DeBloAdMo

Tomorrow is December! Whaaa?!

I'm a little late getting this out, so going to do this quickly.

If you'd like to participate in DeBloAdMo, it's easy. Create an Activities Advent Calendar like the one below, and each day when you open your Advent Calendar, blog about what you have done. It's a good way to get blogging regularly, and it's a great way to spend the month of Christmas with your family! Add a piece of chocolate if you want, but the important thing is finding activities that will bring you and your family and friends closer together and get into the Christmas spirit.

Here is our Advent Calendar plans for the month:

1. Go to the Panto! Kick off December with Puss In Boots.
2. Check email for message from Santa. (www.portablenorthpole.com)
3. Write and post our letters to Santa, and string cranberries for the birds.
4. Design a Christmas Tree wall poster.
5. Make paper lanterns to decorate for Christmas.
6. Bake gingerbread men for the Christmas tree.
7. Cut colourful snowflakes and hang them in the window.
8. Go to Lolly’s Wizard of Oz birthday party!
9. Have a Christmas picnic in our pajamas on the floor.
10. Paint Christmas tree ornaments.
11. Make Christmas cards, and deliver cards to all the neighbours.
12. Make reindeer food to sprinkle on Christmas Eve.
13. Wrap the doors in wrapping paper like a present.
14. Make Christmas wreaths.
15. Go to Edinburgh for the day to visit old friends!
16. Eat dinner by candlelight only with the fancy dishes.
17. Paint canvases for Christmas presents.
18. Go out to tea for Lolly’s birthday! Happy birthday, Lolly!
19. Drink hot chocolate and watch a Christmas movie.
20. Make Christmas crackers.
21. Bake Christmas cookies.
22. Look through old photo albums and talk about the pictures.
23. Nativity Play at church! Then read books about Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.
24. Put out a carrot for Rudolph, reindeer food, and milk and cookies for Santa.
25. Eat chocolate gravy for breakfast and open presents!!

This Is Your Life

I've found this 30 Days of Thanksgiving to be a difficult writing prompt. Not because I can't think of anything to be thankful for, but because I simultaneously set myself the challenge of also taking a photograph of each day's subject. That's what has been hard. I either can't think of what to photograph to go along with what is in my head, or I don't think of what to write about until late at night like this, by which time I've lost the chance to take a good photo during the day. (Hence the mildly extremely pretentious self portraits on several days!)

So today, if I could write about anything I'm thankful for without having to think of a photographable object to go with it, I'd be thankful for... well, my whole life! I really truly love my life. I love my hobbies, my friends, my jobs, my family, my opportunities, my experiences, my abilities - I'm just genuinely happy with the life that I have. It's not perfect, but it's great. I'm married to a guy I love and have fun with, I have three amazingly awesome children, I have the best in-laws you could ask for, I have wonderful parents and brothers, I get to do fun stuff like be on stage and write (and tour Scotland and write!), I've travelled to so many different countries... och, I'm just really happy and really thankful for everything!

Lame, isn't it, lumping it all in together, but seriously, I'm thankful for my awesome life full of awesome experiences.

And since I *must* find a photo that expresses that, here's a photo from tonight's panto, getting to do one of the great things I love to do, be on stage. Alas, I bring you Jack and Princess Alice, together at last, together forever!

(I'm also thankful for how good my legs look in that costume...)

Faith

A lot of the time these days, my reason persuades me to think that the concept of God as relayed in the Bible cannot be true.

And then a lot of time these days, my heart sorta smiles and says, 'But maybe...'

There is no way to prove God exists, and there is no way we can know with absolute certainty that He doesn't.

Today, though, I've been reminded that so often in life things happen at just the right moment, right when it needs to happen most, and it does seem awfully well orchestrated... maybe it's God?

Today I'm thankful that I was raised to believe in God, even if I'm not sure anymore, and I'm thankful for the way things always seem to work out for the best - thanks to God, I think. Even if it isn't thanks to God, I still give my thanks to him, because who else is there to thank? Just when what you need comes to you just when you need it most, that's something science doesn't explain... at least not satisfactorily. It sounds a lot like everything working together for good for those who love God, at least to me.

I'm thankful for my reason which gets me pretty far, and I'm also thankful for my heart which carries me the rest of the way.

"When I pray, coincidences happen, and when I don't, they don't." -Sir William Temple

Magic Moments

About five and a half years ago, we were up all night with a fussy baby, waiting for that first tooth to come through.

Today, that first tooth came out.

I had other things I could have written about today, but this trumps it all. I'm so thankful for my sweet daughter and moments like these. The sheer delight and thrill on the girls faces when Daddy 'thought he heard bells jingling', and Fifi discovered her fairy letter and coin, and Lolly backed up Daddy's story by claiming to have 'heard the magic' too, is something I hope I never forget.

