thanksgiving prayer

two funny conversations with a little girl

So josh and I had thanksgiving with some friends from his work. We were in town, because I was on call for the holiday at the hospital. I know this family somewhat, very nice people. We gather to pray before our meal. Little girl wants to pray.

"dear God. Thankyou for Thanksgiving. and please let the jareds have children. amen"

pause. awkward silence. we sit. I say thankyou, I needed that prayer (I really did). I am pretty desparate these days. I think to myself, maybe this is a sign!

We eat. She looks at me.

"I never met a wife with out a children"

pause. drink a sip of wine. I smile. I say something like, "I am kind of weird". she eats her turkey.

So what seemed like a prophetic prayer might have really been that she found me to be a very strange wife. without a children.

kids. love them. i really do.

put the lights on the tree

the lights are up. whoo. hoo.

sissy

sissy was our family dog. we got her when I was in 9th grade, maybe even before. She was very small. a miniature daschsund. she was a yappy little dog, and I admit I kept my distance from her at times. I remember thinking once how much of my life she had seen. She saw alot in her 17 years. she was a good dog. my grandmother (who is a legend all on her own) had adopted cissy this past year. she's been keeping watch over that little dog's soul for so many months- and today little cissy went to sleep. 17 years. that's quite a life for a such a little thing. I feel pretty sad, because its difficult to say goodbye. but then there's mary. my dear grandmother. I cannot tell you how much she reminds of that patty griffin song, also named "mary"...

"Jesus says Mother I couldn't stay another day longer
He flys right by and leaves a kiss upon her face
While the angels are singin' his praises in a blaze of glory
Mary stays behind and starts cleaning up the place"

When I spoke with my mary this morning, She cried. I asked what she was going to do today- that it was ok to be sad, you know. She said she was getting out soup cans. She was planning a thanksgiving meal. and then she needed to clean up the place.


on an unrelated note. it's old school R.E.M. day. I've been listening to this little jewel all day long. a little vintage comfort always helps the sadness go away.

b.jared photos

here goes.