I’m thankful for…

Tonight, my house smells delicious. Tomorrow should be even better, assuming I don’t burn anything. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

While I love the twinkling lights and colorful decorations of Christmas, Thanksgiving is my hands-down favorite holiday. Good food, family, and friends make me one happy chica. I get to cook in a very over-the-top way. It’s the one day I go all out. And I do mean all out. It takes some rather serious preparation and planning. For these few, brief days, I make my annual pilgrimage toward the OCD side of life. Honestly, it’s kind of a fun hat to wear, but I’m always glad when it’s time to take it off again and return to my normal relaxed, procrastinating self.

This year is not quite as elaborate as I generally like to go. No friends are coming to my table. I’m not introducing anyone to the joys of their first Thanksgiving. The guest list is short, just my parents, Mr. C and me. Unless you count Barnaby, Watson and Jasper. But, they don’t really care if the food is specially prepared and served on my best china. They’re happy to eat anything, whether served in a bowl or licked up off the floor. So, I’m not going to count them.

Last week my mom called and asked if I was sure I wanted to host, or if I wanted to come over there instead. For a moment I thought about how easy it would be to let her do it. No pre-party cleaning, no endless prep work in the kitchen, no mountain of dishes to wash after everyone goes home. But, I told her I was sure. This will be the first major meal I’ve cooked since my life flipped upside down. The first time in more than six months that I’ve had anyone over for a dinner that didn’t consist of take-out pizza. It’s time. I. Am. Finally. Ready. And, I’m thankful for that.

These past months have challenged me in ways I never would have predicted. I broke in a way I didn’t even know it was possible for me to break. But, I’m still standing. In fact, I’m still moving forward. And, most importantly, so is Mr. C. We can still appreciate a beautiful sunrise or the smell of freshly baked bread. We can laugh at jokes. We can even make them again. I’m not saying that we’re out of the woods yet, but I’m confident that the trees are thinning and there’s a little more light filtering through the leaves above our heads than there was even a few weeks ago. I am extraordinarily thankful for that.

There have been many people who have helped us make it through this year. You know who you are. Tomorrow, when we sit down to dinner, you will be on my mind and in my heart. I can’t even begin to express how thankful I am for all of you. Truly.

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends. Cheers!