There's A Story of a Lovely Lady...

I put out my Christmas tablecloth today, the one I bought last year in the after-Christmas sale while shopping with my step-mum. The tablecloth brought back memories of last Christmas in Arkansas, meeting my step-parents for the first time.

I might be getting controversial here, but today, I am thankful for my step-parents.

I mean, obviously, my parents' divorce was not something I was happy about or wanted, but in the end, it's what happened and life goes on. What I'm happy about now is that both my parents found someone new that has brought happiness back into their lives. I don't know if it's 'the right thing to say', but I'm really happy that they are happy. And I'm really happy that my step-parents are happy now too.

I've only met my step-mum once, but I've talked to her loads on the phone and on internet chat, and she is such a lovely woman, so friendly, loving and fun. She makes my dad happy, and I'm thankful for that. We have a lot in common, and I know that if I were there, we'd really get along great. She really dotes on my kids and treats them as her own, which is nice considering she has so many biological grandkids already - it's special to me that she has room in her heart for mine too! I look forward to getting to know her better and look forward to showing her around Scotland next Spring! (NOT looking forward to showing yet another person Edinburgh Castle though... ohhh I'm so tired of it!)

I've met my step-dad a couple of times now, and he's a great guy too. He's so generous, helpful and caring, and he makes my mom happy. He would honestly do anything for you, even without you having to ask. He's a gentle fellow and has a big heart. When he and Mom came over to visit after Jaguar was born, he was so easy to get along with and so kind and so good with the kids. I'm really glad I've gotten to know him a bit better, and thankful that my mom is happy.

It's controversial to talk about, because, well, my parents read my blog (I think), and I don't know how they will feel about me liking their ex-spouse's new spouse, but what can I say? There's no point in living in the past, no point in holding a grudge or refusing to allow a new person in. My parents' lives are not my life; all I can do is love them for who they are, not what has happened in their past, and then go on to accept their futures. I like both my new step-parents a lot. I'm thankful for them, thankful they are both nice people, and thankful that my family has increased to allow loads of new people in for me to meet and love. I have now two step-brothers and four step-sisters and far too many step-nieces and nephews than I can even keep track of! I'm thankful for this; my family is bigger and more complicated than ever, but I love it!

Call me a people-pleasing middle child, but I'm thankful everyone is happy once again.

"The only steps in this house are those right there!", says Carol Ann, pointing to the stairs. - a quote I remember from The Brady Bunch

Our House Is a Very, Very, Very Fine House

Thirty minutes until tomorrow... better make this quick!

This morning, the kids and I visited a new church. I liked the grown-up part, the kids loved the Sunday School, so looks like we'll be giving it another go. The minister, in his children's address, talked about Thanksgiving and things we can be grateful for. They were mostly the biggies - food, water, shelter - and it reminded me that one of those 'biggies' I have yet to give thanks for this month.

Shelter.

I am thankful for my house. Fifirst, in the big, survival sort of way - I'm thankful that I have shelter from the elements, a warm, dry place to live, sleep, and cook in. But in a more particular way, I'm thankful for this house. We have a great landlady who is friendly, helpful, always on the ball, and approachable. The flat is large and spacious, clean, and perfect for our needs. The kitchen is massive and fits a dining room table, something that is incredibly important to Scott and I as we will always make sure our family sits around the table for dinner at night.

The kids have a massive big bedroom (they are in the master bedroom) with plenty of room for their over-abundance of toys, and floor space to play in. Our room is just big enough for our things plus Jaguar's, and there is even a guest bedroom/store room/library which could be converted into Jaguar's room one day if need be.

And the rent is affordable. I'm really thankful we found this place.

Thankful for Thanksgiving

This year was almost the first year I didn't make a Thanksgiving dinner. With panto starting next week and Lolly's birthday party the week after, I just didn't have the time, money or energy to make a big meal and organise the family to come over. So I had sort of given up on the idea of Thanksgiving this year.

It wasn't until Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, while I was getting my groceries, that I decided, no. I will not lose my Thanksgiving tradition. We will have cheap meals the other nights, and I'm buying what I need to make this meal on Saturday, the only day I had free. So I did.

But then with all the other things I had in mind that need to get done for Christmas, I texted my friend Sarah and asked her if she and her family wanted to come over Saturday to take each other's family portraits for Christmas. After we arranged it, I remembered I was supposed to be doing Thanksgiving on the same day, so I invited them to just come over at lunch time and have Thanksgiving with us. So they did.

