stuffed like a turkey...

delivering baskets and gifts to a hurting family who is safe for the first time in awhile...wishing I could bring them home with me...wanting to fix everything that's wrong...frustrated that's not to be...grateful for all I have been blessed with...hours cooking, baking, stuffing, laughing, chatting with loved ones...a meal that will stay with me for a year with the feeling of warmth and grace...my mother laughing, teasing her eldest grandson...sleeping in and snuggling close to my guy on mornings that are getting colder by the day...Courtney's happy yelp when she gets extra stuffing and pumpkin pie...scrabble...wii...movie marathons...crazy mall shopping...Jonathan's first day at work was Black Friday and he lived to tell the tale...Laughing with friends who truly accept and understand you, flaws and all...dragging down trunks filled to the brim with decorations of the season...more pumpkin pie with an apple pie chaser...no working out for four days straight...unless you count lifting my fork to my mouth...watching dear friends renew their vows celebrating 25 years of faith-filled love...watching their children beaming with joy...feeling blessed to be present...frustrations with new circumstances...feeling pressed for time...realizing that Advent has arrived and I am caught unprepared...holding Christ in my hands as I am privileged to distribute Holy Communion...praying the St. Andrew's Novena...praying for so many hurting...praying...praying...