November 22, 2012 - Thanksgiving (Through Matt's Spectacles)

I spent the night at Mom and Dad's since we stayed up and watched Butler play in the championship game of the Maui Invitational and I didn't feel like driving home. They eventually lost to Illinois. Mom made me some toast and I ate some bran flakes. Usually if I'm at my parents house in the morning I will try and make Mom either make some waffles or toast up some frozen waffles. The main reason for doing this is that I love the way she cuts up waffles. Yes, that is incredibly weird. I already know. I've been doing it since a little kid. For some reason, the way she cuts them up tastes so much better than when I do it. It really baffles me, but I don't really care to get the bottom of it. I just want some good tastin' waffles. :)

Next up, I went to Lindsay's side for some lunch. I brought the chopsticks that we had bought while in Taiwan. It was pretty fun eating with them. I'm not really one to toot my own horn, but the baked beans and little bites of corn were no match for my developed skills of chopstickiness. For others.......... it was, let's say a challenge, which made for some laughs and lessons in proper chopsticking from Leslie and I. Nonetheless, lunch was delicious. In Taiwan, rice holds all your meals together. In America, mashed potatoes do the same. Can you say, "mixed-bowl-of-amazingness?!" Hey, it's all mixing up in your stomach anyway right? I also happened to hear one of the most heartfelt and touching speeches in my life. If you were there you know what I'm talking about. I had tears in my eyes. Family is something that really can transcend more than just blood lines. It's an all-encompassing word. It's action. It's caring. It's looking after others. It's sharing. It's friends. It's existing in harmony. It can be summed up simply as love. I'm totally blessed and grateful to have married into such a great family. Not everyone was there when I was there, but it was a good time of shared family fellowship and storytelling about Taiwan and Grayson. The best part was talking about the squatty potties.  Click here if you want more info on squatty potties.  

After that I went to my side of the family. Now, my side of the family is a completely different atmosphere than Lindsay's. At Lindsay's there are at a minimum 15 kids under the age of 13. Most of the kids are 8 and under. It's typically really loud and full of playful kiddiness. Sometimes though I can never really tell who plays more: the kids or the adults? I guess it just depends on the game? :)  Games of dodge ball or rubberband gun wars are quite typical on Lindsay's side. Also, remote control cars and airplanes will roll out or fly in from time to time as well. Compare that to my family where it's mostly adults and we do a lot of talking, card games, and watching sports. Both of our families are so close. In today's day in age, I don't think that happens very often. In all reality, I imagine that I see my extended family close to at least once a month.  We really are that close. Also, Lindsay and I both know that we could call any of them on both sides  of our families in the middle of the night for help with something and they would be there in an instant. Both of our families are so amazingly awesome in their own ways and no matter which place Grayson is at a given moment, he is going to have it good. The one thing that is common between both of our families is the cooking. It is both so good. And the best part is that on holidays I typically get to eat at least two lunches. :) It doesn't do much for my weight loss, but it tastes oh, so good. I arrived as they were all finishing up eating so I just grabbed a roll, opened it up and put some macaroni and cheese inside of it and had a mac n' cheese roll sandwich. Then I sat down next to the turkey tray just to keep an eye on it in case I noticed anything suspicious about the turkey. I had to keep tasting it to make sure it was not going anywhere. :) At my family, we also talked about Grayson and my Taiwan experience. I told them about the bad drivers and the scooters. Click here for a YouTube video of a look into Taiwan driving. Let's just say the first night we went to town in the car I was scared to death Ted was going to hit a scooter or someone that just walked right out. I guess it wouldn't have been Ted's fault, but it really scared me. (side note - babies don't have to be in a car seat in a car unless you are on a freeway.) I also showed them a quick video of Grayson laughing hysterically. I laughed right along with him because it was so funny.  Apparently, he likes it when Lindsay taps him on his head with a card. Who knew it could be so hilarious to him? Did you?....... Nope, me neither. :)  

I ended the day back at Mom and Dad's to watch some football and basketball with mom, dad, and my brother Tyler. For all you basketball fans out there Louisville's full court man defense is really good.

Thanksgiving to me is really a reflection time to think about what you're really thankful for. I have found that you can't be thankful and miserable at the same time. You get the choice to think what you think. You can choose to have an attitude of gratitude or totally feel sorry for yourself. There really is no in between. You are either grateful or your miserable. I think you should choose an attitude of gratitude. I also don't think you have to look very far to find something that you should be thankful about. On Tuesday, I was coaching my 8th grade team. The opposing team had an assistant coach who was in a wheelchair. Wow, was it humbling for me! I take a lot of things for granted. I'm pretty sure I don't take my ability to walk as something I'm thankful for very often. You just have to take the time to stop and think about the things that you truly are thankful for and I'm pretty sure that you'll find out that you are blessed beyond measure. I know I am. 

Thessalonians 5:16-18: Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Happy Thanksgiving! 
Praying for Lindsay and Grayson!
I miss you so much. 
Love,
Matt