Contentment

The past few days have been really lovely. I wish I could remember to take photos in the midst of it all, as so many of my favorite bloggers do, but instead I tend to sit back and breathe it all in.

Thanksgiving was, as usual, at my house. I enjoy this, even with the extra cleaning before and after as I feel I am much more relaxed in my own digs. My kids can run around and I don't have to worry about them ruining someone else's house!

My mother, my sister and brother-in-law and their three boys were here, and we were pleased that one of our dear Fathers of Mercy was able to stop by for a while, although he had to return to his community for dinner. It was a delightful afternoon.

And yesterday we hit the road to make the 90 minute trip to the home of our best friends in Kentucky. Their humble, cozy home is tucked in the woods, and the kitchen, dining table and "living room" are all in one open area. The kids played in the barn and in the woods, and Cindy and I sat by the wonderful, big fireplace her husband built and I knit and she nursed baby Abbie. Later, after supper, a number of kids ages 16 down to 3 sat at the table playing cards noisily, while we adults sat by the fire watching the toddlers play on the floor before us. It was wonderful, and it made me wish I lived next door to my friends so that we could do this regularly. Maybe it wouldn't happen if we lived so near.

A few hours after dark we piled our happy but worn-out kids into the van and exchanged many hugs and shouted our goodbyes back and forth, then we headed back home, praying the rosary as the little ones dozed off.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving.