In Everything, Give Thanks

With such a busy world we live in, it can become difficult to remember to be grateful and the spirit of thanksgiving. So much is continually being thrown our way, cluttering our minds and hearts of what is most important.  

This year, I didn't participate in the traditional Facebook thanksgiving posts throughout the month of November. It's been a difficult year, one that has made

me look forward to December 31 in a way I don't ever remember before, and I am honestly sometimes struggle identifying what I'm thankful for each day. I'm not up for posting about the warm fuzzies I have for my family because I'm just not there this year. Stress of work and the coming busy season sometimes clouds my appreciation for a job. And the physical distance between myself and others that play a crucial role in my life sometimes creates an emotional distance as well that I'm definitely not thankful for. 

So today, I reflect. I give thanks. I'm not thankful for the hard times, the stress, or the distance, but I am thankful for the lessons learned and that are being learned through it all. I pray every day that this season will pass, but I am thankful for the One who hears my prayers. And I am thankful for the support of the special people who have held me up when I could not do so myself over the past few months. 

In everything, give thanks. 

JFK: The 50 Year Obsession

I've been reading, and watching, and obsessing about the Kennedys for as long as I can remember. I've read almost every single biography my local library has on the subject, watched every special that comes on TV, and have listened to the hours of Jackie Kennedy's interviews after the assassination on my way back and forth between Statesboro and home during college. Today, to remember the Kennedy family, and all that was, and is, and will remain of Camelot, I'm sharing a few of my favorite pictures in honor of the 50th anniversary of JFK's assassination on this day in 1963.

Disclaimer: I do not claim these pictures as my own; original sources unknown. 

"Now, I think that I should have known that he was magic all along. I did know it — but I should have guessed that it would be too much to ask to grow old with and see our children grow up together. So now, he is a legend when he would have preferred to be a man." --Jackie Kennedy, 1964

Elton John Date Night

For Christopher's birthday, I wanted to get him something fun and different. But I had to be sneaky. So I decided to do gifts-inside-a-gift, my favorite method of gift giving only reviled by the tower-of-gifts I so love. So I got him a Marley Lilly overnight bag for his travels to see me {with his new monogram--he's changing his last name to his grandfather's, which will be finalized within the next month}. After looking in the bag to find homemade pumpkin muffins, and a new shirt, he found two tickets to see Elton John in Atlanta on Nov. 16! Woohoo! 

     Friday night we had Mexican Cornbread Casserole, and and Ice Cream Sandwich Cake. Yum--this is so good, especially if you love ice cream and cake! Best of both worlds. We went to Atlanta Saturday afternoon and ate at Ted's Montana Grill which neither of us had ever been to. It was amazing! I wish bison was more readily available because it was delicious.
    We then wandered over to Phillips Arena for the concert, and although we didn't have the greatest seats, you could see the sequins from a mile away! The concert was wonderful, music was great, and it was so neat to learn that two of the band members have been with EJ since he started. 2Cellos opened for the band, and played with them throughout the night, which was a great surprise. I had no idea they were going to be there and Christopher loves them!

     It was a really great night, and it was so nice to do something different like this. I'm not usually a big concert person, but EJ was a great performer, and we both truly enjoyed the evening. Check it out!