Why my Thanksgiving sucked (and why I’m thankful anyway)

It sucked

…because it was spent in Kentucky instead of Pennsylvania.  My entire life, save one year I was too pregnant with Lilly to travel, I have had Thanksgiving dinner with my family in Pennsylvania.  After I married, Thanksgiving was the only holiday I ever got to spend with my family.  And this year not even that.

…because I miss my Grama most at Thanksgiving.  I don’t know why, but I do.  I ache.

…because Annie is sick, and as I type this, my thoughts are interrupted by her moans and occasional screams from the next room.

…because no pain killers are strong enough to kill an earache, and nothing I do for her can effectively take away her pain.

…because I’m home alone with Annie, while my other girls join my husband’s side of the family for their traditional meal.  Not only do I miss Thanksgiving with my relatives, I miss Thanksgiving with my own daughters.

…because it’s cold and rainy and gloomy outside, and not even the merriest of Christmas carols is making it feel more cheerful.

But I’m thankful anyway

…because I have a warm home to sit in while it rains outside.

…because we have medicine and health insurance to treat my daughter’s illness, even when it’s a slow process.

…because I have food in my cupboards and I can make a mini-Thanksgiving-ish meal for the two of us to enjoy.

…because I have these three wonderful girls, who light up my life and fill up my heart, even while miles away.

…because I have an extended family wonderful enough to miss, since I know many friends who are alone today and happy about that.

…because I know that my Grama is in heaven, having a wonderful today and every day.

…because I serve a big God, who paid the price for me to join her there with Him one day.

…because I am acutely aware of how blessed I am.  Blessed to be born in this great nation, to the amazing parents that I have.  To have the amazing daughters that I do.  To not go hungry or cold.  To know that no matter how sucky my Thanksgiving day may be, there are better days ahead.

I am blessed, and I know it and thank God for it.

Happy Thanksgiving my friends.

{I hope yours was better than mine!}