This kind of weather makes it easy to look out the window and see the many wonderful things surrounding us to be thankful for.
Around noon yesterday we struck out with the children to find a beach! It was 24 degrees out and last year on the same weekend we went to Kincardine to play. So.....we set the GPS and headed northwest in hopes of seeing some beautiful colours and eventually hit water! We ended up in Goderich where we first spent time viewing the still visible devastation from the tornado that ripped through this town on August 21, 2011. The children were shocked to see houses with the rooves blown off and many, many homes missing several windows. What was evident as we passed near the downtown "square", which actually better represents a wagon wheel with several streets reaching out from the centre, was that this was truly a "community". There was a fund raiser with music playing and people milling around.....the money raised was to help refurbish the buildings and return this community structurally to the way it was pre-tornado. It will never be the same. More notable though was the number of people out working around their homes....families were working together to restore and in some cases sadly to simply clean up the mess of what was once a home.....even in the midst of strife these people all seemed happy and "thankful" for their friends and their community. Many homes had spray painted messages on them ....."We love you Goderich" and "we'll be back!!" This little community represented what unity should look like as their collective outlook on a tough situation shouted a message of determination and a "temporarily down but not out" attitude! What a fabulous example for our kids as we drew this to their attention.
Thank you for my home...
We found the beach!
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| The water was a bit chilly but it didn't stop them!... |
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lots to do......
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searching for the best rocks.....
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| climbing them....... |
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and even throwing them...... |
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| a great time! I have so much to be thankful for.....as we enjoy a relaxing day at the beach and a beautiful drive home I can't help but think about the importance of recognizing how to be thankful for the simple things. The hustle and bustle of life and all the expectations it brings.....a simpler, easier yet more purposeful seeking out of the awesomeness of our God.......  
cool eh?
Happy Thanksgiving to all of my family and friends....May you each experience the joy that comes from gratefulness in the small things of life.....
I am so grateful for days like yesterday..... my family, my home, the food we have to eat and the ability to speak openly about my faith...so many in this world have so much less.
We all have the choice.....I choose thankfulness!!
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