Friday, November 28, 2008

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving ... a time of family, friends and a reminder every year to give thanks. However, thanks is something we should be giving each and every day. God has blessed us so much in our lives. There is always something to be thankful for, not matter what situation you are currently in.

Right now is a tough time for me in many ways, but in many ways it is actually quite easy. It is tough to be away from those I love for such an extended period of time. It is tough to not always have the communication I would like with others (especially my husband). It is tough to spend days in the confines of a vessel that's about 100ft by 900ft and about 3 stories that I actually spend time on. It is tough to not really be able to walk away from work ... to separate the various parts of my life.

However, it is easy because I am at most 15 min from anywhere I need to be. It is easy because I don't have to worry about cooking meals, or a place to rest my head. It is easy because I don't have to think about what to wear in the morning. It is easy because I have the priviledge of seeing an amazing amount of stars at night. It is easy because I am not going through this alone.

Thanksgiving is tough away from your family and friends. However, I am thankful for a command that cares and puts the effort into making it close to what it may be like at home. I am thankful for all the hard work that the CS's and FSA (culinary specialists and food service attendents) put in for the past week or so preparing the feast that we had yesterday. It was truly a Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings.

I am thankful for so many things each and every day. I am thankful for:
- my husband first and foremost
- our family, immediate and extended
- the friends we have made along the way, that are there when we need them
- a home to return to at the end of this deployment
- a wonderful church home
- the advances in technology, that communications are a little easier now than they were 10 years ago
- a steady job
- each and every day I can enjoy God's creation

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. God Bless you all!

5 comments:

Rod Adams said...

Danica:

Wonderful post. You certainly have some challenges, but just think, you could be on a vessel that is only 300 feet by 30 feet without any access to the stars. (grin)

I am also thankful for many things:

1. A lovely wife who is a great cook and a terrific friend.
2. Two accomplished daughters who make me very proud
3. Friends and family around the world
4. The opportunity to share thoughts and feelings at any time and place with people like you.

Anonymous said...

Happy Thanksgiving (a little late)! I sent you a package... you should get it soon. And I tried to make the tins for you but I just couldn't get them right-- ugh!

AndreaLeigh said...

Happy belated Thanksgiving, Dani!

rebecca said...

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving too!

I just read your comment on Andrea's blog about how long you've been working on your cross stitch. It reminded me of something my mom made for me. A beautiful, huge cross stitched wreath. I remember her working on it when I was probably 13 or 14 years old, as we'd be driving, or on vacation. She gave the finished product to me as a wedding gift. :) Nothing means more than a handmade piece like that!

Stitchingranny said...

I so hate when people moan and forget to look on the good side.

Live is what we make it, we will not see how beautiful it is if we do not look beyond ourself.

So nice to see someone appreciating life.