right here. right now.
There’s something about a campfire as the sun sets…
and the sky gets that brilliant blue, just before it turns to black, that makes it feel like you are in the most perfect place in the world at that moment.
Looking across our little secluded spot on the planet that night and seeing the people I love most in the universe and these new, and already dear, friends made my insides do a little leap of joy. How could I, me, this woman standing here, have managed to get so lucky? So blessed?
Standing under the sky in the middle of this world…
created by a God that loves everything and everyone and in the midst of all that manages to love just me, as I am, too…in the big ways and the small is such great reminder of how small I am. And at the same time that I’ve not been forgotten.
It kind of blows me away.
And how did it happen that I was sitting among family and friends who heard me say, “I want to do this crazy dinner idea in the woods!” And they didn’t look at me like, “Good luck with that!” but instead they said, “We love it! Let’s do it! What’s first?” To me, that definitely means I’m blessed because how many people have that?
Plenty don’t and I wish they did.
I’m writing this now…
on this Thanksgiving day, and I’m looking back on that magical night. And I know that the world is filled with magic. The kind that makes you believe in the power of good things and good (magical) people, and happy (magical) moments.
I know there are lots of dark and sad places and people in dark and sad circumstances in the world…which makes me even more amazed at all of these incredible blessings. It makes me hope that if a lot of the wonderfulness I’ve been blessed with were lost, I would still see a lot to be grateful for…I hope I would be that person…
that I would still see the magic around me.
Earlier this morning…
the warm aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg filled my home as pumpkin bread baked, reaching out and waking everyone from their warm beds.
And now the turkey cooking has made my home feel the same way it did when I was growing up…like there isn’t another place I’d rather be than right here with these people in this house at this moment.
And it’s that same feeling…
I felt that night at our Dinner in the Woods…as I stood under that deep blue sky, the stars just beginning to make their scheduled evening appearance, and as I sat at that blazing campfire with marshmallows roasting on homemade sticks…
it felt lke there wasn’t another place I’d rather be than right there with those people in those woods, right then.
I’m hoping for that kind of a Thanksgiving Day for you today.
Happiness,
Davina
**Make sure to check out: Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3, and the yummy recipes.
Oh my, good glorious content! You know how to make a girl cry, take a look around, and feel the magic! Bravo and a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Millie, thank you for this wonderful note. You know how to make my day! I so appreciate you letting me know that what I wrote has spoken to you. It means so much to me.
oh goodness – what a spectacular post! i hopped over to tell you how much i adored the thankful tree and now i’m mesmerized by this post…love the shots around the campfire, and the ‘almost’ last one with the guitar. davina, what a gift for your family to have such a head full of amazing memories. i’m smiling at the thought of you as a grandmother and listening to your kids tell you about the adventures they are having in their families…all sprouted by this seed you’ve planted.
xoxo, -melanie-
Oh Melanie! You know how to give such a beautiful vision of the future and make me feel so grateful for you all at the same time. What a lovely thought!
So magical, Davina! And my heart is swelling with your words. Thank you so much for sharing this!!
Becky, there’s so much magic in the world, I love that you feel it to!
what magic/blessings are you seeing?
Davina, I am devouring this. You are brilliant. I am so inspired and moved…your posts are changing the way I interact with my family. Thank YOU.
Sarah! I’m so thrilled to have this note from you on a couple of levels. You gave me so much to work with and I’m so glad that it’s moving, especially to you. And that what you’re reading is inspiring you…because that’s so much my hope…fpr everyone that reads. Thank you!!