these days than when I ran my first one in 1994. Next Thursday morning is forecast to be 25 degrees. Thanks to God that I can still get out there and collect my thank you for participating medal. Bundling up with 10,ooo+ other folks, as we move forward 13.1 miles.
2. Good friends. Friends who get you. Friends you don’t have to be anything, to be with. Just yourself.
(And great bloggy friends. Who send you love from across the country or the Atlantic ocean.)
1. Thanksgiving. My favorite holiday. To me, it’s the only one that is pure tradition.
What the cranberries taste like. Who carves the turkey. That I always put Christmas music on my iPad and listen to it as I run the half marathon. That I make and give away pecan pies. That I fix collard greens for my garden. That the excitement of the holidays is just that ~ anticipation. Not tired, worn out, crumpled gold and red wrapping paper.
What about you? This Sunday before Thanksgiving. Hope yours is grand.
I am extremely thankful for heat this week, too. The temps headed straight for wicked cold yesterday.
That’s one big turkey! Are you having lots of people over, or are you going to have lots of great leftovers?
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s nothing but good food and enjoying time with family.
Running a half marathon each Thanksgiving is great! We always take the kids to do a 5k (or a 1 mile for the little kids). We keep adding extended family to the mix, so it’s getting even better. Good luck this year. No big deal that it’s slower. You’re still doing it!
Not too many of us this year, Christine. Ten or so. But having turkey samies for a few meals is my favorite. And then when we’ve had enough of leftovers, I’ll freeze the rest for soups. And yes. Even though I’m slow the race is as much a part of my Thanksgiving as the meal.
Thanksgiving has long been my favorite holiday, too, with its focus on togetherness. What a gift you’ve given your writing pals with the Flannery O’Connor story. Perhaps I need to start going to church again! Terrific list, and have a wonderful race on Thursday! I’ll be doing my pre-turkey penance in the pool.
Hmmm…I grew up attending church regularly, and as much as I have absolutely nothing against that, I can’t say I ever listened to an entire sermon in those first 18 years of my life. I’m an avid daydreamer, you see. But I like what you said about listening to your thoughts. Because even if you’re daydreaming, the dreaming probably got started with something you heard in the service. And maybe some good could come of it. 🙂
Have a great holiday Jamie….huge turkey…lots o sammies there! Enjoy your run….slowly allows you to savor it!
Great list! Husband forgot to close a window Thursday night and it was 50 when we woke up on Friday morn so I too am very thankful for heat.
What wonderful things to be thankful for! In so few words, you have said so much – that really is an art 🙂 I agree with you completely on #8 (although I have never adopted a child). That’s fantastic that you have run so many half marathons. I feel like a lazy lump in comparison! Sending you lots of love right across my continent, over the Pacific Ocean and all the way across the states to Georgia. xx
Half marathon! On Thanksgiving! Wow! Speed be hanged, that’s IMPRESSIVE 😀 Well done you. I hope to work up to being able to do a (undoubtedly slow) half over the next year or so. Kudos to you for doing it so many times.
It can be good when your toes get stepped on by a sermon. And I LOVE the writer’s prayer – that’s awesome.
Your Thanksgiving traditions sound beautiful, and I’m so glad you have a turkey, and a wonderful family to share it with. I really hope your heating works for Thursday!
“Speed be hanged.” I love that Lizzi.
So much to be thankful for. It is such a great exercise in remembering and recognizing all that we have.
Yes, Lizzy. And bloggy friends who send you love zipping across the Pacific and America’s Heartland.
Yes Sarah — Daydreaming is one of my superior talents as well.
I agree Zoe. For me this races (especially the big event ones) is all about the experience. This race is just so fun. Everyone is in a jolly mood — and listening to Christmas music while zig-zagging through the boroughs of urban Atlanta (if ATL had boroughs) is the fun of it to me.
Yes Karen, you and your amazing butterflying. That is something to be most thankful. I can only to a stroke or three without gasping.
Another wonderful list. I am grateful for many of these things too, so reading this right now helped me slog through Monday a bit easier. Thank you for filling me with gratitude. My daughter loves collecting rocks. I have a special decorative glass jar for storing them and we usually write the date or place where we picked them up too. We have some great stones from our trip to Duluth this past summer.
This is such a sweet post Jamie. Loved each and every point. I guess even I should write a similar post, just to remind myself what God has given to me 🙂 thanks for sharing
It does help shift our mood when we start with a little positivity and gratitude.