Thanks

We are so thankful. For the love we share between the two of us and with our wonderful family, beautiful friends, those we continue to encounter in this new still-new place...for all those folks teach us...for the great and unending gift of grace, we are thankful. For work that sustains and challenges us, for a cozy home that allow us to extend hospitality, for the many opportunities to work for positive change in the world, we are thankful.

Our gratitude grows as we think about where we were at this time last year... in jobs that we knew were not long-term, struggling with the pain of an awful church situation, not sure where to go next, in a house with no heat. It was a difficult time for us. Thankfully, we shared some delicious meals with people we love in warm houses and were reminded of all the gifts we still enjoyed--and of all the ways we were still called to give of ourselves. When I think about that time, I am especially thankful that God walked with us and that we did not give up on the church.

This Thanksgiving, we shared a rainy walk, a meal and a movie with Cathy and Ron. They are also new to the Oregon-Idaho Conference and don't have family members nearby. They spent 15 years as missionaries with the Methodist Church in Argentina and it was so great to hear more stories about that time in their lives. We also ate some delicious, alternative T-day meal that included some favorites in Argentina--like gnocchi...mmm.... It really has been a wonderful day!


Gratitude often makes me sing and these are some of the songs I've been singing today:

A couple of Holy Cov favorites: Thank You and Thank You, Jesus.

A Gospel Choir favorite: I Don't Feel No Ways Tired