Unexpected joy

With all the chaos surrounding my life of late, I fully expected a down-in-the-dumps holiday season. After all, doesn't life have to just be perfect to be happy? Apparently not. After plans changed several times, my husband and I, along with our teenage son, ended up having Thanksgiving dinner at home, just the three of us. It was a relaxing meal, with no stress, no expectations piled on to myself to have enough of this or perfectly cooked that.

And, to make the day even better, I got to run with my sister and my niece in their first 5k, the annual Turkey Trot and the culmination of weeks of training for my niece, Brieanna, and her Girls on the Run group. I even got to volunteer as a running buddy for another girl from Brieanna's group. I loved cheering Brieanna and Erica, my running buddy, on as we ran through rain and cold for 3.1 miles. It wasn't my best time - I think it was my worse ever - but it was the best race I've run. I loved every minute of it.

After running, dinner and relaxing it was time to prepare for my favorite part of the day - Black Friday shopping. For me, it's not really about the Christmas gifts. I'm usually done that part by then but it's about being out there and being part of a collective craziness that gets me excited. And this year Robin, my sister, headed out with me! We set out for Lancaster at 11:30 at night and we had a great time hitting the outlets and then Sonic for a 2 am food fix (diet cherry limeade at 2 am ROCKS!) and then some more shopping. I was back home by 7 am and it was just a feeling of contentment that washed over me. Yes, our family is a little shook up right now and some things are out of my control but I left Thanksgiving day feeling so thankful for every little part of my life that is all mine; good, bad or otherwise. God is good and has been good to me. I spent the rest of the weekend decorating, and just enjoying this gift of time with my husband and son that we don't often get.

So, now that Thanksgiving is over and my family and I are headed back to school and work, or in my case, both, I want to keep that thankful feeling going. That's the trick. To remember all that we have when we feel overwhelmed or inadequate. Sometimes it takes some unexpected joy to remind us that the day doesn't have to be perfect, we just have to choose to be open to the joy that can be found in the day.