still so thankful

I know I said I was thankful last week (and even pulled out a favorite poem and song to mark the occasion). But after a lovely, mild, peaceful, fun weekend, I am even more thankful. A brief recap:

Thursday began with breakfast at Abi and Nate’s – cranberry-orange scones, fruit, tea and pumpkin muffins:

We eventually moved into the living room, to watch Friends Thanksgiving episodes (The One With All the Thanksgivings, The One Where Ross Got High [known to us as The One Where Rachel Makes the Trifle], and The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs, for those of you keeping score at home):

(I love Kristin’s face there. Clearly she’s excited.)

Our church hosts a Thanksgiving potluck – “Turkeypalooza” – each year. It could just as well be called Casserole-palooza, or Yumminess-palooza:

Mmm. So much goodness. (This doesn’t even include the turkey cooked by Shanna’s brother Bryan, who is a chef – he was visiting her for the week, and decided to wow us all with his culinary skills.)

After dinner and cleanup, there was a long, hilarious game of Apples to Apples:

And the rest of the weekend? There was sleeping in, a long walk on the beach (in 60-degree weather!), bowls of jalapeno soup and chicken enchilada soup, cups of tea, games of Bananagrams, episodes of Mary Tyler Moore. There were pine wreaths and poinsettias and candles, as we decorated the church for Advent. There was the new Muppet movie (which was inspirational, celebrational and completely Muppetational). There was mending, knitting, lighting candles, digging out Christmas decorations. And so much love and laughter and thankfulness.

Clearly I’m easing back into work – and the holiday season – with a smile on my face. If you’re in the States, how was your Thanksgiving? I hope it was lovely.