The Greatest of These (Sequel to Kansas Summer) -- Faith

November 27, 2003

Jenna--

Thanksgiving.  A time to be thankful for what God has given us.  What am I thankful for?  I'm thankful to be alive.  I can't count on two hands the number of times that God has intervened on my behalf to give me the life that He has given me.  I am eternally grateful for that.  I am thankful for my husband who respects me, loves me, gives me pleasure (in many forms), and leads me in Christ.  I'm thankful for the sacrifices that he makes every day to provide for us and to keep us in Kansas where we are.  I know that he knows that we could be living better if we lived somewhere else, but he respects my wishes to live here.  I'm also thankful most of all to be a Child and a Friend of God.  Walking with my Savior is something that I wouldn't trade for anything else, which is also why I'm thankful that I have been through what I've been through.  

Thanksgiving is also known as the only other day of the year when people stuff themselves silly with food and gluttony is not a sin.  As I lie in bed this morning, my mind runs through all of the things to cook for this afternoon: the large turkey that my parents generously donated, beans, banana pudding, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cornbread, and of course the pumpkin pie.  My day is set before me.  I know it's a lot of work, but I will get to enjoy it as much as everyone else.  My eyes close in peace, remembering that there are two more women in the house who will help me with the insurmountable cooking duties of this delicious holiday.  Yes, my parents are here from Florida as well as my sister, Sarah, and her husband, Colby, as well as their toddler son, Marius, are visiting for the holiday from central Kansas, so at least I will get another few hands to help me.

I look over to my love, who is passed out next to me.  It's 6:30.  His alarm should have gone off thirty minutes ago, but I unplugged it last night so that he could get some more sleep this morning since the store is closed today.  However, it is time to rise and shine, sweetheart.  I carefully scoot myself over to where he sleeps, mouth open.  I grin, and poise my mouth over his, and lean down to give him a "good morning" kiss.  Gently, I touch my lips to his, a second time, and then a third.  The third time, I savor the moment, holding a little longer this time.  I am caught quite off guard by a few cold fingers that find their way to my sensitive side.  The ticklish sensation makes me squeal, half in surprise half in delight.  Colin's hand slides under my t-shirt, curling around my back, bringing me back to kiss him one more time.

"Joke's on you now, Jen," he grins boyishly.

"Colin," I gasp, out of breath from the sudden fright, "you scared me."

"It's not nice to mess with peoples' alarm clocks.  But you should have known that I always get up at six, alarm or not.  I've been doing it way too long."

"I wanted you to get some more sleep, darling," I confess, "I thought it would be good for you."

Colin grins again and brushes away some loose strands of hair from my face.  "Jenna Lauren King, you are a most thoughtful and beautiful woman," he breathes.  "I'm very thankful for you."

I blush.  "I'm thankful for you too," I reply with a smile.  "But," I add, leaning down to whisper in his ear, "your hand is frigid."

I'm not surprised to find that my parents are already up.  I am a little embarrassed; i feel like a bad host for keeping them waiting so long for breakfast, and apologize for not having it made up.  I heat some water for them so that they can have hot cocoa.  It is ready for them in about the time that it takes Colin to get dressed to throw hay to the horses and milk the cows.

"Snowed last night," my man remarks.  "Brr!"  He heads outside; I can hear his boots crunch in the snow.  I heat up the oven in preparation for the baked oatmeal I'm making.