It was a really lovely day. I woke up at 7.30 (which is still a lie in for me, as the kids were up at 6) and made the pumpkin pie with the children. Then we made the stuffing. I ran out and did some errands, came back with a cooked rotisserie chicken (blasphemy, I know, on so many levels) and made the sweet potato souffle, deviled eggs and the spicy baked beans. Sarah, Ian and their kids arrived at 1, by which point I still had my glasses on, hair pulled back the same way I'd done it upon waking, jeans and a tshirt and no make-up. Oh well!

We all ate our fill, and then some. It was great catching up, the kids played well together, and then we took our family photos. I ducked out momentarily to brush my hair, straighten my fringe and put on some eyeshadow, and that was about all I had time for. No matter, the photos turned out pretty well, even if upon looking at them later I realised it was a bad move to stuff ourselves silly and then take photos; what a gut I was sporting!

I am thankful that I had my Thanksgiving dinner after all. It made me happy and less homesick. Now I'm looking forward to trying to squeeze in a few more photos in the morning of the kids in their proper Christmas outfits, a Christmas tree decorating, and a visit to a new church all before panto dress rehearsal at 2pm.

FTR: This next week is going to be manic, and there will likely be more than just a few super-fast mobile phone posts, as I'll be running ragged! I'm certainly not looking forward to that part of panto week!

The Social Network

I am thankful for... Facebook.

Oh yes, it has many faults and is often misused, but I am thankful for it because it keeps me linked to family and friends abroad. Email was great, blogs are great, the phone is great, but Facebook has allowed me to keep in touch with people on a regular, daily basis and make me feel somehow closer to them.

I've avoided too much Facebook browsing the past couple of days, because the Thanksgiving chat was depressing, but still, I'm so thankful that I can see photos of my friends, read about what they had for breakfast, and wish them happy birthdays. I like knowing they can keep up with me too, and I'm not totally outta-sight-outta-mind.

That's what I'm thankful for on this post-Thanksgiving Day Friday.

Thanksgiving Day Blues

Scotland is my home. It really is. Despite the horrendous weather, this place is where I have spent my entire married life and where I have born and raised my children thus far. This is my home.

But every year, on this day, more than any other day, I miss my other home. My first home. My home home.

It's harder on Thanksgiving than it is on Christmas or my birthday or anything like that, I suppose because it's the one holiday that isn't celebrated here. Even though certain holidays, like Christmas, are celebrated quite differently from how I celebrated them in America, at least they still happen and I've been able to adjust to the changes. But Thanksgiving means nothing here. No one gets how big it is, how important it is, how it's more my favourite day of the year than even my birthday and Christmas put together.

I feel more homesick every Thanksgiving than I do any other day of the year.

As I continue about my day here no differently than any other day, I can almost smell my mom's kitchen, waking up early to the turkey already in the oven, the smell of sage and sauteing onions and celery, and the bread crumbs of the stale bread for the stuffing. I can see every element on the stove burning red hot, and Mom trying to fit too many things into one oven. I can hear the electric mixer whizzing up the meringue for the pumpkin, chocolate, and coconut pies. I can hear the phone ringing off the hook and my Aunt Phyllis's loud voice through the receiver across the room asking about the arrangements.

And as I go on about my day as usual, I can see the first cars arriving at the house and my aunts coming in without knocking, dressed beautifully and smelling like perfume, with clanging bangles and clinking necklaces, followed by my uncles and cousins, carrying car-loads of food into the house, some hot and ready to be picked at under the tin foil, and some to be cooked just before serving. I can taste those buttered rolls and the sweet iced tea. I can hear my cousins sitting on the floor catching up with each other and my uncles and my dad on the couches with their feet up and hands behind their heads, laughing loudly (especially Uncle Jon), while the women finish up the last minute preparations. Then I can hear my Mamaw and Papaw coming in, Papaw with his old, dirty baseball cap, and Mamaw with her new dress suit.

As I get ready for bed on this night like any other night, I can see them all together right now, thanking God for this food and this fellowship, and then they will be digging in, filling sturdy paper plates, the kind with the three separate compartments, going for seconds, thirds, maybe even fourths before slicing into the pies. They will then all sit around the living room and the kitchen until the late hours of the evening, filling up periodically with cold turkey and reheated stuffing and mashed potatoes, but certainly no green bean bundles for those will have been finished before half the family even got their first helping. One by one they'll go home, hugs all around, and then the room will be quiet, and there might be a wee glass of wine to end the night with before turning to bed, bellies and hearts full, knowing tomorrow will be Christmas Tree Decorating Day.

But I'm not there.

Betty Crocker's Red Velvet Cake

Call me shallow, but today, what I'm thankful for, is that Tesco has started selling this:

The only way this could've cheered my Thanksgiving Day blues more would have been to find tinned pumpkin in the baking aisle too.