So, this blog is going to be a little different as far as the subject goes. But, I've had many thoughts during these days and I've learned a little so I just want to write and be able to remind myself of it.
As this Thanksgiving approached, I was feeling very stressed and overwhelmed. I've never really hosted Thanksgiving before and I've never been the one to do most all of the cooking. The closer the day got, the more overwhelmed I became. On top of that, I started to come down with a cough and it was affecting my sleep and eventually started to affect my voice. That was helping with my stress either. Chad was telling me "You've got to relax". I was scheduled to work on Wednesday before Thanksgiving but ended up telling them that I wouldn't be able to make it. It's hard to teach preschoolers if you're constantly talking and your voice is getting worse.
So, I just planned to spend Wednesday doing meal prep and waiting on Alex and the grand kids to arrive. I'm still overwhelmed and stressed out during this time though. How can I get all of this done? Will the food turn out okay? Will the foods be ready at the same time? Can I do this? Why am I hosting Thanksgiving? I was really just wanting the holiday to come and go as quickly as possible. Then, it would just be over and I could breathe.
I was working in the kitchen and at about 10:00, I heard a car. No big deal. Cars go down this road all the time. Well, then, I heard a few doors shut. So, I thought - Alex must be here. I walked to the door to see. As I did, I could see kids walking from a car and I saw a man with short hair. I didn't even see his face. I knew who it was. I immediately got that door opened and there he stood - Caleb! I yelled "Caleb!" I grabbed him so tight and cried. He said "I love you". Best words ever to a Mama! I eventually let go and acknowledged every one else. I told them "I love y'all too but I haven't seen him in forever". It's been 18 months!
He came in and I just kept staring at him and he told me the story about getting here. He had worked it out to show up here at the same time Alex did. So, she knew he was coming and it's also the reason I ended up with the job of hosting Thanksgiving. They worked it out for it be that way.
Corben had stayed home from school and was still sleeping so Caleb went to wake him up. Needless to say, he was confused and a bit surprised. We checked Carlie out of school and surprised her. Then, we drove out to surprise Chad. He was actually on a lunch break so we met him there.
Needless to say, during this time of visiting with Caleb and surprising everybody, I was not getting my Thanksgiving meal prep done. And, do you know what? I didn't care! My stress level was gone. I didn't care if any of the foods weren't ready for the next day. The family was together and that is all that mattered. My son was home after a year and a half of being so far away. It was even a blessing that I was sick and didn't work. If I hadn't been home, I probably wouldn't have seen Caleb as early in the day as I did. I believe I've also been able to enjoy having everyone here more than I would have. I wasn't overwhelmed anymore. So, I was able to just enjoy the time with everybody. I wasn't consumed with thoughts of the food. And, do you know what? All of the food got prepped. All of it got cooked and all of it was delicious. We even ate earlier than we had planned to.
God definitely blessed. And, he taught me. He said "See, Amie. Just relax. I had plans all along to give you the best Thanksgiving that you've had in a while. You were freaking out over nothing."
So, maybe next time I'm feeling so overwhelmed and stressed about something, I should relax a little. Maybe it's not all that bad. Maybe there's a plan here. God's up to something.
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