Thankful.....

Tomorrow will dawn the 40th Thanksgiving I will have had the deep honor to live and see. The morning will be filled with travel. Our purple van will be towing three of the most beautiful, precious children I have had the blessing to love. My husband will be by my side traveling back to a place I cannot ever fully leave. The roots of me planted firmly in red North Carolina Soil. The place where my forefathers and foremothers walked and courted and plowed faithfully for over 200 years. Every tree and blade of grass, every smell and sound of birds that lived in the ancient trees behind my grandparents home. How strong those voices are in my memory. I don't hear birds sing that way anymore. The Lineage of the Nance family will assemble at the tiny Salem Methodist church, there will be sweet faces that I have loved all my life. There will be laughter and tears over the ones that have gone on to be with Jesus. There will be quality food that makes you long for home and in the sanctuary there will be the sounds of Banjo's and mandolins and guitars . Sounds from people who worked hard all their lives sharing the most pleasant joy they know which is music. I get so homesick sometimes. Oh that I could go back for one more day to those dusty dirt roads and explore the fields and creeks. Walk in the moonlight out to the cemetary with just the overwhelming sense of peace and protection. Steal quietly through the forest with only thoughts of what wonderful creature I might find. Taste wild cherries, may pops, and whatever grew lush and perfect in Grandpa's garden. To sit on that old porch swing and listen to a thousand stories of the time before I came. To be held and kissed and anointed with cologne in the old parlor by my Great grandfathers soft hands. To be given a hershey bar. Such simple beginnings. Such royal heritage. Thankful.......