Thanksgiving 2010

I would have to say that this Thanksgiving is going to stand out as one of the very best thanksgivings ever. I have so much to be grateful for this year and I still am overwhelmed by everything that has happened this last month.

I am so grateful for friends who know just what to do for me. A few weeks ago I was telling Rick how much I love to wake up Thanksgiving morning and go for a long run. The last couple of years a few of us have run together in our very own Turkey Trot. Nothing fancy, we would just meet at the park across from my house and go run between 6 - 10 miles. Well this year I was really going to miss this tradition. I had just finished telling Rick about this, when Leah called and told me what they had planned. She and Tanya had been talking and decided to turn our little Turkey Trot into a run/walk in honor of me and my miraculous story! People could come run, or they could walk with me. I can't even tell you how much this meant to me. Leah even had bracelets made that said "The best run ever." I am known for this mantra because after every run I feel like it really was the best run of my life. We all joke around about this every year at ragnar:) knowing that all of my legs are going to be the "best run ever!"

Cute Leah welcoming everyone out. It was record cold temps, in the single digits, so we were surprised when the parking lot began to fill up with people. Saratoga has the greatest people in the world, it is like no other place.
Rick and I passed out hand warmers to everyone. My hands were so numb I could barely feel the heat of the warmers.

Getting ready to start. The runners ran a 6 mile loop and the walkers walked a 3 mile loop.

We love Lisa! She is not a fan of early mornings, exercise, or cold weather. She stayed in her nice warm car, but just came to be supportive:)

Everytime I see this picture, I get tears in my eyes. I think it is just because first of all I am walking, and second, I love how Rick has his arm around me. I couldn't ask for a better husband.

Jay and JD -- we have run together in many races. I love what JD said at the end of the race "You just did a 5K with a broken neck" Not too shabby!!!!

Hot cocoa at the finish!!! My hands were so frozen I could barely hold on to my cup

Heather made my whole day. She took pictures of the entire walk. She kept running all over the place snapping pictures. Thank you so much to all of my incredible friends!

After the race, it took about one hour to completely thaw out. My hands were so cold, they wouldn't even function.

Since I am still on house arrest, Jacquie offered to make the entire thanksgiving feast and bring it to us. See what I mean? People are incredible. I can't believe she would offer to do this. I was so excited to have us all together at our house. I have the best in-laws in the world.

Grandma brought turkey crafts to do. We made turkey oreos and turkey apples

While Grandma and I got ready for dinner, Rick and Grandpa took the kids shooting. It was a nostalgic experience because these were the same guns Rick grew up shooting every Thanksgiving with his cousins and grandpa.

They shot eggs and pumpkins off targets.

More grateful than ever for these three faces.... I have the best kids in the world.

Most days I am thankful for Cocoa -- usually when he is sleeping and cuddly.

I am thankful for my new neck brace, it's way better than having a new wheelchair

I am thankful that Jacquie and Sue brought the entire feast to us.

I'm thankful that Jim and Sue joined us for dinner. It was so much fun having them there. Sue brought flowers and sand-art for the kids. They are always so thoughful.
After dinner, my side of the family came to join us for dessert. We had our favorite apple, pumpkin and banana pies. I had to have a slice of each because I couldn't decide which one to try.

Cute little Cameron -- he is at such a fun age. He spent the afternoon chasing the dog around the house saying "dog " in his cute little voice

Lindsie started a new tradition..."My Thankful Jar." During the month of November, we all wrote down things we are grateful for and put them in the jar. It was so funny to see what Mallory came up with. She is just learning how to read and write, so she just copied words she saw around the house. Some of the funny things were: Indians, hunting, turkey. She found the words out of a book she had made at school. She is so cute.

Lindsie and Janessa shot pool all afternoon

I am so thankful for my family. As I get older, I realize just how great my parents and sisters are. We had such an amazing childhood with so many fun memories together. When we get together now we just love to laugh. Usually at every family get-together we are known to be brought to tears due to laughing so hard.

I am so grateful that my whole family lives close by. There were a lot of years that Michele and Meg lived in different states. I love that we are all together now and the cousins can all play together.

The day was absolutely PERFECT! I couldn't be more grateful for everything and to everyone, but most of all I am grateful to my Heavenly Father who has blessed my family more than I had ever imagined.