A few mornings ago, I found myself in the middle of the ordinary, and celebrating every minute of it. I had my second load in the washing machine, the first was finishing in the dryer. The Bear was beside me in the kitchen, standing on a chair with a big wooden spoon, eagerly awaiting the next ingredient’s addition to the Chocolate Chip Apple Bread taking shape in the mixing bowl. We were probably both still in our pajamas, the day was young, the to-do list long.

I sighed and paused for a moment, not at the burden of facing six loads of laundry, six weeks’ worth of packing, and lots of other tasks, but just at the joy of the ordinary. The only thing that’s for sure is change. In a few days we’d be leaving for six weeks. Once we return we’ll have about six weeks before everything changes again, as this little one makes his or her way into the world. It’s as Robert Frost put it,

…Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

We pass this way but once it seems, before life takes us down some new road. So I savoured the moment and soaked it in, as the Bear snuck chocolate chips from the bowl, and the little one inside seemed to kick in response to his giggles. And I thought it a rather meaningful thing, taking a moment to say Thank You for life as it is. Instead of Thank You, but couldn’t it be…

Taking all this in, I’ve hope that as we pass into a season where, some of my fellow Americans might specifically pause to give thanks, we could take a collective moment to share some {Thanks}giving. And in moments and breaths like these, we could share gratefulness for things we might otherwise not think of being thankful for. Learning to be thankful in the in-between moments, when life perhaps isn’t what you’d like it to be, is a work of heart that will bring us joy if we can grasp it.

One of my favourite U2 songs includes the lyrics:

I like the sound of my own voice
I didn’t give anyone else a choice…

It’s a little bit satirical but I do rather enjoy the sentiment. And I suppose if you show up here more than every once in a while, you don’t mind the sound of my voice too much. But in case it’s getting a little old, {thanks for being kind enough not to say anything} I have some really exciting good news for you. This sharing of thanks will include voices besides mine!

So let me hit you with the sassy advertisement and then explain…

Next week, you are going to get to hear some voices besides mine, as we give thanks together. And while I wish I could say Bono was going to be one of them, well, he was busy, but I think I’ve got some great substitutes.

Starting bright and shiny Sunday morning, I’ll have a week of {Thanks}giving posts for you. Mostly, if not all, authored by folks other than yours truly. But perhaps we’ll pause on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday) to give thanks for the little one whose gender we will discover by opening a purple envelope the night before, together with family! {Or would you rather I keep it a surprise?}

So please join me, and some other beautiful voices, for a week of {Thanks}giving starting Sunday! I hope you’ll be thankful that you’re along for the ride!

xCC

P.S. There are still a couple of spaces open in the guest week, so if you’re interested in contributing, get in touch! You don’t need to already have a blog to have something to share!