nextgen_holiday:

“We need to be more grateful. I think there is no true character without gratitude. It is one of the marks of a real strong character to have a feeling of thanksgiving and gratitude for blessings. We need more of that spirit in our homes, in our daily associations, in the church, everywhere. It doesn't cost anything, and it is so easy to cultivate.” - Ezra Taft Benson

In America today is a day for being thankful for the things in people's lives. Today was a day to celebrate family, friends, prosperity and health with food, family and friends. It is a time to reflect on what is important us and to recognize the gratitude we hold for having those things in our lives.

burnwithlight:

Giovanna's temper was still reeling from the recent footage on television. But on an American holiday, they weren't going to get much chance of talking to any of their official contacts about it, and they didn't have too many other options at the moment, so she tried to stay calm.

Early in the morning, she knocked on the door between her room and Andrew's. Already ready herself for what she had planned, she was wearing a bathing suit.

anyastark:

Anya had managed to catch the last train out of Boston to New York. It didn't arrive in New York until 2:20am, but she didn't care. She didn't sleep much and was usually awake that time of the morning anyway. All that mattered was that she was going home for a long weekend. She had one class on Wednesday, but she had made arrangements with her professor and handed her assignment in early. It had been almost two weeks since she had been home and it was the only place on the entire planet she wanted to be.

Anya missed her family, as crazy as they were, her friends and Steve. God, she had missed him. A week and a half felt a few times longer than it had been. She wanted nothing more than to see him, wrap her arms around him and kiss him. IMs, phone calls and even video calls were pale substitutions for being with him. At least she had learned to look the clock before IM or calling. When she first moved to Boston, she would IM or call him when she thought of it, not realizing that at times it was the middle of the night and some people actually did that sleeping thing. Steve had been a good sport about it, but she wasn't going to keep interrupting his sleep. Some people needed more than four hours a day.

She walked through Penn's Station with her bag over a shoulder. She traveled light because she had closets full of clothes here. No reason to bring clothes with her. The only things she carried was her laptop, cell phone and wallet. It would only take a few moments to catch a cab and within twenty minutes she'd be at the mansion. Tomorrow she'd go to the condo. Mom and Dad can have one more night alone.

Anya ignored the people in the station as she walked toward the exit.