thankful

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with my family this year, as is the tradition. This particular year was a vegetarian feast. Thankful people, happy tummies.

A new tradition was started by Amanda's godparents this year. We gathered at Chris and Katie's house along with Patrick for a potluck meal. Amazing food, amazing people. Amanda has no idea how lucky she is to have these people in her life, but she will one day.

Patrick brought hand turkeys to color. The afternoon was spent laughing, dancing, talking, eating. Good, good times.

Here is a picture of Amanda's turkey and Patrick's turkey, and a video of Amanda and Katie dancing. It's dark because they had the lights turned out for their dance party, don't you know, so adjust the brightness setting on your computer if you need to. You'll want to see Amanda's flapping hands.

And to tie it all together, I have this beautiful poem by Mary Oliver to share, courtesy of my mother. This about sums it all up, really.

Messenger

My work is loving the world.
Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird-- equal seekers of sweetness.
Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.
Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.

Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?
Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect?

Let me keep my mind on what matters, which is my work,
which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished.
The phoebe, the delphinium.
The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.

Which is mostly rejoicing, since all the ingredients are here,
which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart and these body-clothes,
a mouth with which to give shouts of joy to the moth and the wren, to the sleepy dug-up clam, telling them all, over and over, how it is that we live forever.

Amanda's turkey











Patrick's turkey










Katie and Amanda's dance fest