The Results of Thanksgiving 2013

Hi, Everyone!

Well, we done did it again, y’all—we’ve hit another milestone. Just in the year 2013 alone, this is Blog Post #300. All I have to say about that is simply: WOW!!!

I trust that everyone had a great Turkey Day yesterday—I know I did. Before I begin talking, though, I want to state for the record that I did buy the stuff for my rocky road brownies, but I made an executive decision and chose to make them either this evening or tomorrow. Besides, Cousin Erica and I were too busy helping Cousin Jade bake all kinds of pies and cakes… and for the record, Great Aunt Reesie did make her red velvet cake; she said that she would make another one for me to take back to the campus, so I can share it with Ruby and Theo.

Here’s what I thought was so cool about yesterday evening: As you know, my entire family is Christian, so of course we prayed before we sat down to eat. However, Great Aunt Reesie had a special request—with a big grin on her face, she squeezed Cousin Keith’s hand and said, “Son, seeing as how you’re back home for good, and seeing as how you’re also the only fella in the group, I would like for you to lead the prayer.” Well, Cousin Keith smiled back, then he kissed Great Aunt Reesie on her cheek and said, “Mama Ree, I would love to lead the prayer.”

Suffice to say, y’all, Cousin Keith prayed such a prayer that all of us couldn’t help but shout. He thanked God for helping him with his depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and for keeping him sane while he was away in Afghanistan. He also thanked God for such a loving family who constantly prayed for him until he returned. Finally, he thanked God for “such a momentous occasion—one that I will forever cherish in my heart.”

After Cousin Keith’s powerful, poignant prayer, we sat down to eat, then we shared the things that we were most thankful for. Such as it was with me last year, I expressed how grateful and thankful I was to God for blessing me with several places to rest my head other than my dorm, and not just for national holidays, either. It seems as though every year, I drive myself crazy in trying to decide where I’m gonna spend Thanksgiving or Spring Break, but I do recognize that there are so many who would love to have just one place to spend the holidays, so for that, I am grateful.

Well, y’all, it’s time to close this blog post, but I’ll holla at y’all sometime tomorrow. Until then, y’all take care, and remember that every day is a day of Thanksgiving.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha