I'm Thankful.

Normally by this time, we would just be getting started on our first Thanksgiving dinner at my in-laws house. With some of the best Thanksgiving food you've ever tasted, we would be gathering around the table and watching my sweet mother-in-law fix my table setting because I've always been horrible at that (you know, fork on the left, knife on the right. or maybe it's the other way. see, I told you). We would be saying a prayer, and going around in a circle saying what we are thankful for.

After dinner with my husband's family, we would be headed to my grandparent's house where my entire extended family on my dad's side has Thanksgiving every year. My sweet sweet grandma would be working hard in the kitchen just like she does every year, despite the fact that her hands shake now from years of hard work. All of the grandkids, who are now grown for the most part, would be watching their kids play together. We would have some of the traditional American Thanksgiving food, but we always looked forward to the spring rolls, rice, and other Vietnamese dishes. We would rowdily watch football games after dinner, look through Black Friday ads, and a lot of us would fall asleep on the front room floor. And I would sit back in amazement once again at how close my extended family is and all of the trials that my grandma and grandpa have gone through to bring their family to America. I can only imagine the happiness they feel when they look at their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren all gathered together. 

This year is a bit different. Clint and I celebrated earlier this morning with friends from church, having a Thanksgiving breakfast feast. And now during a time where we are normally with our wonderful families, Clint is at work and I am alone. We are 1,300 miles away from home and spending Thanksgiving in a completely different way than we have in the past. But I am ok with that. 

I am ok with that because there are people in the world who don't have a loving husband and family to spend the holidays with, but despite the fact that we are apart, I do. I am ok with that because I watched my dad work countless holidays growing up, not only to support our family, but to protect others as a police officer- and now I watch my husband doing a job just as honorable and I'm proud. I am ok with that because even though we aren't together today, my husband has a job that supports us while others struggle to put food on the table. I am ok with that because my husband will come home tonight, whereas there are wives or husbands with spouses overseas who will be gone much longer than one holiday. I am ok with that because I know that our loved ones in Utah are thinking of us, and wishing we were there just as much as we wish we could be. 

This year has truly made both of us reflect on our blessings so much more than we have in the past. We talk about in on a weekly basis. Being miles away from home and loved ones truly makes us realize how blessed we are to have each other, how blessed we are to have loving, amazing families who are our very best friends, and how blessed we are to have our Heavenly Father guide us and make this time away from our family a little easier. 

We have so much to be thankful for.
To our loving family and friends, thank you for giving us so much to be grateful for. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

xoxo. 

Natasha