I am thankful for...

Just a note on Thanksgiving Day:

Thanksgiving is different this year in some ways. We're staying home. We normally go up to Prescott to celebrate with Brian's brother, Kevin, and his family, but Kevin's wife, Tracy, lost her dad earlier this fall and so she is spending Thanksgiving with her mom. Although we will miss seeing them this year, our hearts and prayers go out to Tracy, her family, her mom and siblings for their loss this year and the many others who celebrate this season without loved ones. 

But, unlike Christmas, where things can, unfortunately, get confused, there is no mistaking that Thanksgiving is a day for Giving Thanks and one thing that doesn't change is Love of Family and the Turkey Trot. The Nissens are only being represented at the Turkey Trot by one this year...Emma. Next year will be my year, as I do so love the Turkey Trot and it's community-ness. This year my brush with a Turkey will be in the kitchen as we get to be host to family, which we also love.

Emma and her friend, Brittany, getting ready to leave for the Turkey Trot...and my sweet husband, Brian, taking them...

with his 1000 page Truman book, of course, until the race starts...just in case there's a little down time. I offered him my camera, but Truman won out. :-)

So, I am thankful for so much this year, that it is hard for me to even begin to make a list, but somewhere in there is my family & friends (near and far) who continually bless my life, paper towels (a luxury we could not afford for some time),prayer, the Gospel in my life with Christ at it's center, even trials that help me draw closer to the ones I love and remind me that God watches over all and is mindful of each one of us. I know that he is mindful of me. I am reminded of this daily in the little things...even paper towels, which we now have.

Maybe we will see you next year, little salt and pepper shakers left in their box this year in Prescott. Until then...I end with Emma's list of things she is thankful for.

1. food
2. God's creations
3. clothes
4. Earth
5. trees (air)
6. Gospel
7. life
8. body
9. water
10. family
11. knowledge
12. ability to move
13. Birth
14. medicine
15. sight
16. hearing
17. challenges
18. celestial kingdom
19. friends
20. teachers
21. blankets
22. soap
23. a home
24. cars
25. hands
26. feet
27. mouth
28. ears
29. eyes
30. nose
31. and each and everyone of our differences
32. talents
33. Eternity

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving Day with love, from me!

P.S. I just found out that Emma and Brittany got all pumped up to run the 10K instead of the 2 mile run!

Turkey Trot 2008

A new Thanksgiving Day tradition that we started a few years ago is running the Turkey Trot in the a.m. Jon-Erik, Benjamin and Adam represented our family this year. I have not been running as of late, so I didn't feel quite up to it.

Adam, attaching his number.

When we got there and I saw everyone gathering at the starting line, I wished so much that I had had my running shoes on. I won't be a spectator next year!

I just love the excitement, the crowd, the connection, the exercise, the sense of community. I also love running in to people we don't see that often.

Last year, Jon-Erik had a few friends who ran in various forms of dress clothes. This year I only saw one guy in this attire. He always had a smile on his face.

Here is the Turkey. Both Jon-Erik and Benjamin beat the Turkey. The weather was nice and cool for the guy in the turkey costume. I don't know how he does it!

Now it's home to shower and drive up to Prescott for Thanksgiving with Brian's family at Friendly Pines Camp. Brian's brother, Kevin, runs the camp and we love getting together with him and his family and Brian's parents and whoever else is there. Friendly Pines and Thanksgiving tomorrow.