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Thanksgiving for Two: How A Small Celebration Can Bring Big GratitudeSBy Sonny Melendrezarah sat at the kitchen table, staring at the two plates in front of her. The year had been full of unexpectedturns—a new job in a new city, far away from family. She and her husband, David, had just moved into their tiny apartment a few weeks ago. They hadn’t had time to make friends or find a community, and with travel plans falling through, it would just be the two of them for Thanksgiving.At first, Sarah felt disappointed. Thanksgiving was always about big family gatherings, laughter, and a house full of noise. How could it feel special with just two people?But as the day unfolded, Sarah decided to embrace the quiet. She and David cooked together in their small kitchen, preparing favorite dishes from childhood. The familiar smells of roasted turkey and pumpkin pie filled the air, and with them, a sense of comfort.When it was time to eat, they sat together and bowed their heads in prayer. Sarah thanked God not only for the food before them but for guiding them through the challenges of the year.During dinner, they savored each bite and shared memories of past Thanksgivings. The silence was no longer lonely—it was peaceful.Afterward, Sarah surprised David with a letter, thanking him for his love and support during their move. He reached for her hand, with eyes full of appreciation.“I’mthankfulforyou,too.”hesaidsoftly.Later, curled up on the couch with hot cocoa, in the quiet of their Thanksgiving for two, Sarah felt more grateful than ever before.In that small apartment, far from family and the bustle of large celebrations, Sarah and David discovered the true meaning of Thanksgiving: it wasn’t about how many people were there, but the gratitude shared with the ones who mattered most.Sonny Melendrezis an award-winningmotivational speaker,Hall of Fame radio/TV host and author,based in San Antonio.For more of his enthusiastic brand of inspiration and speaking information, visit www.SonnyMelendrez.com and listen to his podcast.WHAT WE OFFERIrrigation Design Irrigation Installation for Residential & Commercial Maintenance & Repair Landscape InstallationsSod Installation System ChecksRain Bird WiFi Module New Sprinkler System Installations!* Exclusions Apply. Extra $20 Off Service Calls When You Mention This Ad.FREE CONSULTATIONS! 210-791-6788 www.benitezirrigation.com admin@.benitezirrigation.comI Spy With My Little Eye... ContestBPy Sally Kaloslease look carefully on each and every page, scanning up and down, left and right, from front toback, and then back to front. Don’t give up! If you can find the pilgrim hat you’ll be entered into a drawing to win $50! Just email the page number and location where you spotted the pilgrim hat to contest@stoneoakhighlights.com.The deadline is November 6, 2024.We hope you’ll have fun with our versionof a mini-scavenger hunt within our pages. Good luck!Congratulations to our OctoberI Spy winner Emily WogtechDolphin Summer - continued from page 4 captivating movies like Dolphin Summer and connect with passionate filmmakers like Kyleigh Nikkels.This is a fantastic opportunity to support a rising star from our own community and celebrate the power ofstorytelling to inspire change. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Animalis FabulaFilm Festival website athttps://www.animalisfabula.org.See you there! See ad on page 4.November 2024www.stoneoakhighlights.com 5