Thanksgiving Memories

Since Jake is at work today

and the little one and I have no plans,

I've had time to think about 

Thanksgiving from years past.

I'll never forget my Thanksgiving 

in China, and how I made pumpkin

pie in a toaster oven using layered

tinfoil as a makeshift pie tin.

I always chuckle about the

Thanksgiving when my younger

brother fell down some stairs and split
his head, and my dad refused to take

him for stitches until after dessert.

I spent TWO Thanksgivings in

Belize, where I relaxed by the pool

and ate the most American food

I could find: a hamburger. 

But my most memorable Thanksgiving

was the one in 2009: the one that

changed my life.

It was the year I moved to DC.

I wasn't planning on going home for

Thanksgiving, but my mom surprised me

and offered to buy me a plane ticket.

My flight was the last one 

out of DCA to SLC on the night 

before Thanksgiving. As I was waiting to 

board the plane, a curly haired fellow walked

up and said hi. He told me he remembered

me from a singles ward Thanksgiving party

the week before. I can't say I recognized him,

but he was nice and we chatted until it 

was time to board the plane. 

His name was Jake.

I spent the whole flight studying for 

the GRE. Upon landing, I made my way 

downstairs and camped out near baggage claim 

to wait for my ride. Jake saw me there,

and once again he stopped to chat.

I was flattered that he sought me 

out twice, and I couldn't help but notice his 

great smile, dimples, and of course that
curly hair. Finding out that he was older than me
didn't hurt either! Jake had left his impression,
and was on my mind the rest of that
Thanksgiving weekend.

I didn't see him again for three weeks,

this time at an Institute fireside back in DC.

I turned up the charm, and after 45 minutes

of chatting he finally asked for my number. 

One thing led to another, including our

first date in Park City and a cross-country road 

trip that I'll have to write about another day. 

And the rest, as they say, is history!

So this Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for all of 

the events that brought Jake and I together, 

and for the wonderful life we now share.

And here's hoping that we'll spend
Thanksgiving together one of these years!