Thanksgiving
I was on a self imposed strike from blogging. ~If you are on twitter you are well aware of why!~ Anyway, the month is wrapping up and it's almost time to be off work, eating good food and resting and having fun with our families. For me that means "extended family." My genetic/birth family is far away, but that doesn't mean that we don't have family here. From the very first day I set foot in Charlotte, I've been blessed with people that immediately loved me and Tyler and treat us like family. Now I can't imagine how I haven't always known them.
The first Thanksgiving that we were here in 2007, we had two places to go for Thanksgiving dinner. We first had dinner with Pam and her daughter and we ate a ton! After that we went to my friend Nicole's house to have dinner with her family. I don't think I even had a chance to be homesick b/c they both showed us so much love. Last year we had dinner at my house and a few of my friends came over and ate and we watched movies all day.
This year, I purposed in my mind that we have been extremely blessed and we needed to be doing MORE. And giving MORE to others. Sometimes we don't realize the small things that make a difference in people's lives. I've written notecards to people who mean a lot to me. I allowed Tyler to give me some ideas on some people that he wanted to do special things for: carpool teacher, his classmates, the bus driver, his teacher and the person that cleans his classroom. I think throughout the month we have touched most of the people we wanted to let know that we are thankful.
The last thing we are doing for this season is going to a mission on Thanksgiving and assisting with their thanksgiving meals. Since he's so young we won't actually be serving food, but we'll be setting tables, folding napkins, etc. The mission sent out an email about our duties and wanted us to know they plan to treat the guests like VIP. They will not be eating off plastic, etc. they will be eating on fine china with glasses, etc. This makes me so happy!
I think I've briefly touched on that I have volunteered to partner up with a lady who suffers with a mental illness and be her support system. This is supposed to involve, doing activities together, being a listening ear and just being an advocate for her. I am finally going to get to meet her tomorrow for lunch and I'm excited. I think she was a little apprehensive about me over the phone until she found out I was a black woman like she is. But then she seemed excited! She asked me why I wanted to work with her and I told her about my mom's battle with mental illness and I think that made all the difference for her.
I used to be ashamed and wish for a "normal" life and family. And now I realize I got just what I needed and I'm truly thankful and wouldn't trade any of my experiences for anything. I think I've challenged you guys a couple times to do something for someone else. It doesn't take much to write a note card to your mailman or put a small gift card for him or her to get a coffee or lunch. How would you feel if you went through your whole life and nobody appreciated you?
Even though this month is up and my goal is met, I don't plan to stop giving to others just b/c the season is up. I'm going to have to think hard about what we will do for Christmas holidays. I have been asked by a couple individuals what I would like for Christmas. I remember the days when I could rattle off one hundred thigns that I wanted. Now I can't think of one thing.. I've truly been blessed. And that's one of my prayers, for me to be so blessed that I can be a blessing to others!