Thanksgiving

I know, I know, I still have not posted pictures or a blog about the second half of the France trip... it's coming! Probably tomorrow while I am relaxing at home instead of feeling compelled to wake up at 4am to go shopping... can't say I am too disappointed that Black Friday doesn't really exist in England. I have many many great memories of Black Friday shopping with my mom (and in later years, sister), and it's funny to think that they start with KayBee toy stores and then turn to JC Penney or Best Buy as I got older. I even went early-bird shopping by myself the last two after-Thanksgivings in Shreveport... not as much fun, but the sense of accomplishment for scoring great deals was still there. This year, there is no pressure to take advantage of the deals, so I can sleep in. :) Plus, Amazon.com is having specials all week online, and I got a comforter set for less than half price yesterday from the comfort of my couch.

Which reminds me... I have TV and internet in my house now!!! It's very appropriate that this is Thanksgiving week, because I am so very thankful to be able to write a blog on my couch instead of at the library, gchat with my mom while baking cookies, and learn the wonders of DVR. I just feel more connected to the outside world, especially people back in the States now.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving today; I am looking very much forward to dinner this afternoon with my weather flight family. I am making sweet potato casserole (with marshmallows!), broccoli cheese casserole, and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. And yes, this means I need to get moving on those fairly soon. Tomorrow, I am hanging out with the OCF family and doing a "leftover" themed dinner, hehe. Can't wait to spend time with them again after missing two Fridays in a row. So basically, I am spending these two days with my favorite groups of people over here and couldn't be happier. No surprise that being thankful is coming so easily to me.

However, like I mentioned in my last blog, life is not always happy, and I was saddened to find out this morning that two families I know and love back in the States lost loved ones yesterday. They are not connected in any way, but both families now have to deal with grief and loss while it must seem that the world around them is caught up in a happy holiday season. At the same time, I know without a doubt that these are strong families who will lean on God, each other, and the support of so many friends and family who love them to get through these hard times. I will be praying for them as I know so many others will be.