We leave soon for Thanksgiving celebrations with my family. Before we go, there is still much to be done. Today is a kitchen day, destined for pie baking (by Sage – the latest passionate chef around here – who recently requested no more "pesky mama help" in the kitchen), bread baking (this will keep Lupine and I busy while Sage makes pumpkin magic happen), and some raw cranberry relish.
And we still need to cut out leaves for our gratitude tree! But there is so much gratitude already. I count my blessings daily, but during these long dark days even more so.
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Today I am filled with gratitude for…
…Pete returning home from his latest journey and the warm welcome he received from both of our kids. (This papa-love is a new phenomenon for our smaller one.)
…My parents. Their respect of my (different from their) parenting choices means more to me than they can imagine.
…Children who live passionately, think freely, know themselves, and believe in magic.
…Raw milk in my fridge. So fresh it was still warm yesterday.
…The rhythm of the knitting needles in my hands.
…The future.
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What are your thankful for?
There is so much to be thankful for its hard to make a list. Have a wonderful thanksgiving. I’m certainly thankful for you – encouraging us who are parenting the way our hearts tell us to.
Thank you Lori. So kind.
~Rachel
Where does one come by raw milk? Need to find some farmer friends I guess. I’m thankful for your wonderful blog btw 🙂 I so enjoy reading about your family, parenting, and lifestyle close to my own but inspiring all at the same time. Many thanks!!
This post makes me want to come to your Thanksgiving. We spend Thanksgiving with our cobbled-together family (since most of ours is scattered across the US) but, lately, I feel that I have outgrown these people and that I feel less and less connected to them every year.
Because of this, I am really thankful for the wonderful friends I have and the pre-Thanksgiving potluck that we share the weekend before. There is so much love that goes into that evening – love shared through food and conversation and laughter.
I am also thankful to have found a job and to be starting my nursing career in February in the exact hospital, on the exact unit where my heart has wanted to be.
Lastly, I am thankful for having gotten to spend this entire semester taking care of wee ones at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. It is such a privilege to spend my days rocking a sick infant or getting hugs from a toddler when he realizes his medicine isn’t so bad. I am blessed to have found my “vocation” and to get to live it day to day.
I am thankful for all the things in my life that I…so easily…take for granted.
Cheryl,
It truly comes down to finding a friendly farmer. It also depends what state you live in. Here in Wisconsin, raw (or real as folks call it) milk can not legally be sold. You can drink it but you cant pay for it. Silly. But in other states (Vermont, California, etc.) you can legally buy it in stores even. I would still opt for finding it directly and connecting with a farmer. It is one of our small pleasures!
Thank you for your kind note!
Rachel
Susanne,
I was reading a book recently (by Carolyn Myss) and she talks about having gratitude for your family or your tribe (culture, community, etc.) for not being enough for you. For pushing you to reach further. It was resonant to me as the shift that many of us go through when we evolve beyond the norms that came before us, be those choices about parenting, lifestyle, food, interpersonal communication, etc. Have a wonderful weekend with you family – your friend family and blessings on your journey into your career!
Rachel
Happy Thanksgiving, Cassandra! Thanks for your reflection.
Rachel
Rachel – Do you happen to remember the title of that book? I’d like to read it. It sounds like something I could use right now.
Love, Love your products. The soaps are my favorite. I purchased the first one through my hair designer, who had recently heard of your products. I applaude you and can’t wait to try new products.
Susanne,
She has so many! I think that quote was from a CD set called Advanced Energy Anatomy. But Im not positive. Just dig into her work and youll find some wonderful resources.
Rachel