Before we go any further, you all know that I'm Canadian, right? Okay, glad we got that squared away.
So, about Thanksgiving, which my country celebrates the second Monday in October. Right around harvest time.
Our Thanksgiving is about giving thanks for the ....oh heck, let's check Wikipedia.
Thanksgiving (French: Action de grâce), or Thanksgiving Day (Jour de l'action de grâce) is an annual Canadian holiday, occurring on the second Monday in October, which celebrates the harvest and other blessings of the past year.
Thanksgiving has been officially celebrated as an annual holiday in Canada since November 6, 1879, when parliament passed a law designating a national day of thanksgiving.[1] The date, however, was not fixed and moved earlier and later in the year, though it was commonly the third Monday in October.[1]
On January 31, 1957, the Governor General of Canada issued a proclamation stating: "A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed – to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October."[2]
So, there ya go.
No Indigenous cultures helping Pilgrims through starvation with home-made pumpkin pie.
Well, we do have the pie, but I digress.
And we do have a vast diversity of Indigenous cultures.
Not too many Pilgrims came here though, because I guess their GPS was wonky and they ended up somewhere warmer.
Ahem...
ANNNNNNYway...
I've termed myself a "thankasaurus", because I'm, well, thankful.
I'm thankful to live in a free country.
For a happy marriage.
For healthy children. Who are all taller than me, by the way. So maybe "children" isn't so scientifically accurate.
"Offspring".
That just sounds so much better.
Ahem. Again.
For good friends who know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, know when to run.
Oops, sorry. That song's in your head now, isn't it?
Another ahem...
I'm thankful for my parents, my immediate family, my extended family, and all the in-laws. Okay, *most* of the in-laws. There's one that took me blackberry picking 23 years ago and we got lost for 4 hours. Did I mention I was pregnant? Did I mention we had our deaf mother in law with us? Did I mention the Biblical-epic-Armageddon heat and thunderstorms? Or how about the bear droppings that steamed worse than bad chili?
I'm sure the bears were sitting somewhere wheezing because that's how hard they were laughing.
Oh, and how do you find a lost deaf lady bent on finding blackberries?
Prayer. Lots and lots of prayer.
Oh yeah, I'm talking to you, Doug.
AHEM.
Wow. Digress much, Jennifer?
(Stay on point, Major!!)
What else am I thankful for?
A few big ones, in no particular order from my adventures in the last 2 months...
My travel partner, RCP, who can drive 1800 miles whilst singing along to 80's music without getting lost. And who introduced me to my great food-mance of 2016...Panda Express.
My husband, who started calling me and RCP "Thelma and Louise" during our Epic Trek.
Fabulous and wonderful hosts who make sure we know that we're always welcome at their little hogan in the woods.
Perry Null Trading Company, Gallup, New Mexico. (Oh, the BLING!)
My literary agent, Mary Keeley, and my agency, Books and Such Literary Management.
The agency retreat at which I slept close enough to the window that I thought the surf was coming IN. My roommates at that retreat, Amelia Rhodes and Davalynn Spencer. You ladies taught me a lot, far more than I can articulate. Most of all? Grace in action. How you live your lives. You're amazing women. Seriously. A-maz-ing.
I mentioned New Mexico. Ohhhh, the Southwest...
How I love the Southwest and its people.
I'm thankful for "divine appointments" that I truly believe were orchestrated by God. I had one in particular last month that while I can't say much about it, it blew me out of the water.
When we give it all up, that which we cling to because we're scared of what could happen, either good or bad, and we dump it all at God's feet and whisper "Help me. Lead me.", we had better be ready for that moment when the doors blow off their hinges and the debris of what we thought could happen flies through the air.
I think the thing I'm most thankful for is the knowledge that no matter what, God can use a person like me.
You see, God doesn't want people to achieve greatness before He'll use them.
He'll use those who are willing to forego greatness to achieve what He wants.
Happy Thanksgiving.