I miss this place.

I think the subtle sore throat I've been carrying around for the last 3 weeks has turned into something worse.   One of my ears feels stuffed ... like the car trunks of the Black Friday shoppers.  Too much pressure.

But the kitchen is packed.  My dining room is filling up of a sturdily constructed tower of boxes.  I'm starting to get the itch to move all the stuff to the new place.  December 10 (the day I must be out of my apartment) can't come soon enough.

rearward thanksgiving

Giving thanks obviously makes one think about more than the immediate comforts. In light of the office move, I will have a long Thanksgiving weekend for the first time in five years.  Lacking the motivation to continue packing up my apartment, I'm listening to Leigh Nash and remembering what I was doing this time last year. My oldest friend's husband had just been tragically killed in a car accident, I had received my motorcycle operator's license, and I visited the OKC memorial for the first time with my parents.

I am so thankful for everything that has happened around me and the opportunities I've had since then. Even though I buried a huge chunk of my spirit when Matt and I broke off our 5 year relationship, out of that experience grew renewed dedication to my God and discovering what He calls me to do. I know a lot of you were praying for me and I am STILL thankful for that!

Mary, Kevin, Noah & Matthew were the first to bring my heart back into the light, and they continue to give me joy even after they moved back east. Heather who loved me constantly through the last 7 years brightens my days with wisdom when I don't even realize I need it. J & Rachel have made weekly dinners a priority for the last 18 months despite our fluctuating schedules. And both their families have extended to include me for all those holiday functions. My girls from church: Amy, Heather, "Mimi", Melissa, and Rebecca. Katy and Sarah and I continued our triad of troubles and building each other up ... that strand of three cords is nowhere near broken. Liliana, Rebekah, Morgan, & Cynthia for some great nights at the Pot, Deli, and Rok.  There have been other distracting late-night parties ... can't forget the crew at work!  Mike and Matt for encouraging my talent in the organization ... but also Kristin, Jennifer, Tom & Cari who constantly remind me to STOP working once in a while.

All my friends on myspace & facebook - you know who you are and it's been great to connect with you over web 2.0.

American Thanksgiving is one of those "family" holidays.  My immediate family is small but so precious to me ... they'll be on the cell phone tomorrow for sure.  Karl keeps me laughing and Kara fits into our family so perfectly. My Dad and Mom who sold their house only to become "homeless" even as I started buying my first place. I hope I can retire as well (and early) as they have ... traveling all over the country: enjoying the sights and serving where they can. Those two snowbirds spend their winters in Bay St. Louis, MS. Their dedication to the families who lost their homes in Hurricane Katrina is a huge inspiration to me. That was over 2 years ago and people are still living in trailers next to the rudimentary foundations where their homes used to be.

That comparison just brings me back around: I have a lot to be thankful for ...

well, it was a good week until...

Wired posted this about Macs ...
I still love my laptop. I just have to be just as careful with it as I had to be with my last computer.