Giving Thanks

It's thanksgiving again, which means there will be tons of food and family, too much football, and the open of Christmas music season. Apart from all of that, it's a chance to sit back and reflect on all of the things I'm thankful for. That said, let's get started, shall we?

I'm thankful for free things. It's a lovely surprise to win something out of the blue. I won an apron, of all things, just this afternoon. Nothing fancy, just an apron, but it's still cool. And free.

I'm thankful for tea. Nothing will ever beat those few quiet moments I enjoy at work or at home, or anywhere, as I savor a cup of tea. It warms the heart and makes everything better. And it brings a kind of peace to all the madness in my head.

I'm thankful for soft yarn and warm mittens. I'm in a bit of a mitten craze right now, and there's something comforting, much like tea, about a good pair of gloves or mittens. Especially when I've knit them myself. And then there's the feel of a wonderfully soft, beautifully colored skein of fresh yarn. It's like running your hands across the back of the animal itself, but cleaner.

I'm thankful for friends. Friends who knit together, friends who watch glee together, friends who cook together, friends who lunch together, friends who pray together, friends who dance together, friends you teach, friends you learn from. What's best is when those are the same friends. I've got quite an amazing group of friends. Some new, some old, some who are near and some who have moved on, though only geographically. The best is the kind of friend who you can call out of nowhere and pick up just like it was yesterday the last time you talked. Though I'll take all of those friends these days.

I'm thankful for family. Moms, dads, sisters, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Oh Burka family, we've really got something special here. The fact that we all care so much about making sure that we get together is quite unique and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I love talking with you, I love walking with you, I love knitting with you, and I love kicking your butts at Apples to Apples.

I'm thankful for new family. Couldn't be luckier, could I? I have a marvelous family already and I get to add more people to it. I suppose I should thank Chris for having a cool family.

I'm thankful for Chris. Very thankful for Chris.

God has been good this year, hasn't he? I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving and I hope you take a moment to think about that.