Thankful Thursday

Last Thanksgiving was the first one that we celebrated just with our immediate family, and that is true again today, but we will see one extended family member this week as our niece, Jenna, who turned nineteen on Monday, plans to arrive at our home with her boyfriend tomorrow night and spend the day with us on Saturday. We talked to her on the phone on Monday, and we talked to her brother, Nathan via FaceTime yesterday as they both celebrated birthdays this week. I made the pumpkin bread and also yeast dinner rolls for today's meal yesterday. Today I have already made or will be making mashed potatoes, turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, corn casserole, and peanut butter pie. I also purchased cranberry sauce and a pumpkin pie. Over the past 20+ years I've usually celebrated Thanksgiving with Paul's family, which means I've been thinking of Paul's mom as this is the first Thanksgiving since she passed away. 

Today I'm giving thanks that:

1. We live in a free country. Although we've seen a lot more government intrusion over the last 20 years and especially over the last 20 months, we still have the freedom of worship. 

2. I am able to homeschool our children. Our decision to homeschool certainly has nothing to do with whether homeschooling is popular or not, but the percentage of children being homeschooled in the US has drastically changed over the last two years. According to the US Census Bureau, 5.1% of children were taught at home prior to the pandemic. This rose to 11.1% by October 2020 and was at 19.5% in May 2021. This does NOT include students who were enrolled in a public or private school and doing that schoolwork at home. Time will tell whether that number goes up or down in the future, but we are very thankful that homeschooling is still a legal option in our country. 

3. I can walk on two legs! It's rather painful to do so, but I'm thankful that my days of crawling on my hands and knees or hopping on my left leg are over. I also greatly prefer being able to stand when I'm taking a shower. 

4. We have been enjoying watching the episodes of Tuttle Twins as they are released. 

5. I'm planning to drive tomorrow for the first time since September 12. I went 12 weeks without driving in 2012 when I was pregnant with Oliver, so this time of not being able to drive was a little bit shorter (a little shy of 11 weeks).  I'm planning to meet my friend Cheri, whom I haven't seen for four months. 

6. Christ made it possible for us to spend eternity in Glory! I look forward to being reunited some day with my mom, my brother, and Paul's mom.

7. Milo has been my snuggle buddy during this time I've spent a lot more time sitting.

8. The last two years have been very good for Paul's company.