Giving thanks on the ark

Today, we spent a blessedly full day together. We brought everyone to Mass this morning, followed by a stop at Dunkin Donuts (where they closed at noon today) and bought up the last dozen donuts in the store along with two splendid gingerbread lattes-yum! We came home and baked (or more precisely, unwrapped and put in the oven) three pies and made a quadruple batch of the classic green bean casserole. After N awoke from her nap, we headed out to feast with about 50 of our local friends and family at my brother and sister-in-law's. When we finally rolled in tonight, N and CB were exhausted. They had spent every ounce of their, but thankfully not our, energy playing with their cousins, eating and chasing the big kids around the hall. We tucked them into their jammies quickly and after I filled their cups, I called for them---but no answer. I noticed some noise coming from the den and decided to go check and see. What I found is something for which I am truly thankful for, not just today but every day. There my baby girls sat, one on each knee of their dad's lap, while he downloaded old 80's videos for them. Of course, this set off the older kid's "family gathering" radar and they quickly materialized in the doorway of the room dancing and singing along to Elvis Costello's "Veronica" and as they did, everything on the top shelf of the hutch began to shake. It was at this point that I called out to them, "Hey, you two, you'd better stop. You're rocking the boat." To which the Boy replied, without missing a beat, "No we're not, Mom. We're rocking THE ARK!"
I am thankful for this funny, sweet and special family who share their days here on the ark with me, and honored by each day I get to spend with them. Happy Thanksgiving from our ark to yours!