Happy Thanksgiving!

The world is a weird place, and with each passing year, I understand it less and wonder why people seem to get meaner and more insane. I also feel more grateful with each passing day. Don't get me wrong, there are still some days when I struggle to feel thankful, but my practice of writing down what I am grateful for has changed the way I think about things for the better.

When my family and I have dinner together, we pray. Both my husband and I grew up in the church; Lutheran for me, and Catholic for my husband. Unfortunately, we came out of the experience with very little desire to ever be in a church community again. We have tried, over the years. For me, it was to make sure I was doing the right thing for our children. For my husband, I suspect it was just easier to go to church than to put up with my nagging. After several congregations and enduring a mega church, complete with a smoke machine and rock band, we gave up our search for a church. That, however, has not dampened our spiritual beliefs, and we pray regularly.

My favorite prayers are those said around the table. We keep our prayers casual, like a conversation with a good friend. We thank Him for our food, the one who prepared it, whatever we can think of from our lives, and end it by thanking Him for "the little dogs too."

This year, I have a lot to be thankful for. I am able to do the work, as an artist, that I have always wanted to. I have a loving and supportive husband. I have two healthy and strong young men that I get to call my sons. The eldest has found a job that he really enjoys and is kicking ass! My younger son is killing it in his first year of college and has grown so much as a person in the last year that I tear up just thinking about it. I have my health, my little dogs, and more security than I have ever had in my life. I am also so lucky for the family and friends that are in my life.

I have one other thing that I am so thankful for this year, a dream come true! I am so glad to be the new owner of Penny, named after Penny Lane from the movie Almost Famous, not the Beatles song. She is my new-to-me, 1973 VW bus! She's a little rough around the edges, but very fun. I am even learning to drive her! I just know we are going to have a lot of adventures together!

Meet Penny! My new adventure bus! She is a 1973 VW bus.