"Thanksgiving was never meant to be shut up in a single day."  ~Robert Caspar Lintner

Me, with Appalachia in the background!

Hello blogosphere! Are you ready for some turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie? I am!

Today, I get in my car with Michele (one of my housemates) and drive to my hometown: Boca Raton, Florida. On the drive down, Michele and I will stop to see Ellen in Jacksonville, a former member of the Johnson House Community. After that, I will drop Michele off in Orlando. Then I will drive the last few hours to Boca Raton, where I will see my family! It’s been almost three months since I’ve seen my mom, or any of my five sisters. I am so thankful I’ll get to spend time with them.

According to the weather reports, Boca Raton will be partly cloudy with a high of 83 on Thanksgiving Day. Ask anyone, warm weather makes me happy. I might even take a trip to the beach.

Thanksgiving is wonderful, because it gives me the opportunity to think about all I have been given. It’s hard to feel down when my heart is thankful. This always gets me thinking: If I feel so great while giving thanks, why don’t I do it constantly through each day all year long? This year, I want to be focused on being more thankful. Not only will it benefit me, but I’ll be able to serve at CAP more effectively.

CAP volunteer blog readers: What are you thankful for?

"A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues. " ~Cicero

Catherine Mack is a long-term volunteer in CAP's Community Development program. She lives in Johnson Volunteer House.