our new bungalow needed work, to make it into our home. and to make it a place of rest. 

“yes, this isn’t really our skill set,” I told him.

laughing, my brother responded, “Ummm yea we know that.”

that’s why he took three days off of work. And that’s why Ian’s in-laws took a week off of work. 

that’s why our friend was here every day, working alongside my family.

it’s why my brother-in-law loaded his trailer with all of our belongings that sat in his barn for two years, and brought them to the bungalow. and then spent the next two days laying new floor, and sleeping on a makeshift bed, while Ian and I sat at the lake and his wifey wrangled the two boys at home.

their hours here made our life possible.

and much of what they did, could not be done by us.

at times, we could do nothing.

at all times, ian could do nothing, nothing that they needed.

and so what do you do with yourself, when you can’t do anything? when you have nothing to offer?

what do you do when your nearly 60-year-old dad spends the day on his knees, shooting nails through the thick oak boards that frame our doorways and their future stories? and the one able bodied of us is tired from work and decisions and life-changing events?

we found our giving, our addition, in the gratefulness.

and it felt a bit like God. because we have nothing to give that He does not already have Himself. yet He gives more grace, more provision, more joy. He gives that freely. and there is nothing we can do, there was nothing we did do, but we may receive it. and we may return it in gratefulness, letting our hearts pour over with those words that make gifts much sweeter.

and in the gratefulness, as we sat at the table each night, checking the list and progress and time left, we found fellowship. together.

we found it in the thanksgiving.