Thankful in the Fire

We hosted Thanksgiving Day 1.0 (Kimble version) at our house today.

The cleaning and preparation for visitors over the past week brought with it great anticipation and excitement.  I was so excited to host my family and enjoy a day with visitors and good food.  My sister and brother-in-law drove from Pemberville, and our OSU college kids carpooled from Columbus.  My mom prepared much of the food, I made the salad, and my sister was in charge of rolls.  Everything was delicious, even with my chemo taste buds that make everything taste funny.


The excitement of the day caught up to me after dinner and I required a nap.  Once I had a few minutes to read my devotional and reflect, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.   Overwhelmed with feelings of pride and sentimentality as I watched my family enjoy each other's company.  As the kids laughed at Papa's jokes, and Uncle Jeff and the boys talked everything Jeep, life seemed normal and "cancer" wasn't the center of the universe for a few hours.  It was a much needed escape from reality.











Today's devotional was centered around thankfulness, and reminded me to be thankful in the good and the bad times.  "Joy amid life's sufferings proves God is above all...Thank him for the hurt, the ugly parts. While in the fire, we see God more clearly."  While this year seems to be overtaken by "the fire"- my cancer diagnosis- I look back and remember all the joy we have had in the past year, and the occasions we will look forward to in the next year.  I reflect on relationships that have become stronger because of my health crisis, and friends and family who have held my hand, held me up during some of the toughest times I will ever face.  I am so thankful for all the "gifts"- tangible and intangible- that I have received over the past year and look forward to what is to come.
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