Thanksgiving!

I have really loved being in America this Autumn.  I don't remember every Fall being like this before my 7-year hiatus, but it has been so beautiful this year in Portland.  It hasn't been too rainy, and the leaves are really spectacular.  Since I don't have a job right now, I've had the chance to go for lots of long walks in the crisp, cold mornings... I live really close to Oaks Bottom and the Springwater Trail, and those places are seriously amazing right now.  Also, there are lots of Blue Herons and other birds that I don't know the name of, which in turn makes for lots of bird-watchers, who seem to generally be a very interesting breed of people.  Perfect for a people-watcher like myself.

This year is my first Thanksgiving Day in America for 8 years.  Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday, so I'm pretty stoked.  This is such a strange year for me... so much has changed, and I am  constantly overwhelmed by the feeling that I will never get everything right.  And the truth is that I won't.  Reconciling myself with that and battling with the hand-in-hand idea that I'm letting everyone down has not been easy; I'm not there yet.  But in an effort to get there, I'm trying this:  thanksgiving.  I am so thankful for my life.  I am so thankful for the opportunities that I've been given, and especially for the people in my life who have been and are currently walking with me.  I'm thankful to be, somehow, created intentionally and loved inexplicably by the God of the universe.  There is a lot more that I could list, but for now I'm thankful that it's time to sleep and I have a warm bed to spend the night in.  Good night!