A Thanksgiving of Happiness

Today we head off to Oregon again for our annual and traditional family Thanksgiving celebration. Austin and Meagan flew in last night from Colorado, and Annie and Kristen (Meagan's sister) drove up from CalPOLY San Luis Obispo. They all pulled into the driveway at the same time because Annie picked up Austin and Meagan at the airport for us. What a sweet sight to see all of us under one roof again. Our house is jammed full, but it's just as it should be. We'll pack up this morning and head out to make the six hour northward journey just as soon as we can; that will be no easy feat with nine people, including two little toddlers, all crammed into two vehicles.

We love Thanksgiving, maybe more than most any other holiday, because it's relatively stress-free. No gifts to worry about, no Internet or other technological distractions, just plain good family lovin' time. And such good memories; this may be our ninth year at the Box "R" Ranch. One year ago, Austin proposed to Meagan in this very spot where we'll be, so it'll be good to remember the formal beginning of that great union too.

We have much to be thankful for, as we do every year, but we go into this season under the peaceful banner that God has gone before us, just as He does every year of our lives. But this year we've been illumined to see more of His hand in it all, or so it seems. I don't know precisely why, perhaps we're just older and wiser, but I'd like to think it's because He's given us a greater love for Him as we've worked to get out of His way and just follow His lead. The power of His presence is eerily round and about us, not to mention in us. The knowledge of this has caused us to relax in His guidance, even when it means doing really scary things.

A Thanksgiving of Happiness it shall be for us Kruggel's.

Tom (& Victoria, Austin, Meagan, Annie, Barret, Poppy & Willow, and eventually Xiao Qian), and Kristen, of course.