Happy Thanksgiving day to you and yours! I know how holidays can be emotionally messy as some us will forever be learning how to let grief and joy coexist. If this is you today, I can relate and I’m sending you love and hope that you have moments in this day that make your heart feel light.

If you are bursting with gratitude today, I feel that, too! After missing our favorite week of the year in 2020, and Kaitlyn spiking a random fever on Sunday, I was worried this week might not happen for us in 2021 either. But it has!

Kaitlyn woke up feeling 100% on Monday and while I have no clue what had her so quickly feeling so terrible on Sunday, I’m so glad she rebounded so quickly. Kids’ immune systems are amazing.

We spent Monday and Tuesday playing games, watching Christmas movies, playing at the playground, going on golf cart rides, getting our nails painted, and other easy going enjoyment. It’s been such a nice break!

Also, may I recommend using a frother (we froth oat milk creamer) and grating fresh nutmeg onto every cup of coffee you enjoy from now until Christmas? It has tasted like a dessert!

Yesterday, Wednesday, we experienced truly one of my favorite days of the year- Thanksgiving prep at Nannie’s house! Nannie lives in the country and every time I visit I feel my soul beg me to move out to the country, too. There is something so peaceful about feeling away from it all.

We met my cousin and Aunt Lynn there as well, so in total we had four adorable kiddos helping bake pumpkin and pecan pies. We baked, we ate an entire pie (for testing purposes clearly), the kids played the marbles game my grandfather built and I played so much as a child, we played freeze tag in the yard, and all in all, it was a gorgeous and fun-filled day.

We came back to Mom’s for the night. The kids did crafts and played some more freeze tag. The adults ordered pizza and chatted by the fire. David arrived and it felt like so long since I had seen him! It was a great ended to a really great day.

Before I sign off to pour a nutmeg coated cup of coffee and begin this Thanksgiving day, I want to tell you how thankful I am for you. Some of you have been reading for over a decade and I think that is flat out amazing.

I was hesitant to return to a more journal style of blogging, but you’ve proven to me over the past two months that there is a still a place in the online world for simple sharing and connecting, the core of why I started and have always loved blogging.

So thank you for being here and for being a friend. Sending the warmest wishes for a happy Thanksgiving your way. May you hug someone you love, eat something you savor, and find a moment of peace in this holiday today. Happy Thanksgiving!!