My wife and I have been together for twenty-six years, but this is our first Thanksgiving. More accurately, it is our first Thanksgiving with just the two of us. Thanksgiving is THE big holiday of the year for my wife's family, and her mother isn't happy without 40 people in the house. (This year they had over 50, even without us. My wife still isn't feeling well, so we stayed home.) We haven't missed one in 26 years until now. One year, we even came with a newborn baby in arms, (born the day before?)
Our first Thanksgiving as a couple was when we had been dating for about two weeks, and she brought me home to meet the family. Her three brothers and two cousins (all bigger than me) were wrestling on the living room floor, right in the middle of the furniture. I hadn't wrestled since 6th grade, and I was terrified that I would be next but they left me alone. (Phew!)
The next ordeal came with the meeting of the grandmother... Nana was one of these old ladies that was going to say whatever came to mind, regardless. You know the type, I'm sure. Well, Nana asked me in a loud voice (in front of anyone listening) if I had honorable intentions towards her granddaughter.
"Um... Yes Ma'am?"
Grandma placated, we moved on to the main family activity. We gathered in the living room in a big circle, and everyone said what we were thankful for, one by one. (By tradition, all the boys would say "I'm thankful for Nana.") "Yes, yes" she would say in response. But I got my next surprise when we got to my future mother-in-law.
"I'm so thankful for Pete!" she gushed. "We're so glad you're finally here, and what an answer to prayer you are!" And then one of my girlfriend's brothers deadpans, "Yeah, but no pressure."
There was dead silence in the room, followed by laughter. I was in!
But tonight we are home alone. Empty-nesters. Our younger kids are in Virginia at the big gathering-- and we are here. It wasn't planned that way, but she wasn't feeling good enough for the trip, so we stayed home. We smoked a small turkey, and made stuffing, creamed corn, rolls, cranberry sauce, and cherry cream cheese pie. Just for the two of us. Delicious. We are missing family and had planned to see both sets this trip, but staying home allowed us to cuddle on the couch and watch a movie together last night- which hardly EVER happens. (We may do it again tonight.) It also saved us 25 hours of driving this week, which softens the blow a bit.
She has had a fever and nausea for three weeks now, and we still have no hard answers. We know much more what is NOT wrong, than what is. But she has only been seen by two doctors so far, and more tests are ordered. For comparison, getting my own Mantle Cell Lymphoma diagnosis took three months, four doctors, seven doctor visits, and five procedures. She got out of the hospital only a week and a half ago, and has multiple appointments next week. I'm sure they will figure it our eventually, and we will go from there.
So tonight I am thankful for my wife Deborah, who stuck with me through the good times and the bad. I'm thankful for the children she has given me, and I'm so happy to see how they have turned out so far. I'm thankful for God's grace and mercy on me. Psalm 68:6 tells us that God puts the lonely in families, and He has certainly done so in my case. I am richly blessed.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Praying for a full recovery for you both.