Christmas is wonderful, but I still rank Thanksgiving higher. It really doesn't get better than eating good food with good people and taking time to consider all we have for which to be grateful. I thought a lot this year about how thankful I am that my parents instilled in me the importance of surrounding oneself with good people. Moving around often it kept us from extended family, but we always had a substitute family of friends-- people I am thankful to still have in my life today. It's always hard to be away from family during the holidays, but going on my eighth year in Portland, it has been my home longer than any where else. I've met so many amazing people here and really feel like I can call Portland my home. I am incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by such a great support system of friends that help being away from family a little easier. This year I hosted another orphan's Thanksgiving for our friends that have become a second family. 11 of us lovingly crammed in the little house on el Tenino and stuffed ourselves silly and laughed until we cried.
I did a bad, bad thing. My camera was left in the cold and fogged up real nice. As it turns out, cameras you can't see through aren't the most useful in picture taking. This is the one semi in focus shot that was captured of our turkey day celebrations.
The frenzy of finals have left me exhausted, but I am eagerly awaiting next week's trip to Utah to see family. I'm going to a ladies night soup and cookie exchange a friend of mine is hosting on Tuesday. I'm planning on making my Mom's coconut carrot ginger soup, but if anyone has a unique cookie recipe I should give a go, I'd love to try something new!
