Thanksgiving is hands down one of our favorite holidays. And it isn’t just because we get to turn off our calorie-consciousness and enjoy guilt-free for the day. Erica’s mom makes the most amazing stuffing and sweet corn, but those still aren’t enough to be our top reason. It isn’t necessarily the football games, because…are you ready for it?… neither one of us are huge football fans. And if that lets you down, please just forget we ever said it, because we are great at being interested when a game is on with family and friends!
Thanksgiving over the years has been the same thing it is today: a time to be together with family and friends and reflect on everything we are thankful for. To recognize the amazing ways God has worked in our lives over the last year. Oh yeah, and to eat lots and lots of great food!
But this year has been different for us. We set up the Christmas tree before Thanksgiving as usual. The decorations are out and the radio is playing all of the holiday music already. For some reason though, it hasn’t felt like the holidays at all. That’s when we realized how much things have changed for us in the last year.
Going from full-time tractor salesman and stay at home mom to full-time photographers was and is the best thing we have ever done. We absolutely love the clients we are able to meet, the friendships that are made, and the ways we have been able to see God use us to positively impact the people and relationships around us. Along with it though came a dramatic shift in lifestyle – and despite all of the highs, it came with some lows as well. Things we had to learn how to manage differently. New stresses we had never experienced before. A busyness from our business that took time to get used to.
We are thankful for all of the things God has blessed us with. We are thankful for the love He showed us and His free gift of salvation. We are thankful for our two amazing kids and the joy they bring into our lives. We are thankful for the most supportive and tight-knit family anyone could hope for. And this year, we are incredibly thankful for the time to unplug, unwind, and find peace and fulfillment in time focused on the most important things in life.
So instead of checking Instagram, documenting life in Insta-stories, and updating Facebook, you’ll find us up in the pines, most likely freezing in the cooler temperatures. Jon will probably be on the couch in a food coma and Erica will be sitting around the table laughing with her mom and sister. We will be truly enjoying quality time and the life God has so richly blessed us with. We hope you do the same!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Erica & Jon
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