Thankfulness

It's been just over a year that Jim and I purchased the White Mountain Lodge in Greer and put our Phoenix home on the market.  It's been a year of major transitions for us and we are so thankful for so many things: good friends and supportive family who prayed with and for us, new friends in Greer, a new church home in Springerville, a kitchen remodel that enables us to serve a wonderful breakfast to our guests, hard work and a lab puppy that keeps us fit, Jim being able to work remotely with Honeywell, and the incredible beauty of this part of Arizona.
Every day is truly a day of thanksgiving, regardless of our circumstances!  There are trying times of something breaking down at an inopportune time, a never ending to-do list, Jim got Shingles and the flu, we've had a few unpleasant guest experiences...yet in everything, even the trials, we are to give thanks because we know that they are working out patience, endurance and strength.
We spent two days in Tucson with family from far and near enjoying fabulous food and fellowship. Yesterday, the first day of Winter Wonderland in Greer, we had about 70 people come through the lodge to enjoy Christmas crafts, a warm fire and a buffet of treats and hot cider.  (Thank you Mom for sending me home with delicious home baked goodies to serve!)  Every child and most of the adults had to also go out back to meet Zella and be licked.  Our pup had a great day!
We are thankful to meet people from all over who we have the privilege to host at the lodge and we have enjoyed having our families come and see our new home.  It's very fun when we have friends we've made from our 26 years in Phoenix come and see our place and even better when they stay and we get to serve them.  It gives us great joy to have people enjoy the lodge and this beautiful little valley of Greer nestled in the pines.  For all this and so much more we are thankful.