Sunshine From Within

Our Thanksgiving tradition as a family is to spend a few days at our home in the beautiful, rustic mountains of Lake Arrowhead, California.  For well over twelve years, we have packed up our four Angels, our dog(s) and sometimes a cat or two and headed up the mountain.  Not only is this a wonderful change of pace for our sometimes busy, busy family, but it is something that we have all come to expect and enjoy.  

For many of these twelve years, my very best friend from junior high school, her husband and their three fantastic kids have joined us as a part of our extended, chosen family.  Recently, their family has grown by leaps and bounds with the addition of one son-in-law, a beautiful new baby(who I cannot wait to get my hands on again!) and THREE foster children.  Unfortunately, we will not be able to spend Thanksgiving day together, this year, but they will be coming up to spend the weekend with us on Friday.  With four little ones crawling and running around, this family get-together will be energetic, life-affirming and joyful, to say the least!

This afternoon my four Angels and I decided to head out for a little fresh mountain air and retail therapy.  We knew that it was supposed to rain, but we had no idea that we would end up braving a thunder/lightening/heavy rain/hail storm as we laughed and screamed our way back to the car.  Five drenched women running through puddles and dodging lightening bolts!  What a sight we must have been.  As I grabbed my camera to snap a few pictures of the mess that the storm was creating, my four Angels yelled at me from inside the car to hurry up!
When we arrived home, we told Mark about our crazy adventure and then we all settled in.  As Angel Number One pulled out a coloring book and crayons to color in a cute turkey picture for me(yes, it is hanging on the fridge and no, it doesn't matter how old they get), I thought about the fact that it doesn't matter where we are, or what the weather happens to be outside.  As long as I have my Angel Daughters with me, the sun is always shining.

Parts of my heart.  Angel Daughter Number One.

Angel Daughter Number Two.
Angel Daughter Number Three.(I just had to get the beach in there on this cold and blustery night!)
Mark and AD3.
And finally, Angel Daughter Number Four with our adorable kitty, Jersey.

May this Thanksgiving bring you a soul filled with warmth, a heart full of love and a family(either genetic or created) filled with hugs, laughter and enough of  whatever it is that makes your spirit SING.

Oh happy day...