I delayed posting about how our Thanksgiving was because I took the full week to fully enjoy time with my family and it was WONDERFUL! It is absolutely amazing what a week “off” will do for a drained counselor, mom, and wife during a pandemic!
We spent the first part of the week going to a multitude of doctors appointments. When you are in education you tend to schedule all of your necessary appointments around school holidays to conserve those sacred time off days. This is especially true for me since I use most if not all of my paid time off taking Zeke to appointments and procedures. The first half of the week was also spent sharing more one on one time with Chris’s daughter and Zeke which is always wonderful. My first husband and I share custody 50/50 with a week on week off rotation, and Thanksgiving week was “his week” by following our rotation, but we agreed long ago to always share holidays so the kids get to see both parents. This is one of the most beautiful parts of co-parenting. I am beyond thankful to have the kind of coparenting relationship that allows us to share the kids in everything.
After the beginning of the week, we spent a couple days at a local lake camping, and it was just what we needed. We took our travel trailer to enjoy the great outdoors, and my Granny brought her travel trailer and set up in the camping spot right next to us. Despite a cold first night, that was warmed by a wonderful campfire with roasting marshmallows, the following days were filled with warmer weather that was perfect for camping. The kids enjoyed fishing, playing in the lake, campfire smores and stories, and nighttime lighted bicycle rides down the hill.
After camping we headed home to start some of our FAVORITE Christmas traditions. Each year the kiddos get a new ornament to add to their collection so that when they grow up they will have a whole collection of ornaments to put on their own tree. I think the most hilarious of the bunch was Kyleigh’s “Sparkle Swirl” which in my honest opinion looked like a sparkly, unicorn, rainbow, poop emoji. I died laughing that she picked that ornament, but I’m hoping it will bring her a good laugh years from now when she pulls it out and has to explain to her family why she picked that ornament. We also had the joy of our Elf Sparkle making her debut after showing up to “quarantine” in a mason jar for two weeks. The kids always love searching for Sparkle first thing in the morning, and they are convinced this year that their elf at our house, and their elf at their dad’s house, Buddy, are conspiring on where to move next.
As a family we ended the packed week with a birthday party for Grace with her ALL of her family; her Dad and his girlfriend, me and Chris, and all of our families. It was wonderful to say the least, and another benefit of the beautiful coparenting relationship that I am so thankful for.
I personally ended the week with a lunch with a dear friend from high school who I hadn’t had the chance to see in person in over 5 years. Even though we were only together for a couple hours, it made my heart so happy to spend time with her, and see how we both have grown so immensely as people. I love her LOVE for people, cultures, and just life. It was so refreshing to spend time with someone who views the world in a similar way to myself, and practices what it means to love people, and to trust your gut instincts. I can’t wait to spend more time with this AMAZING friend.
This Thanksgiving break was so needed. I needed the time with family; I needed to get things done; I needed to refresh my soul; and I needed some time in nature. I am thankful for so many things, but this year I am most thankful for the time with my family!
Fear is a Liar 
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