giving thanks

 thankful my in-laws could come for the holidays and liven our little commune up

thankful for innovation when we realized we forgot pie pans. . .and ran out of shortening

thankful for white lies when we ate those pies

thankful for this little one:

thankful for her creativity and constant chatter

thankful for her songs

thankful for my sister Lindsey who makes me laugh

 thankful she didn't get salmonella 

 thankful my anniversary always falls close enough to Thanksgiving to reuse the flowers

thankful for the bumble bee apron my mom made Liesel (and me to match)

 thankful for family recipes (and when i make them correctly)

thankful for the basketball tournament we had down here

and for the 11 people that showed up to play

 thankful for days in town and playing at all three parks in one day

and that nobody died when I hit a deer on the way home

 thankful for hikes with the fam to Cave Springs (yet again)

 thankful for stripes and curly hair

and that Hannah won't hold it against me that 1/2 of her baby photos will be her in a front carrier

and thankful for Abe Lincoln for the wonderful holiday

a land of freedom

a God who loves us and answers prayers

and a plate of butter disguised as vegetables.